[LiveOakFarms]

:thumbsup:
I have recently moved from Alaska back to TN. I had to sell all of my woodworking tools due to excessive shipping cost from Alaska. I have replaced most of them except the surface/thickness planer.

I have been in the market for a good quality surface/thickness planer. For the last few weeks I have been reading many performance reviews from owners of various makes and models. What seems to be the general drift is that there is something wrong with every planer on the market. From the bench top (12-13 inch widths to the 15 to 16 inch widths). Example: Fine Working magazine gives the De Walt 735 great reviews. Says there is nothing better. Some owners say its a piece of junk. I owned one and my experience was "It was a piece of junk". It would quit running about mid-way through a board. The service center gave me my money back stating that they couldn't fix it.

I once owned a Makita 12 inch bench top and had good luck with it and was almost ready to buy the new 2012nb until I read several negative reviews.

I have read reviews for the Jet 16 inch and the Powermatic 15 inch and some say the Jet belts burn up or overheat after the first few hours of service. Some say the Powermatic has problems also.

Please give me some input about the types of planers you have and use daily. What brand, mode or type would you recommend? Please help.

Thank you,

LiveOakFarms

 

[tonyuno]

My planer is old so my knowledge is second hand , in recent times worked with some (mostly retired) pros. they are moving away from Dewalt because of quality down grading, Rigid seems to be their new chose, especially with a lifetime warranty. Anyone have an opinion on Rigid tools?

 

[ryan50hrl]

I have a DW735.....i've run about 400 bf of soft maple, hard maple and oak through it now......on the original knives which still don't need replacing. Its stopped feeding once to which I wiped down the feed rollers which were covered in sap and saw dust (don't plane construction grade 2x4's.....my own fault) with mineral spirits and waxed the bed......that was 200 bf ago or so.......still cutting perfect. I did buy the in/outfeed tables and a wixey for it......but other than that.......its the same as when I bought it.

 

[ryan50hrl]

Anyone have an opinion on Rigid tools?

I've never been terribly impressed.......I think they're decent....but not as good as Dewalt or Makita. For portable stuff, it'd be the new dewalt 20v stuff......planers it'd be another dw735......Stationary stuff...i'd probably look at steel city or grizzly if it was a budget purchase. I really like my steel city built table saw.....

I guess thats more than you asked....

 

[woodnthings]

I have a 15" Jet I like

It's not this same one, but this one has good features. The motor is above which usually means the table stays at a fixed height which allows for same height in and outfeed tables. Unlike where the motor is underneath, like mine where then height of the table changes as you take more off each piece. I could be wrong on that, I donno?
the Jet has good power and is accurate. there are other planers and reviews on this link.... :thumbsup:

I also have this one but have zero hours on it and the price is the same as above:

 

[JMartel]

Rigid seems to be their new chose, especially with a lifetime warranty. Anyone have an opinion on Rigid tools?

Don't do it. I bought a Rigid R4331 thinking the same as you. First one lasted about 12 days of what I would consider normal use. Then it started eating itself alive and sounded like a coffeecan full of nuts. Returned it thinking I got a lemon, got a new one, and within 2 hours of getting the new one home, it started eating internals as well.

Bought a Dewalt 735 with the extra knives and in/outfeed table package from Amazon and haven't looked back. The quality on the Dewalt is FAR superior. Plus, it has 2 feed rates, and the slow one will save you time on sanding (still need to sand, but you can start at a higher grit). Spend the money.

 

[mike1950]

I have had a 2 post and 4 post Dewalt- no troubles. Now a 15" delta. never go back to a lunchbox again. I plane a lot of rough lumber and it is a lot faster.

 

[Crusader]

I must be one of the lucky ones concerning my Rigid 13". I have never had a problem, still on the original knives. Loud as all get out though.
I bought this one from Grizzly http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0453Z/images/4 I can't report on it yet as I'm in the process of setting it
up.

 

[mike1950]

I must be one of the lucky ones concerning my Rigid 13". I have never had a problem, still on the original knives. Loud as all get out though.
I bought this one from Grizzly http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0453Z/images/4 I can't report on it yet as I'm in the process of setting it
up.

I would love to get the spiral!!! You bought the ding and dent-didn't you? If you do not mind how much??

 

[woodnthings]

pretty good reviews on this 5 stars all

Very heavy, and the reviewer states that Grizzly and Shop Fox phone numbers are associated with it. Check it out for the price .... seems like a great deal compared to the Dewalts at a similar price.

 

[Crusader]

I would love to get the spiral!!! You bought the ding and dent-didn't you? If you do not mind how much??

Don't be all hating me after I tell you.
After taxes $1,157

 

[mike1950]

Don't be all hating me after I tell you.
After taxes $1,157

 

[LiveOakFarms]

Thanks to all who responded. I am still confused about what brand to buy. I would like to have a quality stationary planer if I had the confidence to pick one brand over the other. I like the Jet 16 inch open stand. I have had good luck with Jet products. I would think the Powermatic 15 inch would be the top quality one but it is not rated any better than the Jet, according to the reviews I have read, and it cost about $500.00 more.

I guess old habits are hard to break. I am still leaning toward the Makita 2012nb. Stop me if you don't agree.

LiveOakFarms

 

[dt1050]

I have a 12.5 craftsman, $300. new, got a 2 year warranty and an extra set of blades. has worked very well, some snipe,on smaller boards probably due to operator error.

 

[del schisler]

My planer is old so my knowledge is second hand , in recent times worked with some (mostly retired) pros. they are moving away from Dewalt because of quality down grading, Rigid seems to be their new chose, especially with a lifetime warranty. Anyone have an opinion on Rigid tools?

i have had a ridgid 13" planer for yrs and never had any problum with it, I run lot's of wood thro, all hard wood's , only change blade's , i just rum my blades over 1000 grit paper and get a edge , and than put back on, they work again, i know i could get the sharpened but they are soft steel and not ment to be regrind ? just my opion, whet ever work for you , My planer i bought when they first came out and i use it almost every day . my 2 cent's

 

[Pirate]

I'm an old arn fan.
Here is a 16" PM planer for $700. 3 ph, but for $150 you could but a converter. Or install a 1 ph motor.
For $850 if in good shape, I would rather have that than a Chiwanese one, for $400 more.
http://huntsville.craigslist.org/tls/3980067770.html

 

[Hammer1]

15" Delta, a work horse. You need good dust collection with a 5" duct. Handles anything you put through it, 2 speeds, compact, nice folding feed tables, requires 220 outlet. Stationary planers are the way to go if you want a serious planer capable of handling a few hundred LF on a regular basis for many years. They have the adjustability to fine tune correctly that portables don't have as well as plenty of power, substantial hardened blades, options for insert or spiral cutters.

 

[ed_h]

Have you considered buying a sturdy older machine and going through it? I bought an 80s Delta 13" and rebuilt it for not too much more than a lightweight benchtop model. Here are some pics:

http://bullfire.net/Planer/Planer.html

 

[jharris2]

Have you considered buying a sturdy older machine and going through it? ...

In the interest of safety I warn against that!

 

[info]

Have you considered buying a sturdy older machine and going through it? I bought an 80s Delta 13" and rebuilt it for not too much more than a lightweight benchtop model. Here are some pics:

http://bullfire.net/Planer/Planer.html

Was that your planer ?