a different pouint of view here
I bought a lunch box Ryobi 13" planer. Used it twice. It's OK.
I have a 12" Foley Belsaw planer, used it hundreds of times, mostly cast iron and sturdy, sounds like a freight train when running, but planes smooth. I have a jet 15" planer, nice cast iron, 3 Hp runs smooth, planes smooth. I have a grizzly 20" 5 HP, used it once ....so far ... no room to really use it right now.
If I were to spend 8 hrs a day milling, planing and joining wood for a living I'd want the heaviest, most reliable and powerful machines I could AFFORD. If that meant buying old 3 phase machines and restoring them, that's what I'd do.
The 25 yr old Foley Belsaw was $300 like new, never operated and needed a new $200 Baldor motor. The Ryobi I bought on a whim on sale for taking to the job site...$200. The Jet was to be a "replacement" for the Foley, but it won't die, about $1200 on sale. The 20" Grizzly was on sale for about $1900.
To me it depends on 2 things, the budget and the type and duration of use, which may include portabilty. For example, my buddy who makes a living making raised panel doors 8 to 10 hours per day has only old cast iron, 3 phase machines, and really knows how to use and maintain them.
I appreciate the "buy American" idea, but it's hard to put that into practice in this "global" economy with even the trusted name brands being made/assembled in Mexico and other exotic places.
To each his own I guess.
