Replies

1. 
   ring | Apr 15, 2007 02:01pm | #1

   Lou, did you see this one I just ordered? Best planer I've found for the money. Here's a photo -

   (I'm just teasing...it would probably take up all your shop space and all your money as well.)

   regards,

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/15/2007 7:03 am by ring

   
1. 
   loucarabasi | Apr 16, 2007 12:54pm | #7

   You are very funny my kosher friend!!!! where you been/?

   -Lou

1. 
   ring | Apr 16, 2007 02:50pm | #8

   I've been around...but over my head in a new project ...creating a huge woodworking factory in Africa. I posted a bit about it a week ago.I sent you the photo of that planer in jest, but I've actually ordered one of them. I'm getting to know machinery that we've only dreamed about before.regards,
   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

2. 
   user-189774 | Apr 15, 2007 08:32pm | #2

   How much money do you have to spend? If you want to buy one and have it last for the rest of your woodworking life, look at WoodMaster. Once on the site look at the accessories and find the spiral head. They make three molder/planers, 12", 18", and 25", I have the 25" and it is built like a tank. After checking out the site if you have any questions let me know.

                                              Regards,

                                                           Jay

                                                        

    

3. 
   DickL | Apr 15, 2007 11:16pm | #3

   I have a 20" Bridgewood from Wilke Machinery. Used it for about 18 months with no complaints. The Gorilla sucks up all the chips and dust. I don't have a spiral head. I do have a Byrd head on my jointer and wish I had one on the planer. Wilke will install a Byrd head for you before delivery.

   Regards,
   Dick

4. 
   terrylee86 | Apr 15, 2007 11:33pm | #4

   Lou,

   Check out the thread in power tools and machinery section under heavy duty planers.  I think that will answer a lot of your questions.  Like Ray said how much do you want to spend.  You can get a Yorkcraft 15" with a Byrd shelix cutterhead for about $1500 and a 20" for about $2000.  I bought the BW-120PS (Bridgewood brand from wilkemach.com) about 4years ago and it is beautiful machine, but it is $3700 and it weights about 1,000 lbs.

   Terry

5. 
   frenchy | Apr 16, 2007 12:03am | #5

   loucarabasi,

      I can only speak for what's worked for me..  MY Grizzly 20 incher has been terrific!

    I'll bet I've planed 40,000 bd.ft. of hardwood thru it and so far it's cost me $5.00 for a fan belt my local auto parts store had. 

    When I say planned I've taken wood from rough timbers and  boards..  and planed it down to working size.  I regularly generate dumpsters full of wood chips..

     Your dust collection system needs to be up to snuff to deal with the amount of chips this baby cangenerate. 1550 CFM isn't enough  (from experiance) I would suggest something closer to double that. You need those larger bags etc. anyway to deal with the amount of chips this thing creates in a few hours..  

    I've never had chip indentations from any of the boards I planned but then only rarely do I work with soft woods that would dent..

    I'm going to buy the spiral head for mine, simply to make changing blades faster.. but the extreme duty one has the spiral head standard. 

6. 
   woodgs | Apr 16, 2007 12:30am | #6

     I agree that the grizzly 20 in. is a great machine for the $. I've had mine now for 13 yrs. It has done all that I've needed with no repair issues.