Replies

1. 
   CarpenterJC | Jun 12, 2004 10:34pm | #1

   I'd buy the Delta.....Ryobi is more homeowner related....not the quality of the Delta..and  IMHO Rigid should have stuck to manufacturing Pipe Wrenches.....and plumbing tools.

                                                                         JC

2. 
   chatobob | Jun 13, 2004 02:40am | #2

   The two speed Delta is a great machine.  Lock down the height and eliminate the snipe.  Two sided, disposable blades.  Good service should you need parts.  The belt on mine destroyed itself and Delta had a new one to me in three days.  "Portable" but watch your back!

   -Bob

3. 
   Dave45 | Jun 13, 2004 03:11am | #3

   I have the Delta 12-1/2" benchtop (portable??) planer and the 6" joiner.  Would recommend them to anyone anytime.

4. 
   Dustmight | Jun 13, 2004 03:31am | #4

   I'd take the Delta TP400 over the Ryobi even if the Delta was more expensive....$225 makes that decision a cinch IMHO. The Ridgid is ok too, but for that much $, I'd go for the Delta 22-580. I'm not a Delta groupie, but that's the way I'd go in this case.

5. 
   TomB | Jun 13, 2004 05:40am | #5

   Have a ridged and love the machine, but it is a love hate relationship with H.D.  Tried for 10 weeks to get blades and they were very sorry but no go. Finally found some on the  http://www. ridgid .com/Tools/Contact-Us/index.htm  They gave a 1-888 number to the East coast and I got them in 2 days. My question, what happens when I need something else, as in spare parts, Drive belt etc. Your choice but guess what jointer I am not going to buy. emailed both ridgid and H.D. and never got an answer from them.

   Good Luck and have fun

6. 
   SRToolguy | Jun 13, 2004 06:42am | #6

   Given you price range I would recommend the 12 or 12 1/2" single speed Delta. Ryobi and Rigid would not be even be on my list unless I was only tinkering with the thought of being a woodworker.

   Sincerely;

   The Tool Guy

7. 
   nikkiwood | Jun 13, 2004 11:01am | #7

   I have an older Delta 12 1/2" that is nearing the end of its useful life -- all these portables have a much shorter life than a stationary planer.

   So I bought the new Delta, which is also a fine machine -- more bells and whistles than the earlier models.

   However, if the 12 1/2" model is available for dramatically less money than the newer version, that's the way I would go. I can't see any difference whatsoever between the two as far as cut quality and snipe are concerned. I do like the 2 speed function on the newer machine, but not enough that I would pay substantially more money to get it. The other new features are just window dressing for me. Moreover, the 12 1/2" weighs less, and is a whole lot easier to lug around.

   A word on the Rigid. I know two different people who have bought this machine, both have run a lot of stock through it, and both are 100% satisfied. And so far the customer service around here (MN) for Rigid has been outstanding. I've heard of any number of people who have returned a Rigid tool to HD, and were greeted with a "no questions asked" attitude about fixing the problem (almost always a new machine) or money back. But HD is still relatively new in this area, and that may change as HD moves out of its honeymoon period. HD is also locked in a fierce competitive struggle with a local home center chain (Menards).

8. 
   RANGERP75R | Jun 13, 2004 04:40pm | #8

   Jeff

      Have the Delta 22-580 and love it. Good dust collection on it too. If you can't quite afford it, I would go to the Delta on clearance. Not loaded with as many features, but gets the job done. I also am not a Delta worshipper, but the the planer is a hit instead of a miss in their line.

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

9. 
   Crunk | Jun 13, 2004 05:27pm | #9

   My favorite planner is a Filofax.  Like it much better than DayTimers.

1. 
   nikkiwood | Jun 13, 2004 06:27pm | #10

   But how does it come out in the snipe wars???????

1. 
   Crunk | Jun 13, 2004 10:41pm | #12

   Filofax is a fine British product.  Much less snipe than Daytimer.

   Edited 6/14/2004 12:33 pm ET by BossCrunk

10. 
    forestgirl | Jun 13, 2004 09:35pm | #11

    Since you're budgeting for both a planer and a jointer, you might want to look to the jointer for saving a bit of money.  I bought my Jet jointer at a local scratch-n-dent place for $385.  Not an option for other who don't live near their warehouse/factory of course.  But there are other ways to save on the jointer.

    Take a look at the Yorkcraft jointer - it has gotten good reviews wherever I've seen them included. 

    Grizzly is another one to put on your list:
    http://www.grizzly.com/products/items-list.cfm?key=450010&sort=price

    I'll second opinions on the Delta planers.  I own the 12.5" and like it alot.  Don't pay any attention to the Rigid-basher above -- I'm not super-keen on many of their tools, but the Rigid planer is an excellent one.  I have one friend who uses it in remodeling his Craftsman-style home, and have read numerous reports from owners who have had excellent experience with theirs.

    forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
    Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

    
    

    ---

    Edited 6/13/2004 5:09 pm ET by forestgirl

11. 
    mudman | Jun 14, 2004 12:53am | #13

    I have the Ridgid. It is an excellent machine. ALL the HD I go to around Dallas have the replacement knifes, and they are on the net. Ridgid was well reviewd in a FWW comparison last year. The new dewalt machines look really great! Even the less expensive model has three knives. I've used the Delta and although it works great, it did not perform better than the Ridgid.

    Also, if you can be patient wait untill someone returns a unit to HD. I got mine for $100 off because the stand was bent in shipping. I "unbent" it easily!

    Mike

    please excuse my spelling.
1. 
   lawrie | Jun 15, 2004 06:05am | #14

   Hi Mike,

   I have the Ridgid planer and jointer. Paid $400 for the planer, but got the floor-sample jointer for $225. I am very happy with both. Since I am still learning this gig I am not the one to listen to for the years of experience, but I do appreciate the machines.

   For Home Depot service, I have had to return my 12" chop saw, which they replaced with pleasantries. They still have planer knives in stock, not the jointer ones.

   The planer is solid and totally easy to use. The head lock is very secure and I have no problem with snipe as long as I have the infeed and outfeed tables (included, fold-up) adjusted properly. Thre is a thickness guide above the mouth with which you can measure what you would cut off with the heads in the present position, making it easy to know how to adjust height before cutting. There is a repeat-a-cut feature I have not used. Knives are of decent quality--no chips yet despite a few mistakes. And yes, it was rated highly (especially in minimality of snipe) by Fine Homebuilding.

   The jointer is pretty good too. Very stable. I am not skilled on it yet, so I am not sure how much to remove at each pass, but the adjustments are easy to make. My only qualm is that the fence is not completely flat. I should return it for a new piece or take it and have it ground. But otherwise another good find.

   The new DeWalt planer is probably the next most interesting and probably what I would buy if the Ridgid got eaten by my dog.

   Have fun with any of them,

   Lawrie

12. 
    CharlieP | Jun 15, 2004 06:39am | #15

    I have the Delta 580 planer - works fine, but I have also used the Ridgid, and wish I had the Ridgid instead - it is a much heavier unit. 

    Ridgid is going through some turmoil as they shift from domesitic to off-shore manufacturing, and suffer from the fall-out of a lawsuit by Sears (they made the Craftsman tools back when they were good).  Parts can be slow, but they are available on the web.  Home Depot service varies, as with any mass market chain store, but my experience has been good (They fixed the problem with the Delta I bought at Home Depot, but I had no problem with the Ridgid tools bought there). 

    I have the Ridgid jointer, which is an outstanding 6 1/2 inch tool.  If you only use a jointer for edges, you have been watching Norm too much - it is far more important to flatten a board.  The problem I have is that most top grade hardwood must be at least 6 inches wide to be top grade, so most of the good wood doesn't fit the 6 1/2 inch jointer.  I now consider 8 inches the minimum width. 

    Given your budget, I suggest you find an 8 inch jointer, then use the balance on whatever thickness planer you can afford - such as the low end Delta.

    b 

    ________________________
    Charlie Plesums  Austin, Texas
    http://www.plesums.com/wood