new thickness planer?

tmaxxx | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on December 30, 2006 09:09am

Hello all.

I am in the market for a new thickness planer and im hoping to get your thoughts on a new one. I recently blew up my Delta 13″. I could get it fixed but i was never overly impressed with it because i often do 2×6 hardwood in 6-8′ lengths and i get alot of snipe and it is hard on it. Ealier this year i purchased a big General but had a long frusterating time trying to get it to not snipe. the result was it performed no better that the delta so i returned it.

I guess my choices are the DW 735, the ridgid, the 15″ delta thats on a stand or fix my current model.

Whats your thoughts?

thanks and happy new year.

Tmaxxx

Urban Workshop Ltd

Vancouver B.C.

cheers. Ill buy.

Replies

GotAll10 | Dec 30, 2006 09:28am | #1
I have had the Rigid for about 6 months. Have run about 500BF of walnut, maple, poplar through it. Very little snipe, I am pleased with it.

Paul
P3Driver | Dec 30, 2006 05:51pm | #2
Been using my DW735 for over a year without any problems. Excellent thickness planer with an exceptional chip removal system. My only complaint with the 735 is the outfeed tables are optional expense. They should be integral. While the built in chip removal system is excellent, I still hook the system up to my dust collector. The hose and skirt they sell for use with a garbage can is practically useless. Also, I recommend you purchase the mobile base to go with the planer. It makes life a lot easier.
forestgirl | Dec 30, 2006 08:09pm | #3
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that either (a) you're beyond a portable planer sufficing for your work or (b) some set-up or feed support things need to be tweaked in your shop. I can run a board like that through my 12.5" Delta and get almost no snipe at all, but I'm not in a hurry, take light passes, and I have plenty of infeed-outfeed support with the stand the planer is on.

A 6" wide piece of hardwood shouldn't be particular hard on a planer.

forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
ctsjr | Dec 30, 2006 08:29pm | #4
I've had the Ridgid for 8 months; run white oak and cherry through it with little or no snipe. As long as I support the board on both infeed and outfeed ends, snipe is not a problem. When I've had snipe it's because I didn't properly support the board, usually on the outfeed side. Blade change is a snap, too. Tom

"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"