I’m interested in buying a planer. I don’t need top-of-the-line, but I would like to have good dust collection and avoid as much snipe as possible. It will be kept on a shelf and moved to my main workbench for use, so weight is another consideration.
I’m intrigued by the new Jet benchtop jointer/planers, but I don’t know much about them.
Any suggestions on a planer?
Replies
Sir.. I would say all will give some snipe in the right conditions. Or even if you have the 'right' conditions.. Or at least you thought you had.
I love my newer Dewalt 13 inch? Big old yellow thing that will spit out dust for 1/2 mile without a head wind!
And I had this old 13 inch from Menards that worked better than OK but not the same as the Dewalt at twice and more of the price. Performax? I think that is the name. Worked quite well!
Edited 2/27/2009 3:50 am by WillGeorge
Once you have a planer, you'll probably realize that snipe is more of a small irritation than a real problem.
I find that I'm using two-step cutting processes -- cut it a couple of inches long in the rough, then mill it flat, straight, square, and to thickness. Then cut to final dimension.
I have the Delta two-speed, and it does a very good job. But note that any planer is quite heavy (75 lbs ?). Your plan to keep it on a shelf might eventually give way to some sort of roll-away cart. I've not built mine yet, but it's in the plans. Gotta save my back as much as possible.
I have the Rigid 13" for about 5 years and have never had any problems with it. Dust collection? What dust collection. It is amazing how much comes out of the planer even hooked up to the dust collector.
ASK
The DeWalt 13" DW735 has excellent dust collection... until the dust collector fills up - amazing how quickly that can happen. (One vote for the DeWalt).Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I have to echo the vote for the DeWalt. I have the 735 and it does fine on all lumber I throw at it, and it is a charm if you do not have dust collection because you simply buy the attachment so that you can blow the chips into a 55 gallon trash bag. Some will say the only knock on the 735 is the knives. Good luck!
Bio
Chris,
Last weekend I was planing walnut for a couple of comfy chairs I am making for the living room. I had rough cut all the pieces, about 80, and was planing to final dimensions. I think I planed as much as I have in the actual pieces and if one considers the entire basement shop the dust collector, it did a wonderful job. All the planed material stayed in the basement.
Enjoy your weekend
ASK
Sounds like you have your weekend cut out for yourself. Got a good shopvac?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Lots of mortises to cut. The tenons were done last weekend. A lot less mess.
I have a really good dewalt vacuum that I don't think they make any more hooked up to a plastic pipe system under the 7' X 8' work table with blase gates on each side. Table saw hooked up to 1.5 hp grizzly portable collector. But as you well know there is always saw dust and chips to vacuum up after you're finished.
ASK
The Makita is only 12" compared to the 13" of newer models, but it's light (67 lbs) and "quiet" at 83 db and is reputed to be a real workhorse. I have a Steel City, but quickly made a flip-top cart for it as it was too heavy to lift comfortably. The big DW is even heavier. I had a Delta before, and snipe was more of a problem with that, but I still get some from the SC, esp. on wide boards. Seems to come with the territory. BTW you have to buy the dust hood for the Mak. separately, for about $30.
Jim
+1 for the Makita 2012NB.
"It is hardly too strong to say that there are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." -- Noah Webster
I've been curious about the new Jet planer/jointer also. Unless you're only doing boxes and other small piece, though, an ~8" planer would be pretty restrictive.
As far as dust collection on a planer goes, I would think as long as there's a good hood and port, you'll get satisfactory results. The DeWalt 735 has fan-forced chip ejection, which would help with a smaller DC. We did have one member who got a surprise when he located his DC a little too close to the 735 (short hose) -- turned the inside of his cannister filter into a porcupine. Funny, IMHO.
The 735 is a heavy beast, though, for a "portable" planer. Shipe avoidance seems to be as much a technique thing as the maching itself. If I get sloppy with stock support, snipe is a problem. If I pay attention, it's negligible (on a Delta 12.5").
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 2/28/2009 11:06 pm by forestgirl
I've been curious about the new Jet planer/jointer also. Unless you're only doing boxes and other small piece, though, an ~8" planer would be pretty restrictive... FG.. de Judge
The whole "shooting match" weighs 54.8 lbs. total... which wouldn't exactly excite "Tim.. Tool Time Taylor" in his quest for "Mo Power" so hopefully that will satisfy your curiousity to some degree. :>)
Sarge..
Pesonally, I'd go for this one, a 500# 12" beast, reviewed by Tom Hintz last year.
Here's a picture from his web site:
View Image forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I do believe that would be a better.. over-all choice by a few pounds and HP rating... just a guess of course! :>)
Sarge..
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