Thank you all for your input re: surface sanders. I have made no decision as yet, but I have a more pressing need: A new surface planer. I have the Makita 12 1/2″, good machine, but I am going to burn it out if I don’t upgrade. I am not a Delta fan, but I am considering it , the 15″, over the comparable Jet/Powermatic. I am a PM66 owner and am very pleased, but in this case, the Delta seems like the better machine. I am also considering the Powermatic 20″ unit, but that would be a “premium” purchase for me.
Thanks,
John Martinsky
Replies
John,
Have you considered the Grizzly G1033 20" planer. It received Popular Woodworking's Editors Choice award. It costs only a couple hundred dollars more than the Delta and other comparable 15" models and weighs in at over 700 lbs.
Know a couple people who have these and a few on this forum also have them. From all I've seen and heard, it's just plain reliable workhorse.
Jeff
BTW, aren't the knives on the 15" Delta a real pain to change?
I purchased the Geetech 15" (sold by Sunhill Machinery) and love it. The operation is very smooth and raising the bed is made much easier by a small gearbox at the handwheel. My brother has a Delta 15" and raising the bed is very stifff as you are raising the motor along with it and it has no gear reducer at the handwheel. It is also cheaper. The Geetech weighs about 500 lbs.
Why buy new? Go to woodweb.com and look around or post a WTB ad. Saw a couple 15" and 18" machines cheap. With the slump in the economy it's a buyers market. A Powermatic 160 is priced about the same or less than a new Jet or Delta. There's alot of good used equipment around, you just need to look for it. About weight, my Rockwell 13 is 668 lbs and my PM221 tips the scale at 2200+ lbs.
Dave Koury
Edited 3/31/2003 4:34:49 PM ET by DJK
I have the WoodTek 20, which is probably the same as the Grizzly. I like it fine, but were I to do it again, I would have gone used. My friend just bought an Oliver 24" today, which together with a Cresent 16" jointer, was $3900 (for both). They are 3 phase, which he has, but will get a phase converter if he moves the shop. I am a big fan of heavy metal, older US machines.
I would have to agree with the used idea. I got my 1960 Rockwell 13", fully reconditioned, including a new 3 hp Baldor motor for $1200. The thing is a monster and eats whatever I feed it. I am a real fan of older iron, a lot more bang for the buck
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