Hi to All,
I’m finally going to purchse my first portable planer this week and I am seeking your wisdom. I had planned on buying the DeWalt 734 until reading some of the posts last week. I realize that last week’s posts referred to a different model DeWalt planer, but has anyone experienced similar (or any) problems with the model 734? My second choice is the Delta 22-580. Ditto for this model. I appreciate any advice and suggestions you can offer before I take the plunge.
Thanks in advance.
T2
Replies
I used to own the Dewalt, older model. Worked fine for me. I had to discard it when I burned up the motor. When I bought it I did not plan to use it as extensively as I did.Bought a planer with an induction motor to replace it. I have used the older Delta model too, also did a nice job but with a bit more snipe.I would not be afraid to buy either brand, if you think that you may use a planer quite a bit then I would check into full size machines with induction motors.
mike
The Delta you're considering is the 2-speed model, right? Pretty nice machine. Recent reports of Delta's customer service have been much better than people's experiences a couple years ago or so. I think the DeWalt you were reading grim reports about is the new 3-knife, 2-speed model; they probably didn't get the bugs worked out before the released it (brings back memories of when they released their fancy contractor's saw). 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" .... :>)
You know how it goes with these tool recommendations. None of us has the money to buy all the models and try each to decide which is best. So in these forums, we end up pushing the one we did buy.
I'm on my second portable planer in about six years. I use it mainly for rough and salvaged wood, since I can't bear to run this kind of stuff into my stationary planer with its $100 blades.
Here's my take:
By definition, portable planers come close to being disposable tools -- especially if you are going to use them frequently and hard.
They all seem to be pretty good these days, and I think you are probably safe to make a decision based on features. For instance, I don't know what sort of blades they are using in the new DeWalt, but it used to be you could pick between the Delta and the DeWalt based on your preference for disposable or resharpenable blades.
BTW, you can read magzine reviews, but none are set up to give you feedback on long term reliability or the longevity of the various models. And that seems to be one of the real issues with this line of machines.
In my opinion, the Delta 22-580 is the finest of the breed. It is laden with features and is a joy to use.
I bought a Delta and it was soooooo cool to turn garbage into real wood. You'd take some ugly grey board and out would come this beautiful piece of wood.. Over 40,000 bd.ft. later I'm still glad that I bought the portable planer!
I now buy rough sawn wood at prices you could only dream of and air dry it myself (cost nothing!)
Wood that sells for 6 to 10 dollars a bd.ft. I buy for a buck or so!
Having said that Delta was a royal pain in the posterior to work with (I actually got a lecture from one of their customer service reps when I called to complain) It arrived without the handles and it was over a month before that was taken care of..
The machine itself (once all of the parts arrived) was OK, within the limits of a portable planer. It doesn't work now but I'll get around to fixing it someday..
Pick one buy it and you won't regret it which one is better? "Well tell, me do you feel lucky?" Do that in your best Clint Eastwood imatation... ;-)
For what it's worth, I too have the Delta 2 speed (I think that's the 580), and it seems to be working fine. but I have no real basis of comparison with other portable planers.
My previous planer was also a Delta -- the one which takes 12 1/2" blades. I admit I ran it pretty hard until the bearings went -- but no where near the 40,000 feet a previous poster mentions. I still think it died too young, given the work it was assigned.
One of my favorite means of checking out tools before I buy is to stop at general tool repair services and ask for opinions. These people generally have strong opinions and they are always willing to pass them along.
You can usually save $$ by buying tools online or by mail, but I have always purchased from two local outlets, since the old hands at these places are also valuable sources of advice. For me, it's worth the extra cost.
Nikkiwood,
That was me, but I think either I mispoke or it was misread (probably the former)I only used my Delta for less than 2 or three thousand bd.ft. before it stared to act up and need attention.. Looking at the mountain of wood I went into plan B where I bought a Grizzly 20 inch planer.. I know of no one who has used those bench top planers for more than a few thousand bd.ft. They really aren't a heavy duty machine designed much more for the hobbiest than the guy who wants to get a lot done.
As far as the "old Hands" most work either on commision or are judged based on their sales performance.. Thus I see little value in getting an "old Hands" opinion on a piece of equipment that he learns about from the tool rep..
A guy who has worked for a while to master his craft didn't work with the light duty stuff that is coming on the market for the hobbiest. In addition the best craftsmen are not really the best machinists or repair men. Jack of all trades master of none applies here..
I do like your take on stopping by and asking a local repair shop about particular equipment, with the following cavot..
Every shop has the guy who's the expert onthe Brand X and another guy who's really sharp on Brand Y etc.. Just because they become expert on those pieces doesn't mean they are great tools! Personally I'd want a tool that nobody is an expert on! That's the tool that is most reliable!
But against that, every manufactorer makes tools on Friday afternoon. That's when guys are rushing to finish and get out of there to go fishing or whatever.. Did that set screw get properly tightened? Did everything get carefully aligned? Buy the "best" most expensive piece and still get a friday piece!
re: sales personnel
You're right that the tool reps get to bend their ear, but the two places I go have liberal return policies -- which means they are exposed to the litany from dissatisfied customers.
To wit: Some time ago, I went in to buy a RO sander that had been touted in a magazine piece. I asked one of the guys what he thought of the machine, and he told me why he didn't like it.
Well, I bought it anyway, and 3 days later I was back, hat in hand. He was gracious, and I walked away with the sander he had earlier recommended instead.
This is all about relationship building, and it works pretty well, as long as there isn't much turn-over in store personnel. It doesn't work, for instance, in the local Woodcraft outlet. For whatever reason, every time I walk in, they seem to have a whole new crop of people.
I bought the delta maiinly because of the customer service and parts availablity. But it does do a fine nice job. This is my 2nd delta planer that I bought. I keep buying them and will.
Darkworksite4:
El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera
I had an older delta 12 1/2", had lots of durability problems but I did run a lot of material through it. I ended up buying a rigid to replace it , seemed like the biggest bang for the buck. A freind of mine has the new Delta say's he likes it and that it cut real nice. Consider the blade prices and how easy it is to get them.I talked to my tool repair guy and he said to fix the motor on the rigid was as much as new planer, funny thing is thats why I replaced my old Delta.It's basically an expensive hand tool.If you don't need to move it consider one of the biigger ones .
I've had good results, and good luck, with a single-speed Delta I've been using for over a decade.
Chip & dust collection, ease & safety when changing blades, and the ability to accurately adjust the depth-of-cut are important in the short-term; in the long-term, cost of repairs and the ability to cut cleanly and accurately are worth paying attention to.
No matter which one you end up buying, don't forget to invest in appropriate hearing protection: even though the noise may seem tolerable, these machines produce sound pressure levels high enough to damage your hearing permanently.
Good luck,
-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Huh? What? Hearing protection? Just kidding, once again.There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
Bleu,
I hear ya - ha, ha.
A surface planer probably isn't any worse than standing in front of a bass amplifier the size of a refrigerator for hours on end - the damage just occurs at different frequencies: between playing and making basses, I oughta be as deaf as a runway rabbit by now!
BEADG,-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Hey,
I'll put in my vote for the Makita planer. It is substantially quieter than the other planers I've used (Ridgid and Delta), if that is a concern for you. Knife changes are quick and easy and it's very light, which is nice if you have to move it around much. Can't speak to reliability. I've had mine a year with no trouble. Downsides the dust collection port (not included) is an odd size 3".
Good luck,
Drew
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