Which planer should I get.

The Rigid is a good planer. I have it and love it. I see it consistently priced at $400 at HD. My version has 2 cutting blades, but the newer edition has 3 cutters. Dust collection is fine using my 1hp jet collector on a 10’ run. I occasionally get snipe, but most days there’s none – usually it has to do with how I pull the feed from the planer.

-- "Being a perfectionist does not make one perfect..."

I think that you will get similar results from all the planers that you mentioned. If you have a dc you won’t need the chip blower on the dewalt. The rigid has a good warranty. I would also check the cost of replacing the blades. If you adjust the indeed and out feed tables (not standard on the dewalt) you can almost eliminate snipe, but if your board is too short to reach both rollers and the ends of the in feed/out feed tables you will get snipe every time. No matter what planer you use you will have to do some sanding/hand planing/scraping before you finish.
Tim

-- Although the voices aren't real they have some pretty good ideas.

I always advise spending the extra dollars for a planer powered by an AC induction motor. Last year I read a magazine review on benchtop planers, all powered by universal motors, and all of them produced over 90 dBA, one as high as 94. Hearing loss is greatly accelerated at these levels.

Sadly, hundreds, perhaps thousands of woodworkers are losing their hearing little by little every day. Spending extra dollars for a planer today is much better than spending much more for hearing aids later on. Benchtop planers are among the worst offenders in this regard.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

I hate when people provide advice that is off of what you’re really looking for, but I’m going to do it anyway….

I’d suggest investing in a couple solid hand planes (#4 smoothing, and #7 jointer specifically). You could pick up some excellent used ones on ebay with lots left over, or you could even get Veritas or maybe even Lie Nielsen for both. A lot of people seem to really get a lot of satisfaction out of hand planing, so it might be worth a shot.

-- Life is a one lap race.

I’d go with the Dewalt 13”, although there are many good ones out there. It’s rugged, low profile, low footprint & enjoys great reviews. I got mine for $499 with the stand during some kind of sale. Of course, I’ll trade you mine for a 20” Powermatic helical :) Of course, like Pete says^, I couldn’t possibly recommend a power planer without first recommending the exact hand planes he mentions. Beyond the #8 & #7, I’m a big believer in the #5 1/2 & especially the #6 for non-jointing work. I think the #6 is kind of a forgotten tool, often considered redundant by many. It’s got the width, length, and heft that make it a really enjoyable plane for me.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Forgot…how about a combo jointer-planer? The JET gets mixed reviews but if shop space & money are at a premium, it might be a consideration. Good luck!

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

I was in the same boat once upon a time…

I happened to search eBay… saw a Used, Like New DW-375… had a crappy picture which scared most people off… I inquired, had better pictures sent to me, bid & won it! It was barely used at all!

Got it for about $375 delivered to my door ($325 + $50 ship)...

So, I would say… look on eBay & keep on looking… be patient…

I was also looking on Craigslist & other For Sale sections on forums, etc.

My main target was the DW-375… Love it…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Correction: my fiance’ is telling me that I got it for $599 with a stand (my apologies). When shopping for my DeWalt 735, I tried out Makita’s version. My friend really loved his & it seemed to work quite well. If I’m remembering correctly, it was rated highly & a bit cheaper than the DeWalt. I’ve got another friend who absolutely loathes his Steel City, for what that’s worth. Like Joe says^, hard to go wrong with the DW375 even if it’s a bit pricey.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

I had the Dewalt for a long time until I had some room and stepped up to a Grizzly 20” GO454. What a difference in results….but the Dewalt is a very good machine for it’s size and price….especially if you are not working with wide or long boards. I run the heck out of this Grizzly and it takes it all (5 hp just plows through the wood without a whimper).....I converted the knives to a spiral (I don’t recommend that if you do not understand mechanics (removing pulleys…etc)) – though to be honest….I think the knives made just as good a surface as the spiral (but it is quieter now and the inserts are easier to change).

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Reggie, one of these days I’m stepping up to a monster planer like yours. Probably either the Powermatic or a similar industrial machine. I don’t plan on spending the $$ on a helical cutter. I’ll put that money toward a drum sander. I’m envious of your 20”!

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

If you can buy today tooliday has the Dewalt 735 on special for $399. It is reconditioned but still the cheapest I’ve seen it.

http://recon.tooliday.com/

What I like about the DeWalt is that it has three blades and a chip blower that makes the dust collection system, I have, do a perfect job of chip removal.

-- In God We Trust

Save your money to spend on a used 15” planer. I have a DeWalt 735; it was okay, these little planers are abusively loud, and can only take a very shallow cut. Since I found my used Griz 15”, the DeWalt has been on vacation. The difference is night and day; depth of cut, feed speed, etc, etc. Instead of spending hours milling, you spend minutes. I only use the “little” planer now for thin stuff, which it does very well at. Plus, the decibels are way lower. Way, way, lower.

Although I’m happy with my DeWalt, Misbeshavings makes a good point. There’s really no comparison to a heavy, wide, stationary planer. Except the cost & footprint. My DeWalt’s on a stainless cart & I just wheel it out of the way when I’m not using it. I just wheel it up to the table saw, clamp it in place, and use the saw as an outfeed table. I don’t use it that often, admittedly, but when I do, it’s been worth every bit of the price.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

At A tool supply atore, after cosidering 4 planers in the $450-$550 price range I noticed one of the manufactures bragging about not having any plastic parts. So I weighed them, found out the heaviest one had the biggest motor. That’s the one I bought. They all had the same cutting capacity. It’s an old two knife DeWalt that’s gotta be 6+ years old and still works fine. What ever you get put it on wheels so you can roll it outside.

-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with