Which Woodmaster model should I go with?

What are you planning to do with it? If you are primarily going to use it as a molding machine you might be able to get by with the 12”, but I wouldn’t because it’s nice to have the additional capacity. If you will primarily use it as a planer, then I would go with at least the 18”. If it will primarily be used as a drum sander I would suggest getting a dedicated drum or wild belt sander instead. If you have the space, money and power, then by all means supersize it!

They sell more 18” than the other sizes. I have the 18 and I love it. I use it mainly as a planer, and I got the spiral cutterhead as well, but the standard cutterhead works great too. The little bit of molding that I have done has turned out great, as this machine is optimized for molding more than anything else.

I think Woodmaster is the best kept secret in the woodworking world. They are well known for the molding capabilities but I feel that the planer is a great bargain, and for occasional use the drum sander is a nice option as well. Plus it is American made which make it unique in its class.

No, I have no affiliation with the company. Just a fan.

If you want to read more about my experience with the 718 I published a looooong review here:

Part 1
http://www.wwgoa.com/articles/product-reviews/woodmaster-718-review/

Part 2
http://www.wwgoa.com/articles/product-reviews/woodmaster-718-review-part-2/

Let us know what you end up doing.

-- PaulMayer, http://www.vernswoodgoods.com

+1 on the 718 … I got mine back in about 1992 and it has been great. I’ve read articles stating that the 725’s design is a bit different, and owners don’t seem to like them nearly as well … I’d stick with the 712/718 series. If you outgrow it’s capabilities for molding, you might want to supplement it with a Williams & Hussey machine later on.

-- - dabbling in sarcasm is foolish … if you’re not proficient at it, you end up looking stupid … ... ...

What are you going to use the machine to make?

You probably don’t need more than 12” to do mouldings
with it, even curved ones. How often do you need to
plane boards wider than 12?

DO you really want a machine that turns from a planer
to drum sander? If you’re in business to make money
that might not be the best decision.

Woodmaster makes a good product and if I were buying
one new I would probably get the 18”