I have a delta 12" desktop style planer. I buy rough sawn lumber so I use it often. It seems to bog down after a while and is loud as hell. Is this normal? This is the only planer I've ever used. My jointer is awesome, not loud and fast (jet 6"). Do I just need to change the knives? If so, how often should I change/flip them? By the way, changing the knives on the delta takes forever. Are there better models out there where I can easily change the knives? Sorry for all the questions but this is my least favorite tool (and thus process) when milling and I want it to not be.
The small planers have universal motors which make them very loud. Stationary machines usually have induction motors which are much quieter and in my opinion more powerful for a given power rating. If you purchased a full size planer I imagine you would see a similar improvement in sound and power as to what you now see in your jointer.
Like Pete said, the lunch box planers are loud…...really loud. If you want to make it worse, hoo it up to a strong DC…then it really howls. Anyway, you didn't mention which model your planer is, but I had a 22-540 for several years (the first one they made) and it was a head ache to change knives. Then I bought a pair of these, it was still some work but not nearly as bad as using that useless knife gauge that Delta supplied.
Most newer benchtop planers have self-indexing disposable knives. Just drop them in and you are ready to work. Some machines can be upgraded to spiral heads with carbide cutters, which decreases the noise level significantly. It won't help with the no-load motor noise, but it decreases the high pitched cutting noise significantly.
Many newer bench top planers are easier when it comes to knife changes due to the already mentioned disposable knives that just drop in, you don't have to set the height as some older models require. I have a DeWalt DW734 and the knives are getting dull, I can tell when the maximum cut without bogging the motor excessively is reduced and it does get louder to as it's beating the wood more instead of just cutting it. A larger planer with an induction motor will be quieter as a general rule, but as the knives dull on any planer (not to mention how hard the wood is you're planning) it will make more noise as it works.
Hey Buck, usually if the sound progressively gets louder and the bogging down starts, it's time to replace or sharpen the knives. I take my knives for my Ryobi jointer to a local sharpener and have for years. I have yet to take out the knives for my Dewalt DW735 but I keep a spare set on hand for when I need them. They were a nice Christmas gift.
Sounds like you need to either replace or flip them if possible.
I also have the Delta 22-540 planer and after using it alot it also got very noisey. Take the side covers off gains access to the bearings and drive chain. Apply a couple of drops of 3 in 1 oil to all the bearings and chain should take care of alot of the noise. I change the blades using the mini planer pals which Fred has the link to, these work very well.
If it got progressively louder then odds are the knives are shot.
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