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9K views 19 replies 14 participants last post by  lumberjod 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ok, I now there are no really good and really lightweight planers out there but I need to find the best I can get for up to 300 USD, hopefully a lot less.

I am going to take it as checked luggage on a spirit flight to Colombia so it MUST be lightweight, not going to be a tool for life just for a few projects and then hopefully we will be moving to the states and I will get myself a good old heavy planer to restore.

So for now any tips? Used is great if in good condition, not much chance of getting parts in Colombia.

The lightest ones I have found so far is the Ryobi AP1301 but they do not have the head lock that the older AP1300 had, anyone knows a good AP1300 for sale and anyone know how much it weighs?

I greatly appreciate all help, will be landing in Miami on the 20 of august and leaving on the 24. So I want to have something sorted before I go back down.
 
#2 ·
Any of the decent to good ones will be at least 60-80 lbs. Any machine that weighs less than that is not likely to work too well. The only exception to that in my experience was that I used to have a Ryobi AP10 that was build like a tank. However, they stopped making it 15 or 20 years ago. My suggestion would to take a couple of hand planes. Similar cost, lighter weight, and you will keep them for a lot longer. Of course, dimensioning lumber will take more time.
 
#3 ·
I think you're going to find a planer still pretty heavy in a
box.

The old Ryobi AP-10 may be the lightest planer. They
don't make it anymore. Harbor Freight may have
sold a knockoff for awhile.

You might consider hand planes. I surfaced plenty of wood
with hand planes when I was starting out. It's sweaty
work but I learned a lot from it.

For slabs or removing a lot of wood to get to a gauged
line (after one face is flattened) a handheld electric planer
can be used. The technique is similar to hand planes
but it's faster to hog wood off.
 
#5 ·
You didn't mention the scope of the few projects you have to do. Would a hand plane do? Much cheaper and much lighter.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Yes we are on standard US system, both plugs and 110 v (should be but varies a lot so everything I have runs through a stabilizer/regulator).

Might take a rali handplane with me as well but that is not really an option since I am going to remodel an apartment into three separate unit as an apartment hotel so I am planning on doing all the carpentry myself, so maybe a few projects was an understatement… Going to do the whole thing in an industrial rustic style though so I don't need perfect results but it needs to function well.

I have bought so called planed cedar boards here but they are so sniped and not square so I am planning on building a sled and long in/outfeed tables and take light passes to straighten up and get rid of the worst surface before sanding.

There is a ryobi 10" on ebay now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ryobi-10-Planer-AP-10-/141294911208?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e5d53ee8
is this the one you are talking about? Any idea on how much it weighs? Could one take it apart and pack the parts separately to get under the weight limit?

Spirit's charges for over weight so I need to find out what is cost/quality effective
41 - 50 lbs. (18 - 23 kg) $25
51 - 70 lbs. (23 - 32 kg) $50
71 - 99 lbs. (32 - 45 kg) $100

Could
 
#12 ·
#15 ·
Found a manual for the AP10 and it weighs 57,2 pounds according to the specs listed. Maybe the seller could be convinced to ship if no one else pays what he wants.

Does the Craftsman have a cutter head lock? Can't find the info on the webpage. Some reviewers state that it is too weak (12 amp)?

Saw that Craftsman got a helical head planer as well at only 399, sounds cheap? Anyone tried that one?
 
#17 ·
Well, that's close to what today's planers weigh. It probably
has some iron in it. These days the castings look like
magnesium.

I think the latest generation of planers may not need a
cutterhead lock. Somebody else could tell you for sure
but I think the engineers figured that out a few years
back.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
lumberjod....no cutterhead lock on that model. So snipe is inevitable. But one of ways to get around the snipe issue was posted by bandit…..I have no complaints with weakness. I don't abuse it though. I don't remove more than 3/32" to an 1/8" at a time. Generally 1/16" to 3/32" depending on softwoods and hardwoods. Less is more as I get smoother cuts. It's been a good performer overall. Dust collection is adequate. Knife changing is real easy.

Edit..here's a photo
Table Gas Tool Automotive exterior Machine
 

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#20 ·
wow guys, thanks for all the info!

Saw the older model of steel city 40100 for $264 on amazon and weighs 60.8 pounds with good reviews, maybe it is better to go for a new one then since I will bring it to Colombia and god knows what spareparts I will find…

Seen some ok reviews of the Ryobi AP1301 as well by quite a few people complain about the cutter head moving during planing so I don't know, maybe duck tape it down is the preferable engineering solution…
 
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