Thickness Planer

Here is a post with some info.

http://lumberjocks.com/topics/556

I also see them quite frequently on Craigslist. This might work for you if your near a larger metro area. Delta, Rigid and Dewalt all make some good models.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Thanks Wayne. I checked that thread and got some helpful information from it.

Does anybody have any experience with the Ryobi model 1300. I saw that one at Home Depot today. It is small enought that I might be able to move it around. They also had the Ridgid, but it looked pretty heavy and would be better for a stationary setup.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I think I would recommend Delta over the Ryobi just from a brand perspective…. I have not used one. You may want to look at this model…

http://www.amazon.com/Delta-ShopMaster-TP305-Benchtop-120-Volt/dp/B0007DFWR6/ref=sr_1_9/104-5074125-1279925?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1184700644&sr=1-9

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I have a Dewalt that I swear by. I don’t have experience with any other.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Mot, I bet after having a planer, you would be hard pressed to be without it. Am I right?

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I have a Delta that I am very happy with.

I also have a friend with a Dewalt who is also happy with it.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Good thread Tom. I’m in the same boat. Not having a planer makes some things difficult if not impossible. I’ve managed to convert my spindle sander to do some light joining but I’d love to have a planer.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Bob, It’s only because of lack of space that I have put off buying one so far. If I could find a decent planer that wasn’t too expensive or BIG, I think I’m ready to do it.

I have tried to get by with hand planes, but I guess I’m not enough of a “purist” to go that route. I have owned a planer in the past when I also had a larger shop, and it was great to turn that thing on and stick my board in one end and catch it at the other – perfectly parallel.

You guys with the big shops are blessed.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Hey Tom,

I have a big shop but a small planer. You can see my Delta sitting on a stand I got for $10 at Harbor Freight, and that sitting on a wood frame with wheels so I can get it out of the way when I need to.

It’s also easy enough to pick up and put it somewhere out of the way. That’s what I did when I was in my garage.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Gary,
That’s exactly the kind of solution I’m looking for – mobility. Your planer looks like it’s a step up from the one I recently saw at Lowes for around $230. Do you remember what your’s cost?

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I’m in the same boat. I don’t have much any more room in my shop. Even a small machine would be tough to fit.

The folks with a big shop are blessed. I love my shop but I’d love to be able to setup some tools in permanent locations instead of moving everything into position. I even have to carry my tablesaw outside in order to do anything of any size. LOL….if I had a planer and wanted to plane an 6’ board I’d have to open the window.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Bob,
Someday, when we get to heaven, we’ll have a shop like Gary’s ;^D

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Tom, I wouldn’t be without one. Take a look at my shop photos and see where I put mine. You can hide a lunchbox planar in a lot of places.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Tom,

I got the planer and the drill press you see behind it for $400. I found it in the newspaper. Both were like new.

I just finished adding a digital scale readout to the planer which takes a lot of trial and error out of it.
It’s made by Wixey (www.wixey.com) and I also have their digital angle guage which I wouldn’t do without.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Woodcraft now wants $469! for the planer that Gary (and I) have. It was $359 a couple years ago….

It’s been a great planer though – no real complaints. What about the 12” or 12.5” Deltas? – I think Wayne provided a link above to one of those…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA