I have a chance to buy this 3HP planer for $200. It is actually sitting outside in the elements and the pictures show brown/red rust everywhere 2 hours driving distance. I already have a Rigid 13" 4661 lunchbox planer. Just wondering if the rust / restoration is worth this planer.
This is definitely a "maybe". If it runs, and that's only surface rust it would be worth a gamble…the price is certainly attractive. But depending on how long it's been out (who in the hell does that?) it may be beyond hope (not likely). If it can be made serviceable it would be a nice upgrade from a lunchbox. I don't consider a 2 hour trip too much to at least look at it.
it is from a friend of a friend of a friend so emailing is the way to interact for this sunday afternoon.
i did toss an email asking why it is sitting out in the elements, does it even run.
the rust issue… i bought a 6" rockwell jointer that has surface rust that cleaned up nicely. i have never owned a "true" planer such as this before so am unsure IF rust is prevalent, what to look for. I assume, the 4 posts and bed itself… motor as well.
If the motor runs, the drum spins, and the feed rollers operate; I would sure give $200 for it. And drive 2 hours to pick it up! (and I already have 13 and 18" planers!)
The rust will be on the cast iron and polished steel (table, columns, maybe the cutter head itself, check the serrated infeed roller). If things move semi-smoothly (the table adjustment up/down), it runs, and the 2 speeds are intact (you have to shift gears while it's running) grab it!
Boy, that looks like a LOT of work. My biggest concern would be parts frozen to other parts by rust. Just looking, I can see hours of work alone just getting the table off the columns, so it will go up and down again. From there, think of all the bearings, if water has invaded the end caps where the chain drive and sprockets live, all the rust.
That planer new is well over what, $1300?
But if you have to invest about 100 hours of your time, plus $200 and the day to get it home, new blades, bearings, chain, etc., it starts to make you wonder.
The last consideration is if and when you get all the rust off, and everything does move and work, are the dimensions still held to take off a finite cut since all the dimensions will be looser compared to when it was new?
well, price was knocked down to $100. The people who have it said no powering up in couple years since it first sat out in yard. It came from a relative. I figure, 4 hours of my life driving and $100 for this Jet Planer is worth it. $200 was… iffy as I can forsee the cleaning and refit needed.
So I will have 2 planers: my rigid 4661 and this planer (once i get it working). Any use to have 2 different planers? Or should I sell off the rigid ?
That will be a heck of a deal, and all you need to do is add some elbow grease, and probably some bearings. Break her down treat her right and you got a steal!
I kind of am looking forward to cleaning it up. Gives one the clearing of the haze of a mechanical mysticism for a machine. Did the same for my Rockwell jointer. In the end, I will fully understand the parts and mechanics of a planer.
Proud owner of the Jet planer. Price was dropped to $100, I could NOT pass this up. Picked it up today. Took nearly 2 hours to get into the truck with Einstein scientific ways (teeter totter back and forth on cinder blocks to raise it high enough to tilt over into truck bed). Never had to deal with something 500lbs before. Should of had my Wheaties before hand. How will I get it out of the truck? No idea… but should be an interesting feat of human engineering and thought to get it out.
You call that rusty? That's nothing. Make a pair of long wooden ramps and slide it down out of the truck. I do that all the time. Make sure you attach them to the truck hitch or something with ratcheting straps so they don't move off the tailgate on you.
horrible deal. I will give you $50 for it just so I can put it on my boat as an anchor.
You must work for the IRS because you just got a bit of a steal. Even if you have to drop some cash for new bearings and even a new cutterhead, if it will power up and run its a great deal. Even a 2hp motor is not too much cash.
it was on craigslist for 2 weeks. I was the only person who showed interest. Initially, the ad said $200 with a picture of the Jet mfg tag only. Was really surprised no one else made a go of it. I asked for body width pictures and they sent me what everyone sees above.
Still waiting for a Powermatic 8" jointer for $50 and a 20" bandsaw for $50. Oh, and a Stanley #1 plane pristine in original box for $10
If you don't have a digital camera get a cheap one for the shop,Take before pictures of everything you remove BEFORE you remove it a ruler in the photo helps.that way when it comes time to reassembly you can look at the photo and remember that it goes this way this far from there.And if you have to find parts you can look at the photos when there is more than one choice of that item.never trust your memory.
Just get a bunch of guys together (3-4) and lift it up and set it down on something next to the bed that's a little lower. Rinse and repeat until you're on the ground. Don't try to do it all in one pass because it's hard to transition without hurting your back.
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