Benchtop planer

[bpitch]

Hi everybody!

I am in the process of getting a benchtop thickness planer for my projects, but reading reviews on the sites as amazon proved to be not very accurate ( have had history ... )
Thus, I presume people who are here are actually using the tools, and I find this knowledge to be golden in value

The only request to stick to a benchtop planers that are widely available from online, or stores ( I know some planers made 30 years ago are excellent and run good, but they are antiques and hard to find

Thanks in advance!

 

[Zacharytanner]

I have 2 planers, a Ridgid 13 inch and a woodmaster 18 inch. I like both and would reccommend the Ridgid in a heartbeat, great little machine. I have had it 5 years and only replaced the belt once, my error caused it to burn-up  .

Frank

 

[mouppe]

+1 for the ridgid.

Here is my review from a while ago.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tool-reviews/ridgid-r4330-planer/

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

The one thing I can't stand about the lunchbox planers, is the noise they make.

 

[waho6o9]

My Dewalt planer works well for my needs.  [big grin]

 

[doc4som]

SteelCity offers a 13 in. boxlunch with a spiral cutter for $400 to $500. Peachtree  or Highland in Atanta,GA carries it. I have no personal experience with it but I have HEARD (cannot find the source) that it is good and quieter than other 13 in. Research it please, don't take my word for it.Good luck.

 

[davee]

My Dewalt 735 has worked very well for me.  Blades are easy to change.  I had to replace a broken sprocket once, but the part was easy to obtain and replace.  As mentioned earlier, it is extremely noisy. 

 

[bpitch]

So far I  the choice is between Dewalt DW 735, Ridgid R4331 ( newer version of an older R4330) or Steel city with Helical cutter-head.

Price wise, Ridgid is $100 cheaper compared to other two, and if HD will take a Harbor Freight coupon it will be another 20% off, so we are talking about $350 for a planer with tax. Very appealing price for a hobbyist

Steel city does look very nice, especially if noise is such a big issue ( gotta check on that and my neighbors

Dewalt, so far looks like has more features compared to others.

Gotta get a bit deeper I guess

Thank you guys for an input.

 

[josephgewing]

I have had great experience with the Steel City planer.  It is quieter than my Delta planer and it was able to plane very hard wood (Brazilian cherry/jotoba) which the Delta would not touch.

Joe
Las Cruces, NM