EU members: Which portable thicknessers do you use and where did you buy yours?

[RC]

I've been looking for a while now at getting a portable thickness planer (aka thicknesser) because I don't have the storage space for a combination machine or a floor-standing machine. I'm aware of the popular Dewalt DW735, Delta, Rigid and SteelCity helical cutter models in the US, but are not available in 230V on this side of the pond.
Got my annual performance bonus in and its obviously burning a hole in my pocket so its time to find my next investment target in woodworking  [tongue]

Please keep in mind that I'm purely a hobbyist and don't expect to run a thicknesser all day long, everyday, nor do I have a dry space to store any floor standing machinery at all since my 'shop' is my back yard when its dry and warm. When not in use I pack my tools under the stairs and in the walk-in wardrobe at home (which with Finnish seasons pretty much means 6-8 months a year). I do however prefer quality over cheap price so I am prepared to purchase a quality tool rather than a Chinese re-branded gadget unless I get some really solid first hand referrals to a known good model.

I am also fully aware that getting only a thicknesser is a suboptimal solution, but paired with hand planes and a sled for badly warped material straightening I believe it would be an improvement over my currently non-existent capability to thin boards to thickness required and being stuck with what ever thickness happens to be available at the lumber yard or trying to thin boards down with my EHL65 or #4 Stanley...

There seems to be a universal lack of any (video) reviews of portable 'lunch box' thicknessers that are available in Europe with the exception of the older DW733 Dewalt (reviews based on the 120V NA version, but I presume its mostly same), Makita 2012NB and even the Makita videos on FaceTube are mostly in Spanish or Russian. What I've been able to locate at on-line stores seems to be either no-name Chinese clones branded under 'reliable names' like Woodstar, a few places  quote a price for the DW733 and Axminster in the UK has a single Jet model and their own Axcaliber model (presumably Chinese as well) and the Makita 2012NB.

Therefore I'd like to get your input on
- Which European available makes/model of thicknessers you use either at your shop or on the road?
- How do you like your machine - would you recommend it?
- Where did you purchase yours from or pointers to EU based online shops?

 

[Kev]

Can you source the Metabo DH330 in Finland?

If I was looking for a portable, I see little outside of Metabo 330, Makita 2012, Dewalt 735 worth considering in this category available in Oz - which I'm guessing will be similar to Europe's offering.

I've looked at (but haven't tried), Ryobi, Hitachi, Jet, Carbatec (Carbatec are locally branded generic Chinese made models) and haven't been impressed.

I'll be very interested to see what sort of answers you get here!

 

[Kev]

Ah - just noticed you quizzed the 330 in another thread  [embarassed]

 

[mattfc]

I had the Metabo 330.. and judging from one of JMBFestool's recent pictures so does he. Was great, no problems, did a lot of walnut on it, would sometimes whine a bit of I tried to take too much off (2mm+) in one go with a very wide plank.

Had some snipe on the first 30mm or so, but probably more user error and to lady to spend time fiddling with the in and outfeed tables, was easier to just chop it off as always thicknessed before dimensioning

 

[RC]

So what do you use now Matt?

 

[Mauri Motti]

Hi Reiska,

I bought my Jet thickness planer from here in Espoo! (JWP-12)
Think I payed just under 300 Euros about a two years ago?

PS:
If you're interested you may buy mine for... what about 100€. It needs the blades replaced but I still have the replacement blades that came with the machine when I bought it. I'm sure that its not the best machine out there (very noisy and the feeder sometimes slips, though with some wax easy fix) but it gets the job done. Since I now have a surface/ thickness combo I don't need the Jet anymore.

 

[RC]

Mauri, check you PM's  [wink]

 

[RC]

Anyone have experiences on the Makita 2012NB thicknesser on either side of the pond?

I've been reading through customer comments on Amazon on this the and the DeWalt DW733 and people seem very satified in the Makita even though its rated at a lower power rating than the others. People seem to find it a bit quieter than the DeWalt machine. What eludes me with this one is that I've seen a couple of mentions of an integrated head lock on the Makita, but Makita's own website nor the user manual make any mention to this feature at all.

In the few videos of it on FaceTube it seems like a very simple machine and spec wise it should be rather quiet (rated at 83dB vs. 98dB for the DeWalt). The only (a bit dodgy looking) 'review' I found online seems to be a somewhat autogenerated by a script claims that there is something called interna-lok to automatically lock the head when in use.

Does the 2012NB have such a mechanism and is it this that makes it seemingly very snipeless (don't know if that's a word  [tongue]) as is reflected in many user comments on Amazon?

 

[Connollyir]

Anyone have experiences on the Makita 2012NB thicknesser on either side of the pond?

I've been reading through customer comments on Amazon on this the and the DeWalt DW733 and people seem very satified in the Makita even though its rated at a lower power rating than the others. People seem to find it a bit quieter than the DeWalt machine. What eludes me with this one is that I've seen a couple of mentions of an integrated head lock on the Makita, but Makita's own website nor the user manual make any mention to this feature at all.

In the few videos of it on FaceTube it seems like a very simple machine and spec wise it should be rather quiet (rated at 83dB vs. 98dB for the DeWalt). The only (a bit dodgy looking) 'review' I found online seems to be a somewhat autogenerated by a script claims that there is something called interna-lok to automatically lock the head when in use.

Does the 2012NB have such a mechanism and is it this that makes it seemingly very snipeless (don't know if that's a word  [tongue]) as is reflected in many user comments on Amazon?

Reiska,

I love my 2012 so much I actually purchased another one for my father for his birthday. I've run thousands of feet of red oak, rock maple, poplar, pine, etc. though it with no problem and great finish. I've owned mine for maybe 2 years to date and I changed the blades for the first time in December.

The interna lock is a gimmick to me.... although it produces very little snipe, I never cared about snipe too much because I always cut long and trim to size.

With a little maintenance the 2012 will last you forever, my cousin has had his about 8 years I think.

-Ian

 

[RC]

So Ian, what is the gimmicky part of this internalok? I couldn't really make out the functional structure of it from the stamp sized picture in the review. Does it really lock something or is it some sort of friction break system to stabilize the cutter head or what is it?

 

[Connollyir]

So Ian, what is the gimmicky part of this internalok? I couldn't really make out the functional structure of it from the stamp sized picture in the review. Does it really lock something or is it some sort of friction break system to stabilize the cutter head or what is it?

Reiska,

I guess what I'm saying by gimmick is that I could care less of that function was there or not due to the fact I trim off any snipe anyway. And to be honest I haven't really cared enough to look at it. If I had to take a guess I would say its probably a gear engagement on the cutter head assembly and rollers to keep them registering in the same plane, but thats just a guess.

-Ian

 

[cliffp]

Reiska

This thread has got me interested in the idea of a thicknesser. Have you got any further in your deliberations?

 

[RC]

Well, based on what I've found out during my trawling through the internet it would seem that in Europe the best options quality & feature wise would boil down to either the DeWalt DW733,  Makita 2012NB or Metabo DH330.

Out of these the Makita has been getting by far the best customer reviews. It's been said to last a lifetime, gets alot of props for being 'quiet' for a planer and simple and relatively snipeless in use with the integrated head locking mechanism as well as 'finish ready surface' straight from planing. It get regularly dinged in reviews for the dust shroud being a 20€ accessory [tongue] and sometimes people complain about feed roller slippage.

DeWalt gets dinged for being LOUD! and for the head locking clamp being slightly inconvenient to push down especially when planing thick material. Otherwise it get a lot of good rap for its features and functionality and longevity as well.

The Metabo sounds like a slightly cheaper real option - designed in Germany (ex. Scheppah), but manufactured in China like probably all the others as well, has a manual head lock that locks horizontally making it probably nicer to use than the DeWalt one, makes noise like the DeWalt, seems to have all the features found in these three, not much info available in english at all - mostly eastern block video review of it. JBM here has one and seemed happy with his one.

So out of these I'm leaning towards the Makita with an after market Wixey WR510 digital depth gauge but I'm waiting to see if Mauri wants to part with his old Jet one first before shopping for a new one since our local used market for these machines is practically zero.

If someone would make a 230V version of the SteelCity planer with the helical cutter heads I would jump for one immediately, but as it stands we are stuck with these options.  [sad]

 

[cliffp]

Reiska

Thanks for that. You have certainly unearthed a lot more than me! I think I may buy a Makita, particularly if I can get a secondhand bargain. Someone was selling one on Ebay (used for one job only) for £300. One job of course could mean one whole house restoration or a couple of planks! I think you can get a new one in the UK for £420.

 

[ajones]

How about the mafell ad160 that is also a planer anyone have one?

 

[RC]

Well, since the Mafell thicknesser is discontinued its not really a viable option.

 

[Nick C]

I had the DW735 for several years. Excellent machine. Sold it to get a Hammer A3 31 J/P combo. Not here yet, but soon... I wanted the jointer capability. At about 8x the price of the DW, I hope it's worth it.

 

[RC]

I wish DeWalt would get its finger out and make a 230V model of the 735, but as it stands the 733 is the most modern version available on this side of the pond.

 

[cliffp]

A lot of UK companies sell the Jet JWP-12 and think it is a good machine. Its also a lot cheaper at £280 and includes the dust shroud. The thing thats holding me back (and why I haven't settled on any particular machine) is that I would have to buy another dust extractor suitable for high volume and apart from the cost, there is the space it would take up. Apparently, using these machines without extraction outside doesn't work because they clog up. Reiska, were you planning to buy another dust extractor?

 

[RC]

Well, that is something that I have been wondering about as well. I was planning on trying it with my CTL26 and if that doesn't cut it acquire a dedicated small extractor for the planer if it needs a 100mm one.