Inca Combo Jointer Planer 1.1kw

[MichaelW2014]

Hello good advisors. I am considering buying this Inca machine from a seller in Switzerland. His name is Roland Gloor. He specializes in Inca machines.

He is offering to sell me an Inca machine that looks brand new, as you can see in the photos. He is asking 1,500 swiss francs for it (1,440 euros). He is also asking for 550 euros for shipping to my location in Greece. Also, I will have to pay import fees. So the total price i would pay is around 2,400 euros!

The machine has tersa blades. he says it is powerful enough and I shouldn't worry about retrofitting it with a new motor.

it weighs 51kilos.

I need a small Inca due to space constraints. And i need precision, god dammit! If i had a dedicated studio I would just buy a Hammer.

Please send your advice. Thanks!

 

[alexander]

Hi,

I had some old INCA machines given to me. They are good, but not exceptional. Now I have replaced them with a Hammer A31.

But the price he is asking you is way too much and the shipping kind of crazy too, considering those INCA machines are pretty old and the brand doesn't exist anymore (if I'm not mistaken...).

If you need a small footprint and something you can move easily, why don't you look at the Metabo or Dewalt ones? Those are probably available in Greece with minor shipping cost and import fees.

For 2400 euros, you can almost get a Hammer A26 I think.

Well they are just my thoughts.

Alex

 

[MichaelW2014]

i want a very precise machine. i don't really trust the metabo nor the dewalt.  i have read bad things about the metabo combo planer jointers. have you had good experiences with them?

 

[alexander]

Metabo has one, it's the HC 260 C Planer / Thicknesser, a friend of mine has one and is happy with it. For Dewalt, it's the d27300.

I looked at them a few years ago and finally decided to go with the Hammer. INCA never crossed my mind. And honestly the price asked is too much and I live in Switzerland...., where we pay Festool like 20% more than anyone in EU. All that considered... it's your choice.

Alex

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Metabo has one, it's the HC 260 C Planer / Thicknesser, a friend of mine has one and is happy with it. For Dewalt, it's the d27300.

I looked at them a few years ago and finally decided to go with the Hammer. INCA never crossed my mind. And honestly the price asked is too much and I live in Switzerland...., where we pay Festool like 20% more than anyone in EU. All that considered... it's your choice.

Alex

I've been told that the Metabo  Jointer/Planer you're referring to is basically the same machine that is sold in the USA by Rikon.

http://www.amazon.com/Rikon-25-010-Planer-Jointer-10-Inch/dp/B003GXFZBM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metabo-HC260C-240-Planer-Thicknesser/dp/B002XFK13G

Due to the current exchange rates the Metabo is a much better price than the Rikon so it might be worth the price especially over the cost of the INCA which is much higher. My understanding though is that people who have seen or used both planers feel that the INCAs were better made than the current Rikon/Metabo planers. Supposedly the machines are very similar but the Rikon/Metabo machines may have had some parts simplified or cheapened, and not for the better.

I've known a few people who owned one of the INCA planers over the years. Most seem to have really liked them, as long as the capacity was acceptable. If you have the extra space and money to accommodate a larger Hammer machine that would probably be a better option.

There's a company in Switzerland that can supposedly supply parts for the INCA machines if necessary.

http://www.doebeli.ch/index.asp?page=produkte-inca-maschinen

This may also be an option for parts, although you'll probably need a parts list.

http://www.incamachines.com/

 

[alexander]

Yes the Metabo and the Dewalt are job-sites machines and probably less sturdy and lesser quality than the INCA. The tables of the INCA are grey cast iron and aluminium for the Metabo/ Dewalt ones. Those INCA machines where built at a time where quality was very important in a country where craftsmanship is very important too.

As a reminder, those INCA machines were built for the upper hobby market and entry-level for woodworking, a bit like the Hammer brand nowadays (entry level of Felder). The person who gave them to me was the grand-father (90 years old) of my wife, he got them at the supermarket store where he was working for a long time ago. I have an other friend who has a INCA table saw and he is happy with it, but it's kind of small, so he use it only for small stuff.

I looked at the website you gave me, Mr Gloor seems like a nostalgic about those tools, which were built a long time ago. The other link, sorry to say seems highly unprofessional (php errors on frontpage). So the two remaining sources of spare parts is one guy who loves his INCA machines and an other one, kind of hard to say if they are pro or not. I'm a bit of the devil-lawyer here. My idea is not to insult the remaining sellers of service/pare parts, but to offer an alternate view.  What will happen when Mr. Gloor will retire (it seems it's not in a too long time...).

So if the price was a lot less, like 500-700 Euros, I would say why not take the risks to get it. But at that price, with the expensive shipping, import fees, hmmm I would say no.

I know it's king of hard to find a good thicknesser/planner, small, not too heavy,.... which produce a good quality. I have been there. But when speaking jointer/planer and lightweight, it seems it's always a bad choice.

Good luck with your quest.

Alex

 

[waho6o9]

Too many variables and where will you get parts if needed?

 

[MichaelW2014]

Yes the Metabo and the Dewalt are job-sites machines and probably less sturdy and lesser quality than the INCA. The tables of the INCA are grey cast iron and aluminium for the Metabo/ Dewalt ones. Those INCA machines where built at a time where quality was very important in a country where craftsmanship is very important too.

As a reminder, those INCA machines were built for the upper hobby market and entry-level for woodworking, a bit like the Hammer brand nowadays (entry level of Felder). The person who gave them to me was the grand-father (90 years old) of my wife, he got them at the supermarket store where he was working for a long time ago. I have an other friend who has a INCA table saw and he is happy with it, but it's kind of small, so he use it only for small stuff.

I looked at the website you gave me, Mr Gloor seems like a nostalgic about those tools, which were built a long time ago. The other link, sorry to say seems highly unprofessional (php errors on frontpage). So the two remaining sources of spare parts is one guy who loves his INCA machines and an other one, kind of hard to say if they are pro or not. I'm a bit of the devil-lawyer here. My idea is not to insult the remaining sellers of service/pare parts, but to offer an alternate view.  What will happen when Mr. Gloor will retire (it seems it's not in a too long time...).

So if the price was a lot less, like 500-700 Euros, I would say why not take the risks to get it. But at that price, with the expensive shipping, import fees, hmmm I would say no.

I know it's king of hard to find a good thicknesser/planner, small, not too heavy,.... which produce a good quality. I have been there. But when speaking jointer/planer and lightweight, it seems it's always a bad choice.

Good luck with your quest.

Alex

Thank you Alex. Yeah, the price seems crazy. And what I really want is a hammer. But i can't get a hammer. i would have to wait another half year to two years until i can afford to get a real work space. So, in the mean time, i think i will take your advise and look more carefully at the metabo. I can't consider the dewalt for superficial/ aesthetic reasons. Metabo is a respected brand. I have read four reviews on amazon.com regarding this machine. the 260C. three reviews are highly supportive and one is a very negative.

also, i want to know if there is a tersa blade system available for the metabo 260C. any idea? thanks again for your thoughtful advise and suggestions.

 

[MichaelW2014]

Metabo has one, it's the HC 260 C Planer / Thicknesser, a friend of mine has one and is happy with it. For Dewalt, it's the d27300.

I looked at them a few years ago and finally decided to go with the Hammer. INCA never crossed my mind. And honestly the price asked is too much and I live in Switzerland...., where we pay Festool like 20% more than anyone in EU. All that considered... it's your choice.

Alex

I've been told that the Metabo  Jointer/Planer you're referring to is basically the same machine that is sold in the USA by Rikon.

http://www.amazon.com/Rikon-25-010-Planer-Jointer-10-Inch/dp/B003GXFZBM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metabo-HC260C-240-Planer-Thicknesser/dp/B002XFK13G

Due to the current exchange rates the Metabo is a much better price than the Rikon so it might be worth the price especially over the cost of the INCA which is much higher. My understanding though is that people who have seen or used both planers feel that the INCAs were better made than the current Rikon/Metabo planers. Supposedly the machines are very similar but the Rikon/Metabo machines may have had some parts simplified or cheapened, and not for the better.

I've known a few people who owned one of the INCA planers over the years. Most seem to have really liked them, as long as the capacity was acceptable. If you have the extra space and money to accommodate a larger Hammer machine that would probably be a better option.

There's a company in Switzerland that can supposedly supply parts for the INCA machines if necessary.

http://www.doebeli.ch/index.asp?page=produkte-inca-maschinen

This may also be an option for parts, although you'll probably need a parts list.

http://www.incamachines.com/

thanks for the rikon/metabo comparison. i didn't know this. i have contacted both parts dealers you referred to above. the one in switzerland is the store that is selling the machine in the picture i posted above. the other shop, in france, also has machines for sale, but my experience with the seller has been kind of shakey so far. so i don't know if i will have the trust to make a deal with him.

i think the metabo sounds good right now. though i love precision and well made machines so i might be unhappy with it. but maybe it would suffice until i am ready to get a hammer with silent power and all other bells and whistles.

thanks so much for you posts.

 

[MichaelW2014]

Too many variables and where will you get parts if needed?

there are two parts dealers here in europe. their website addresses are posted in this thread. so i am not too worried about finding spares. plus my friend is in contact with a guy who has a background in robotics and can probably much make anything needed for an inca. he runs "Item" in Greece. Item is a german based aluminum profile manufacturer and distributor. they make great stuff.

 

[alexander]

I know the Metabo will be less precise and sturdy than the Hammer, but probably usable until you can get more space. And you probably will be able to sell it at a good price when you will switch to the Hammer. Something I'm sure that won't be the case for the INCA and even worse in Greece probably than if it were in Switzerland.

It all depends at the end what kind of work you do or plan to do. There is a moving kit for the Hammer in case.... maybe it would help, or the space is really too small? I'm moving mine all the time since my work space is not very big either.

Alex

 

[MichaelW2014]

i would definitely get the mobile base for the hammer.

my space is too small and innapropriate. i live in an apartment building on the 5th floor. a hammer wouldn't even fit in the elevator. well, maybe i could disassemble it... hmmm. just kidding.

i'd like to get an A31 with silent power and a Felder A14 mobile dust extractor to connect to it. i might also get the mortiser attachment.

 

[nclemmons]

I have several Inca machines including that planer without the Tersa head - a model 550.  It was manufactured in the mid-80's and is still going strong with occasional lube and tuning.  The best source of parts in the US is Eagle Tools in California.  They buy old Incas and rebuild them.  There is an Inca owners group on Yahoo.  Search for it and you can sign up as there are worldwide members on that forum.  The machines run great and the joiner / planer is really solid in precision.  The tables are actually cast aluminum.

That said,  the seller is asking for a lot of money.  The highest I have seen an Inca 570 in the US is around $1000 or so.  So you are pushing the bounds on what they sell for by a lot. 

I'd personally pass at that price, even owning one and using it for over 30 years. 

neil

 

[MichaelW2014]

thanks neilc. i think i will have to pass because it is too much.