Now what do I do about a planer?

[Revanue]

I'm sure I'm not the only one here with this need and I totally apologize for asking if it's been posted all over this great site. I'm in a bind with the shop I use and not having access to the tools as usual. It has made me quite upset and my biggest problem is not having a planer. I am considering buying a combo planer/jointer, smaller planer or? What has been your best recommendations to the thicknessing challenge I have in front of me?  [sad] I don't have a need for super wide stock, maybe up to 12"? I am very thankful in advance for suggestions to brands and successful and or hardships regarding the use of machinery.

 

[Gary in Texas]

First,  [welcome] to the FOG!

Personally, I wouldn't want a combo planer/jointer. 

I have a Jet JPM-13 planer/molder on the closed stand I use to plane large, long rough stock.  The large units, no matter how well you set them up, will usually leave snipe at both ends of the board, at least that has been my experience.  Also, the larger units when planing, the head is stationary and the table moves up and down.  This means always having to adjust your infeed and outfeed supports......

For smaller boards or to dimension stock to a certain thickness, I will always go to my little Ridgid 13" planer.  On the smaller "bench top type planers, the table stays stationary and the cutter head moves up and down, thus, once you've set up your infeed and outfeeds, no more adjusting required....

The knifes on the Ridgid seem to last forever, but the best feature of the Ridgid is what they call a "Sure Cut" lock down that prevents movement of the cutter head.  This virtually eliminates snipe, and coupled with my custom made infeed and outfeed set-up, I never have snipe.  I think there are a few brands out there with a similar feature, and I wouldn't want a planer without the head lock...

I would probably go for the smaller unit if only were to buy one.  Only draw back for the smaller units, the motor is VERY loud!!!

Don't know if this helps, but I've found it to be a quite useful arrangement. 

Gary

Edited to correct the auto correct.....

 

[SittingElf]

First off.... [welcome] to the forum!

You don't really specify what kind of budget you have, but if you are looking for "Festool-like" quality, you might consider Hammer's A3-31 which would directly meet your 12" desires for both jointing and planing.

You will find a lot of people here who own the A3 system. Mine is the A3-41 which has a max width of 16".  Despite what the previous poster stated, I have NEVER seen any snipe on my machine, but there IS a price to pay for the quality...just like Festool's offerings.

Here's Felder/Hammer's own video introduction to the A3, One with full audio description, and the second that shows in action
The second one is a slightly older model that had a split top table when setting up for planing. The latest models now have no split...and easier to manage.





This one is worth a look if you wonder about snipe and quality planing!!



Good luck with whatever you end up with, and let us know!

Cheers,

Frank

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Powermatic PM100.  One of the best built, reliable 12" planers made. 

 

[Gary in Texas]

You don't really specify what kind of budget you have, but if you are looking for "Festool-like" quality, you might consider Hammer's A3-31 which would directly meet your 12" desires for both jointing and planing.

You will find a lot of people here who own the A3 system. Mine is the A3-41 which has a max width of 16".  Despite what the previous poster stated, I have NEVER seen any snipe on my machine, but there IS a price to pay for the quality...just like Festool's offerings.

Good luck with whatever you end up with, and let us know!

Cheers,

Frank

Frank, you are correct that the OP didn't state his price range which leaves a broad price range for speculation.  I will venture however  that the majority of folks (speaking of those residing in the USA) on the FOG own separate planers and jointers, and Hammer A3-31 owners would be in the minority.  I know of a few who own the European units.....and I have absolutely nothing against them.

With all due respect though, I really, really hope your A3 doesn't have snipe as I've experienced with my Jet, however, if I spent four times the price I wouldn't expect anything less than a perfect, and I mean perfect board being spit out the end of the unit.  [eek] 

If the OP has about $4000 plus tax/shipping to spend on a Hammer, I would whole heartedly endorse the A3 if that is the quality and price range he is wanting!  My Jet costs a little over a grand, and that few inches of snipe aside, it will spit out the same quality finish as does your A3, all day, every day...  Then again, my little Ridgid also gives a great finish and no snipe whatsoever, and it costs what, $300-400?  A quick sand with 220 is all i ever need, if then, after running a board through my Ridgid.

I've also owned my Jet planer for about 16 years now with zero issues, but if an issue does occur I know I can get the parts and service immediately.  I've heard of delays on other forums with parts and/or service on the european units.....

I would like to hear from the OP what his price range and usage would be.

Gary

 

[Revanue]

Gotta say you folks are amazing. I love forums for the fact that so many people want to help. In about 6 hours 247 people looked at this query and 4 commented. It is so helpful when people are honest and give their experiences, it helps everyone!

My budjet is sort of a sliding one. By that, I mean quality is number one. And by that, I mean, why waste precious time with cheap if it only cost you in the end with more labor? I'm the kind of guy that likes to do my research and make a purchase with very good reasoning behind it. Back when I first purchased a Festool 150 REQ sander I was sanding with an air powered DA. I'd sand veneered panels for hours and at the end of the day I had sore knuckles. Day after day it really added up. When I bought the Festool sander my pain completely went away and I had a better product in the end too! Thus said, money well spent is a bonus in many ways. So I may purchase decent quality until I can afford the near best quality.

I've always hated snipe, because basically you need to account for it when purchasing lumber. A 2" snipe front and back costs you 4" in length and that can really add up over a project or two. It of course totally depends on what you are doing with your processing no doubt.

I will go online and look at all of these suggestions the few of you have made and see what works for me now in the current $ situation. Sometimes I don't mind having a rougher machine do some work that is not better suited to finishing. But I won't have something rough that is just going to break and be something that I hate to look at very time I come near it!

Maybe others will chime in and recommend something else to check out as well. I thought a combo unit might be good, yet I am open to good ideas and explanations. [smile]

 

[festup]

If you end up looking in the lunchbox category take a look at the Dewalt DW 735. This is probably the most highly regarded in this category. Lots of positive reviews in a variety of forums. Disclaimer, I have one and it does a great job. You can get a helical head for it too. I have the steel knives and they leave a nice finish. But it's noisy...

 

[leer]

If you end up looking in the lunchbox category take a look at the Dewalt DW 735. This is probably the most highly regarded in this category. Lots of positive reviews in a variety of forums. Disclaimer, I have one and it does a great job. You can get a helical head for it too. I have the steel knives and they leave a nice finish. But it's noisy...

Dittos on the DW735.  I am so impressed with the finish using HSS knives that I doubt I'll ever upgrade to a helical head.

 

[Revanue]

Just and update. I did use the DW 735 last week and it was a friends so I cannot tell you the use on the knives that were in it. I did have snipe on both ends and the finish left by the planning of cherry was definitely something I will have to work over. I have not sanded the frame stock I made yet so I don't know what it will take. I'm guessing it will be about 120 grit to get rid of the chip-like marks. No complaints here, just needed it in a pinch. I did look up the helical head for the DW and Amazon had the planer for about $485 and the head was nearly the same $. That just about puts me to the price of the Jet recommended. I have yet to look at the Ridgid unit suggested.
Having had some time to mull this over I definitely am going to be looking for something that produces a decent finish in the interim and work towards something better in the future. The DW was a bit under powered. So far the Jet has me interested. The Hammer units are a bit far at this time. The Powermatic is a machine that has too much of a heft to it. (the irony there is the vibration nullified by that heft and what it it does for you!) -it obviously would be great addition, just not quite the right planer at this time.
Thanks again folks for the suggestions. I'll let you know what I do when the time comes.

 

[grbmds]

Just and update. I did use the DW 735 last week and it was a friends so I cannot tell you the use on the knives that were in it. I did have snipe on both ends and the finish left by the planning of cherry was definitely something I will have to work over. I have not sanded the frame stock I made yet so I don't know what it will take. I'm guessing it will be about 120 grit to get rid of the chip-like marks. No complaints here, just needed it in a pinch. I did look up the helical head for the DW and Amazon had the planer for about $485 and the head was nearly the same $. That just about puts me to the price of the Jet recommended. I have yet to look at the Ridgid unit suggested.
Having had some time to mull this over I definitely am going to be looking for something that produces a decent finish in the interim and work towards something better in the future. The DW was a bit under powered. So far the Jet has me interested. The Hammer units are a bit far at this time. The Powermatic is a machine that has too much of a heft to it. (the irony there is the vibration nullified by that heft and what it it does for you!) -it obviously would be great addition, just not quite the right planer at this time.
Thanks again folks for the suggestions. I'll let you know what I do when the time comes.

I've owned a 735 for years. The snipe can be reduced or even eliminated by adjusting indeed and out feed tables so that they are angle on the outer edges just a hair above the level of the bed. The effect is to keep the front end of the board solid on the bed when getting to the knives and the same with the back end on the way out. It works. You can do the same by making sure the board stays firm on the bed on the infeed side and putting slight upward pressure on the out feed side with your hands.

As for the nicked surface, that can be a problem with any planer with figured wood. It can be minimized with this planer at least by taking a lesser cut; like 1/32" on each pass. It may not get rid of it completely with really figured wood, but does eliminate or reduce for some.

Unlike some others, I've had great success with just the HSS Dewalt knives. I may try carbide tipped knives next time I replace them and found some carbide tipped for $140 from Titan. I don't know about quality on these and there are mixed reviews online about Titan and Infinity carbide tipped. (There is another thread out there with more of this.)

Having said that, there is no question a helical head will get rid of the chipped surface on figured woods completely. I bought a Jet 8" helical head jointer a coupled of years ago and it's amazing. And that is with a non-Shelix head which has less cutters than the Shelix.

 

[roblg3]

I have to admit i didn't read the thread so, I jumped in and got a Grizzly G0354 "15 helical head...it does really nice for me.  I cannot speak to reliability as i haven't run it long or hard.  I did thickness some goncalo alves.  i think about 1700 on the janka scale and what i got was far superior to what was shipped to me to use to build with.  no sniping, smooth...i mean really smooth and even.  the planer was less than a grand.  i'll have to see, but so far so good.  There's a lot of hating on grizzley, but I know for a fact that a famous  Professional cabinet maker located near ashville nc uses them and recommended the manufacturer to me.  $.02  best of luck

 

[Revanue]

Well, after much thought and research I decide to go with the DW 735. My reason is I need something in the interim before I get a much larger set up. I did just buy a Festool TS 75 last week (which was my plan anyway) and so my thoughts are that I can use the TS 75 for my jointer and then either rip with the TS 75 or bandsaw out rips and then into the planer. This is all an interim step until my space grows as well as my $. In time I'll go for something more substantial. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, believe me, I considered all of them and the pro's and con's for my needs right now. [smile]