Thickness planer choices

[GreenGA]

Warning "Gloat mode ON...!"  [thumbs up]

Well, because of a sale, plus discount, plus some stock-shedding, I wound up paying $115.00 at The Borg for mine.  Had there been more in stock, I would have purchased every single one they had.

I got the 735-X for $500, delivered.  The darned thing weighs 92# out of the box.  I don't have the space for any truly stationary equipment, so the 735 is my best option, and will be even better when I take the time build a rolling base for it. 

 

[rljatl]

Isn't the 735 close to $600?  Plus another $400 for the Byrd Shelix head?  I dunno, seems like lot to me.  Think I would check out stationary machines for that kind of dough.

I have a small shop and everything has to be mobile.  The 735 will go on a wheeled cart that will sit in a corner with my drum sander, jointer, and sliding compound miter saw until it is needed.

From what I've seen, a stationary machine with a helical head would be almost double the cost of a 735 with the Byrd Shelix head.

Before I purchase anything I'm going to checkout the Steel City planer again.  When I started thinking about a new planer the steel city unit didn't have carbide cutters; they used hss.  I know they've upgraded to carbide now so it is worth another look.

I think Highland Woodworking is the only place that sells it with the carbide helical cutters.

Edited to add:
Call Highland Woodworking and talk to them about it.  I read one review that said the someone at Highland actually talked the guy out of buying the SC planer.  But, I don't know when that was.  There have been some improvements made to it over the years.  I don't think anyone but HW sells the version with the carbide helical cutters.  Makes comparing apples to apples difficult.

 

[jbasen]

Isn't the 735 close to $600?  Plus another $400 for the Byrd Shelix head?  I dunno, seems like lot to me.  Think I would check out stationary machines for that kind of dough.

I have a small shop and everything has to be mobile.  The 735 will go on a wheeled cart that will sit in a corner with my drum sander, jointer, and sliding compound miter saw until it is needed.

From what I've seen, a stationary machine with a helical head would be almost double the cost of a 735 with the Byrd Shelix head.

Before I purchase anything I'm going to checkout the Steel City planer again.  When I started thinking about a new planer the steel city unit didn't have carbide cutters; they used hss.  I know they've upgraded to carbide now so it is worth another look.

I think Highland Woodworking is the only place that sells it with the carbide helical cutters.

Thanks.  Good to know

 

[paulhuse]

Isn't the 735 close to $600?  Plus another $400 for the Byrd Shelix head?  I dunno, seems like lot to me.  Think I would check out stationary machines for that kind of dough.

Amazon had it for $444 and a $25 discount last Nov when I purchased mine. Don't buy the base—waste of space if you're going to use it here and there and store it under a table.

www.camelcamelcamel.com is your friend for finding the right time to buy the planer... or anything else Amazon carries.

 

[jbasen]

Isn't the 735 close to $600?  Plus another $400 for the Byrd Shelix head?  I dunno, seems like lot to me.  Think I would check out stationary machines for that kind of dough.

Amazon had it for $444 and a $25 discount last Nov when I purchased mine. Don't buy the base—waste of space if you're going to use it here and there and store it under a table.

www.camelcamelcamel.com is your friend for finding the right time to buy the planer... or anything else Amazon carries.

Thanks for the link to camelcamelcamel.  I hadn't heard of that before and it looks very cool.

 

[Billedis]

I have the older model Grizzly and am going to upgrade to the Byrd Shelix head.  I have zero issues with it. 

 

[MaineShop]

For what its worth I have found that my small lunchbox planer with straight knives that we keep in the job trailer leaves a better finish then the large powermatic unit that we use in the shop that has a helical cutter. Not a big deal as we are almost always going to be sanding the piece after, but just thought I would mention it as it could be a factor based on your intended use. We try and keep the blades sharp on both but the straight are much faster to change.

 

[jacko9]

For what its worth I have found that my small lunchbox planer with straight knives that we keep in the job trailer leaves a better finish then the large powermatic unit that we use in the shop that has a helical cutter. Not a big deal as we are almost always going to be sanding the piece after, but just thought I would mention it as it could be a factor based on your intended use. We try and keep the blades sharp on both but the straight are much faster to change.

I noticed the same surface roughness (or scalping) when I switched the cutter head on my Powermatic planer from the straight knives to the Shelix cutter head but, at least I don't have to be constantly changing dull knives and the machine noise is greatly reduced.  I run straight carbide knives on my jointer (8" wide) and the surface is smooth as silk.

Jack

 

[micknc]

I've had a 735 for about 3 years - purchased on sale at Lowes for $325 (15% off the normal $499 plus a free $100 instant gift card at the register!.  I'm on the second side of the original knives.  I've been very happy with it.  I mounted it on one side of a flip-top cart with a Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander on the other. 

 

[roblg3]

Mistake corrected....I'm going grizzly g0453Z.  I'll post once it arrives.

 

[adugas]

I've had a 735 for about 3 years - purchased on sale at Lowes for $325 (15% off the normal $499 plus a free $100 instant gift card at the register!.  I'm on the second side of the original knives.  I've been very happy with it.  I mounted it on one side of a flip-top cart with a Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander on the other.

Hi Paul, do you have the plans? Or pictures at least?  Im thinking of building something similar.

Would anyone have plans for the similar flip top set up?

Cheers

 

[Paul G]

Isn't the 735 close to $600?  Plus another $400 for the Byrd Shelix head?  I dunno, seems like lot to me.  Think I would check out stationary machines for that kind of dough.

Amazon had it for $444 and a $25 discount last Nov when I purchased mine. Don't buy the base—waste of space if you're going to use it here and there and store it under a table.

www.camelcamelcamel.com is your friend for finding the right time to buy the planer... or anything else Amazon carries.

Thanks for that website, if it works well it will save a lot of money  [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

 

[JTKeith]

I bought a used Dewalt 735 for $250 and immediately bought a Byrd shelix for it. Excellent cuts just have to sand off slight scallop in the wood after you assemble your project. I have ran about 1000ft of oak, cherry, fir and walnut and have yet to have a nick or need to turn any of the cutters. Only took about 1/2 hour to install the new head.

 

[HowardH]

I had a 735 for a couple of years and as long as you weren't in a hurry, it was good.  I ran into problems when I was planing a fairly wide board, maybe 8" or more and then I couldn't take off more than 1/32" at best.  If I did, it would bog down and then trip the breaker.  Another thing was the noise.  Holy bald headed Nellie was it loud!  [blink] I didn't run it in the evening for fear of disturbing the neighbors.  Have a Hammer A3-31 now with the silent power head and it's at least a quarter as loud.  I realize it's a 6-7 times more expensive but my hearing is worth it. 

 

[roblg3]

I am anxiously awaiting my freight delivery of my Grizzly G0453Z!  I hope to report very good things about it.  Come on UPS Freight!  Please make it an early delivery...gotta get out there and pay for this thing!

 

[Sparktrician]

Another thing was the noise.  Holy bald headed Nellie was it loud!  [blink] I didn't run it in the evening for fear of disturbing the neighbors.

True statement!!!  That and it fills the dust deputy like no tomorrow. 

[eek]