Worth having a Digital readout on a lunchbox thicknesser?

[Mauri Motti]

While I was at the Jet store to buy a drill press I also bought a Jet JWP-12 portable thickness planer and it doesn't come with a depth gauge.
Is it worth opting for an after market digital readout (Wixey for example) or should I just stick to using calipers after a couple of passes?

Suggestions welcome!

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I used to have one.  I thought it was worth it.

 

[flair woodworks]

I installed the Wixey yesterday.  One benefit of it is that you can easily return to precise setting other than the built-in stops.  But unless you are working to those tolerances (such as the moulding planes I make for Time Warp Tool Works), I really don't think that level of accuracy is required.  Others will disagree.

 

[Mauri Motti]

Thanks guys,

I do have some projects coming where I'll have to batch out a lot of glue-ups and get all of them to the same thickness (thinness?) And in the meanwhile (when glue dries for example and shaping the ready glued ones) I'd like to work on other projects too and I figured that with a digital readout I can easily bring the thickness planer to the same, previous, settings. I'm getting one.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I think a digital gauge is one of those things that makes life so much easier you wonder how or why you did things without it...I for one always seem to have to plane extra pieces of material mid-way through a project and getting something to within .001-.002 of the other material of the same size is a huge time saver.  I also like knowing that 19mm is 19mm and not having to think about it or "sneak" up on the right thickness.

Scot

 

[Mauri Motti]

Thanks for your reply Scot.

I have one now for a week or so and have to admit that it's just really convenient having one. I can run material through for projects I do during the day (cabinets for the moment) and easily change adjustments for an evening or weekend project (cheese boards and such for the Misses) and switch back to previous settings without any hassle.

Happy I got one.

Kind regards,

Mauri Motti

 

[jakiiski]

Mauri, where did you order it? Anyone in Finland selling them?

 

[Mauri Motti]

I have seen some Wixey products being sold by Plektra Trading OY in Helsinki. I've ordered mine though on ebay from The Allendale Store