Southeast Michigan Woodworkers

Ok, I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a new planer, something in the 15" range. I really like the idea of the Delta 22-790X due to it's light weight and fold down infeed/outfeed rollers.

I like the Powermatic 1791213 as it comes with a Byrd head but cost $1000 more than the Delta.

I like the idea of buying an older machine made in the USA but that could take a lot of time for the right machine to come along.

Your feedback is welcome.

Not lightweight, but made in USA and probably still available. He's been trying to sell it for at least a year. $400 more than the Delta and $500 less than the Powermatic you are looking at--no idea if that's a good deal.

http://toledo.craigslist.org/tls/1637123794.html

Wow that's a pretty good deal, I don't think I want to try getting that down my basement stairs though!

Just found this one: http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/tls/1642947373.html

600 pounds! Too bad it's only 13".

Bob Rossi,

Both of the craigslist planers mentioned above are excellent choices, although the prices are a bit steep. On the good side, both are single phase although both have cheap Baldor motors. Still, for non-commercial use, they ought to be OK.

You are right that the 18" wedgebed could be a challenge to get into a basement, but the 13" machine is no problem. It is also the planer that is widely regarded as the BEST small planer ever made. I'm not quite sure why, because the design is pretty conventional, but all I know for sure is I have owned one of these for over 20 years and it does do a great job.

I would not recommend that anyone consider buying any late model Delta machine, as Delta has become no more than another distributor of cheap oriental products. Ditto Powermatic.

There's another ad on craigslist for the later Delta/Rockwell model 13 planer. It's the successor to the one above. I have no personal experience with these machines but I do know that they are almost as solid and have the advantage of having a variable speed feed.

I'm sure that if they are in good shape, any of the three planers mentioned in these postings would make excellent workhorses that will be making dust long after the oriental stuff is scrap. Don't chump yourself into buying something inferior because it is a few pounds lighter or has a couple inches wider cut. (How wide is your jointer? If you don't have a 15" jointer, what are you going to do with a 15" planer?).

Moving something as small as a 13" planer into a basement is no problem if you are CAREFUL. The best approach is to dismount it from the built-up base and reassemble it in the basement. You may even want to use a few of the $ you save over the new one to hire a mover to bring it down for you.

Buy American, even if it means buying used!

Steve

Bob, that one you found is the guy I bought my scroll saw from. I just gave it a quick look, but that's a really nice planer--it looked ready to go.

Steve, while it drives me nuts that the only option available to own a new machine is to buy crap made in China, I just don't think it's a good idea for me to buy a 52 year old machine that I can no longer get parts for. As for needing a jointer that is as wide as ones planer, that just isn't true. There are various ways to true a board without a jointer.

There is no question that the quality of the new tools made by Delta/Powermatic/Grizzly/Shop Fox etc. are of lesser quality then the old American made tools, but I am not going to quit working wood simply because the only tools I can buy new are not made in the USA.

Bob,

I've got a 15" old rockwell that i'm no longer using. It's from the 60's and works extremely well. I'd also price it affordably. If you're interested send me a PM and we can work something out.

dan

How about planing 15" wide glue ups for raised panel doors for one.

PM sent

I have done just that, start with two 7.5" boards, joint (yes on a 6" jointer, I can provide details if you like) then plane both. Glue two halves together.

Grab #4 stanley, (or use a sled in planer) clean up back side, flip clean up front side in planer.

It isn't really necessary to hand plane the back side. Take a couple of light passes to flatten one side then flip it and do the other side.