So my wife told me i could buy a planer.I don't want to spend more than 300 bucks. I've been looking at grizzley's cheaper model and at a craftsman's cheaper one. This will be my first planer and i don't do alot in my shop right now. Which ones better or do you all have other suggestions.

A few years ago I bought the Ryobi 13" planer. I am still using it and am very happy with it. I got the planer (and a RIGID 6" jointer) specifically for a workbench project. I bought rough hard maple for the top and trestle base and using the jointer and planer milled it myself. I thought this was a fairly rigorous test and I would have used Home Depots generous return policy if either of the machines did not perform. They are both still working great today.

I see HD has the Ryobi today for $199. This would sure be worth a try and if you don't like it you could return it.

John

i have the smaller delta from lowes and i love it! it works great and is a nice little work horse

I agree, the little delta is a great machine for the price point.

I've got a 13" Rigid from HD...mine is the older 2 blade, the newer model is 3 blade...their site lists it for $369, but you may be able to get it on sale for the holidays...Ridgid also has a "lifetime warranty"

thanks for the reply guys. I'm going to look into both brands

If you can swing it, I would go with the Rigid. I used to have a Delta and constantly fought snipe. The Rigid has a locking cutter head that eliminates snipe. Also, it comes with extra cutting knives; which also have two sides so they are reversible. I just rotated mine and it only took about 10 minutes, super easy. The Rigid also has pre-set depth locks for consistent planing heights.

All,

I've been looking at a planer lately, and was giving a lot of attention to the DW735. But recently, I've been looking at the Ridgid products. There are two models currently available, the R4330 (which was included in the FWW review last year), and the TP1300LS (which comes with a stand) Prices are similar $369 for the 4330 and $399 for the TP1300. The website is nearly useless in determining the differences. Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

Erick

Erick,

the 4330 has 3 knives and a different exterior. Plus it does not have a cutter head lock. I have it, and love it. Works great. I still have some tweaking to do in regards to snipe, but that's about it.

Cheers,
Dan

Thanks Dan. I think I'm suffering from analysis paralysis. I've been looking at both the DeWalt and Ridgid for some time now, and keep bouncing back and forth. I had saved my pennies and was getting ready to pull the trigger on the DeWalt, and BOOM, they jumped the price $100, which is why I started looking at the Ridgid. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions .....

Erick

Erick,

I feel your pain... Any major purchase like this can cause the infamous 'analysis paralysis' !!!

What I can say is that dollar for dollar the Ridgid will serve you well. Three cutters, great user friendly design, good price, excellent customer service should you need it, carbide blades should you want them... etc. For a $100 difference, go Ridgid. The DeWalt is a fine tool as well, but I don't see the price diff.

Cheers,
Dan 'The Butcher'

Erick,

Hey I own the 735 and went with it for several major reasons. Table size-the actual "bed" of the planer is much larger and that goes a long way in avoiding snipe-mine is equiped with infeed and outfeed tables that DeWALT offers as an option and that helps too. The other big part of the snipe reduction is the cam lock system. The larger based combined with the cam locks on the posts make it impossible to get this thing to move out of position. It is chain driven and has a nice smooth gear that has never given me problems. Also it has an assisted chip ejection which is nice even with a collector because it doesn't have to suck the chips out so much. Power was a factor its a 5hp max motor and I haven't so much as seen it sweat anything that I have done. Also top removal is a piece of cake 4 bolts and then it is wide open and very easy to service. Price is higher for sure though-I am actually selling mine because I am starting a new business and need cash/space for that. I have the infeed outfeed tables and the factory stand with wheels and a lock. I would let it go for the $549 that the planer only used to be. It is basically brand new-I have cut maybe 200 board feet with it and can send pics-I am in michigan if you are interested.

You guys are not making my life easy are you

Tax season was a bit harder on the wallet than originally anticipated, so for now, my decision has been made for me. But in a couple of months, I'm going to pick one of these 2 (unless something better comes along )

Erick

Since your saving I think you should save and buy something bigger than one of the portables.

I wish I had at first. I just sold my portable (the delta 560 which was a great machine) for a 20". In the 7 or so years since I started WW I've bought and replaced my planer, bandsaw, jointer, and drill press. I could have saved a big chunk of $$$ by just waiting and buying better the 1st time.

Tim,

I have gone though the same process with replacing most of my orginal machines with larger units. However, the smaller units helped solidified my desired to learn woodworking. Sure it cost extra to have owned the smaller machines and I did lose some money when I sold them. They were great to learn on and learn more about what I wanted in the future. I have a Delta 15" surface planer with a 3 hp motor for the last seven years and I like it a lot better than the lunch box type Delta I previously had owned. What I learned with the smaller unit was how to work with what I had and what I would like to have as a replacement when I stepped up to a larger machine. I think the smaller planer at $200 to $300 is a good choice to start and then moving up to either a 15" at $1200 to $1,500 or a 20" at $2,400 to $3,500. (price differences are due to style of cutter head that is purchased) You also need to think of running wiring for 220 into your shop when moving up to a larger planer.

PS...I hated the high pitch whine of the smaller planers, their feed rate speed, and small cutsthat you had to take on them. The postitve was I sold my unit in a week for 65% of the original price after owning it for one year.

To complicate matters, I think I've found a "vintage" planer, that looks in great shape and is in my price range. Uggh !!! Why must I be tortured so !!!

Go for it and if the unit doesn't meet your needs sell it.

Hey Chuck/Tim,

Well, I took your advice. I "went for it" and bought the Parks Planer. It was a later model (late 70's vintage), with all the castings in great shape. The gear box looked solid (ie no leaks/cracks), and the cutter head spun nicely with no noticeable vibration. A 2 horsepower motor, thick steel stand, updated cutterhead bearings, and jackscrews in the cutter head, and the fact that it had been used only on Sundays by an old lady from Pasadena, secured the deal. The only thing I forgot to check was the flatness of the infeed/outfeed tables, but worst case, I can bring them to a machine shop and have them reground (Any recommendations from Boston Area woodworkers on a machine shop they trust would be much appreciated)

It will need some tuning to bring it back to perfect operation, but that shouldn't take more than a couple of hours and some elbow grease. For the price of a lunchbox planer, I think I got a great piece of American made, solid cast iron hardware that should last for years.

I'll report back after I have a chance to tune it up.

Erick

I'm glad you got a nice machine. I've seen the parks and they are solid and will probably outlast you. If you end up doing a teardown to restore it, put in new bearings. But all it will probably need is a little adjustment. And make sure the chains are oiled, lots of people forget to oil them.

-Tim

Erick,

Here is a website where someone has restored a Park Planer. model 95. http://estrategy.net/bill/website/tools ... ation.html This is a real heavy duty planer...it should not give you any problems for years. You should be a lot happier with it than todays lunch box style planer.

Thanks Chuck. The OWWM website is a great resource for these old machines. The machine I picked up won't need a significant tear down for some time (or at least it appears that way now). For now I'm going to give it a good cleaning as I re-assemble it (planer/stand/motor separated for ease of transport) and then tune it up.

Hoping to get the machine tuned up and planing by the end of next week, just too many other projects in progress to attack this right now.

Will post pics later.

Erick

Erick,

We will be waiting for the pictures and the Parks planer would be a fine addition into anyones shop. Again congrats on the find.

i looked over the planer chuck pointed too...nice...i like how the table adjustment is in the middle of the belt drive...be careful...i am pretty sure that belt design has taken some fingers in ifs life time..maybe it came with a cover

Erick,

Here is a page about the history and the different models of the Park planers...notice that there are belt guards and some models actually have the motor mounted directly to the shaft without belts. http://wiki.owwm.com/Default.aspx?Page= ... eSupport=1

good to see the gaurd on the tool ..i was worried