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Last machine to think about, planer

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planer
2K views 19 replies 12 participants last post by  Foghorn 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I was thinking the SOP. Dewalt 735 with Byrd head. Probably safe, probably will do everything I need, But, what is the bigger option? 3 HP, 15 inch class.

Fixed head or fixed table
Seems price is directly proportional to number of inserts.
Cost/compatibility of inserts
OEM or Byrd head

I assume, more cutters, smoother cut.

Roughly:

Jet JWP-15BHH 48 cutters $2600
Grizzly G1021X2 4 row, 54 cutters, $2300
Rikon 23-150H: , 72 4-sided cutters $3400
Oliver 10014 $2390 Fixed table Wixey DRO, 52 cutters
Laguna MPLANPX16-0130 5 HP, 16 inch, 6 row 108 cutters $3300
Baleigh IP-156-HH - SPIRAL HEAD PLANER $2900 68 cutters
Powematic 15HH $3200 74 Byrd cutters

Am I missing some manufacturer? Oddly, the Powermatic might be a good buy, but of course three times the Dewalt price.
 
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#2 ·
Mine is a Delta that I put Byrd head on, I've had it 20+ years and it's served me well. For well documented reasons I wouldn't suggest a Delta nowadays. Personally I'd probably go Grizzly. But for the fixed table versus fixed head question: I bought my Delta for that exact reason, I wanted a fixed table reasoning that I would have to adjust the infeed/outfeed stands as I planed wood. that turned out to be pretty dumb reasoning, in the years I've had it I think I've used stands maybe a dozen times, pretty much they mostly aren't needed. The overhead motor does make the thing a little top heavy, but that doesn't matter since it's a fairly short machine. But to me the fixed table versus head is a non issue…pick one on other criteria. One thing you might want to consider with the insert heads is shear cut versus straight cut. The owner of Grizzly declares there is no difference, and truthfully I agree with that (with no experience with the straight cutters whatsoever).. But it's fun to argue the merits of one versus the other.
 
#3 ·
Maybe it comes down to length of wood. Typical I guess is under 4 or 5 feet, but even if 8, as you are holding it on entry, and walk around on exit, I guess you are right on that. I had not thought that through. With a 4-post, either side needs to be rigid to prevent snipe so not sure an inherent advantage.

Criteria? How about gross weight! Griz is cheapest, big and heavy ( most look like the same castings) but at least on their aftermarket heads, fewer smaller 2 sided cutters, so actually a cheaper machine.

A head runs about a grand, IF I could find a used machine. Seem quite scarce these days.

Just ordered a Shelix head for my joiner. I was talked out of it until I needed to run some birch ply glue-ups. Yea, I could have made a sled and used the TS, but I don't like to have to think about my tools. Knots and glue be damned. Easy to add a Wixey to any of them.

About half the available planers are out of stock, so a little time to think. Most likely, I will cheap out and go the 735/Shelix option. Under a grand. I do not like the amount of current it pulls over 110. ( Their spec is flat out false advertising) but it does seem to work with only a few complaints. I am not going to taking a 1/16 off 15 wide purpleheart. But the "real" machines sure look tempting! Don't see much advantage to the rest of the 13 inch class over the DeWalt, but wil look in more detail.
 
#4 ·
You won't like the noise level, either. Those things (735s) scream. Not knocking them, I think they are an excellent choice. You mention weight, that was another factor that went into my decision. I really wanted a 20", but handling the 800# or so when we moved (planning stages at that time) I was sure I didn't want to deal with it. My 15" is cloer to 400#...which is at least a manageable weight. About the 4 post and snipe, they all (AFAIK) have a head lock that really locks….and when I use mine I've never had snipe.
 
#5 ·
I have the 735. Another poster is right. They are noisy. I need to wear earmuffs. If I replace it, I'd most likely go for something wider. The 13" is okay but 15" would be a lot nicer. I use the regular blades/knives. They're not bad. Pretty easy to replace. Overall, not a bad machine for the price (and size).
 
#7 ·
I am going with carbide head. Seems like I can't run more than 20 or so feet before I nick a knife. Knot or something.
400 Lb is not bad. 800 would be a problem as the hoist I put in my shop ceiling is only 800 lbs.
I bet I would like one of the 15's, but I also bet the 735 will do everything.

Good to know they all lock. That is what I did to my Delta. I put four slip collars on the posts so for my last cut, I lock the head down.

Much more to read about in the fine print. Another spreadsheet I guess.
 
#9 ·
Yes, the 735X is incredibly noisy.

But whether that matters depends on circumstances. If you're using it all the time, around other people, noise is a problem. Actually, I have no idea how well it would stand up to being used all the time!

For my uses the noise isn't an issue, because I only use it once in a while and just put in my earplugs.
 
#10 ·
I know laguna is releasing brand new planers very soon. Multiple models from 12" up to 22".

I personally have a 735 with a shelix head and it does a really nice job, however I am very much wanting to upgrade to a floor standing, larger unit.

As other have noted, it is much quieter with the shelix head, but much of the noise of this machine also comes from the interval blower.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a Powermatic 15 S (spiral blade) bought before the price for large shop tools went crazy ($1700)....and before the helix heads were available.
Thought about changing it to the Shelix head but for $700+ I can buy a lot of replacement blades for the current head…. For sharpening you can touch them up but it would be a problem to sharpen them because they are thin and flexible. They are easy to change with no alignment problems. It does a great job of planing and it is not noisy.

My vote is for the Powermatic, second is for the Jet which is essentially the same machine.
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the tip. I should wait and see maybe. Their 5 HP looked very nice, but I don't need one that big. It would be great if the 735 actually had competition.

I know laguna is releasing brand new planers very soon. Multiple models from 12" up to 22".

I personally have a 735 with a shelix head and it does a really nice job, however I am very much wanting to upgrade to a floor standing, larger unit.

As other have noted, it is much quieter with the shelix head, but much of the noise of this machine also comes from the interval blower.

- rizzo
 
#13 ·
Laguna Web only implies a larger one coming.

Jet and PM might have been the same at some point, but the current 15's, the PM is a fixed head and Jet a fixed table. It does make me wonder how they can support so many different models in the same class. It was like a few years ago Ford made 9 totally different V6 engines.
If I were Jet, the Jet would be basic, PM with the better cutterhead, DRO , and their massive base, and maybe Baliegh a 4 HP motor. One frame, but reasons for three price points and the ability to tease from low end to high.

Doing my spreadsheet, which wil include not only the JWP-15 BHH, but the 15B with Shelix. Then I can get a reasonable comparison of price and features.

I know laguna is releasing brand new planers very soon. Multiple models from 12" up to 22".

I personally have a 735 with a shelix head and it does a really nice job, however I am very much wanting to upgrade to a floor standing, larger unit.

As other have noted, it is much quieter with the shelix head, but much of the noise of this machine also comes from the interval blower.

- rizzo
 
#14 ·
Looks like two cutter inserts, 14×14 x 2 and 15×15 x 2.5.
The larger with a radius edge. Both on Amazon under $30 for 10.
3 HP ranges form $2000 to $3300 basically.
Number of cutters from 48 to 72
4800 to 5200 RPM
All are two speed feed rate, 3 HP
Shop Fox, Powermatic, and Baleigh , look like the same castings.

As usual, the Laguna splits the specs. For the PM price, 108 cutters, 5 HP an inch wider. Unique cutters maybe

IF of course, I don't just buy the DW for under a grand. Not sure what a 3 HP 15 inch would really do for me. I would be building a very heavy stand, so "portable" weight is not important. DW is roughly 2 HP.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just a comment on the inserts. They are different specs, and there are some import copies out there that are labeled as the OEM, so buying them from just anywhere is a crap shoot. That said, it likely won't matter. I installed my Byrd in 2009, and I run as much wood through it as any avid hobbyist. Since I installed it, I rotated the cutters once, and I don't think it needed it then. So, unless you're 20 and planning on business level planing you wouldn't need to buy inserts. I suppose you could have an accident that would destroy a lion's share of them at one time, but generally you do get a few spares with the cutterhead.
 
#16 ·
I'm not much of a fan of any of the lunchbox or 15" 4 post planers. The lack of a pressure bar and expectation that the chip breaker does double duty isn't the best design.

The old 12" pm100 or bridgewood clones that had segmented infeed rollers and chip breakers were a better design. Obviously not a option for someone looking to buy new though.
 
#17 ·
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