Whoo Hooo.. Just scored a planer..

[Mountaincraft]

Right here in my little town.. Saw the add this afternoon on the bulletin board at the local mountain market... So right off the bat, I saved bucks on hassle and gas..

Anyways, about a 3 year old DeWalt 12" planer... Like new... Extra set of knives and an extra belt, both brand new, plus the original manual,also came with a 4" dust hood..... $200

This thing looks and cuts like it was never used.. the guy bought a thickness sander about 6 months after he bought the planer, and this thing has been mostly sitting and is essentially 'new'...

Plus, I met a new contact in town here that is interested in possibly hiring out my table, or at the very least is just a local with a shared passion...... The guy has made some nice keepsake/jewelry boxes, and won a Jet Band saw in a woodworkers contest for one of them...

Anyways, that's one of my urgent 'needs' that can be checked off the list... This will do great until I can afford a bigger/better beast when all this is paying for itself full time...

Still plugging along on the thickness sander too...

This purchase will go a long ways towards helping me to save time, which equals "making more money!"

Need to get me a quality band saw that can do a good job of re-sawing, and high volume dust collector soon..

Spent money that was being saved towards the lawyer fees.. but had to jump on it while it was there....

Will post a picture soon...

[Mountaincraft]

Making life easier one tool at a time..

[CarveOne]

You'll enjoy that DeWalt.

CarveOne

[88rob88]

you will never need that spare belt. Wanna send it to me? I got given one of these planers after the guy left a cover off, which locks the cutter head, and turned it on. The drive belt melted...
so, send it over ;-)

[CarveOne]

I have one of the "square" DeWalt planers. I was surprised to see that the corner posts are chrome plated ACME rods, with sprockets that have ACME threaded bores, and a chain drive to lift the power head. It's a very nice machine.

The one Mountaincraft just latched onto should be a good addition as well. You'll need some roller stands for support if you plane something heavy like 4x6 posts.

CarveOne

[Mountaincraft]

I have one of the "square" DeWalt planers. I was surprised to see that the corner posts are chrome plated ACME rods, with sprockets that have ACME threaded bores, and a chain drive to lift the power head. It's a very nice machine.

The one Mountaincraft just latched onto should be a good addition as well. You'll need some roller stands for support if you plane something heavy like 4x6 posts.

CarveOne

Looking into reviews of these machines.. This one is actually better than the one that replaced it.. as this one uses knives that can be resharpened... while the newer ones have throw away knives... I guess DeWalt realized it was losing money on the sale of knives by using knives that can be sharpened...

Gots' lots of roller stands... But truthfully, I'll rarely be running anything over 4 or 5 feet in length through it...

[CarveOne]

Mine has replaceable knives and I have a spare set. If they are going to the more expensive carbide inserts maybe I should get a second spare set of blades before they are unavailable. This one may last as long as I do.

It's more about weight than length. Too much weight on the feed rollers and they can't pull the material through. They start slipping. As the rollers dry out and harden with age they will need replacing.

CarveOne

[88rob88]

[QUOTE= while the newer ones have throw away knives...
[/QUOTE]

actually, they can be resharpened, up to three times. As long as there are no HUGE nicks in them.... I know this because I have done it. I own both theses planers.
The sad thing is that they use crap steel for the blades. Replacement helical cutter heads are available....for about the same price as the planer.
Nothing beats a good cast iron stationary planer tho.

[Mountaincraft]

Nothing beats a good cast iron stationary planer tho.

That's the real plan.. something that handles at least 24" widths... This will do me for now though...

You know, when it ever comes to the point that that helical head needs replacing, you could always yank out the knives, or replace the head with a home made drum, wrap it with hook and loop backing, and viola, instant thickness sander!...

[louieatienza]

That's the real plan.. something that handles at least 24" widths... This will do me for now though...

You know, when it ever comes to the point that that helical head needs replacing, you could always yank out the knives, or replace the head with a home made drum, wrap it with hook and loop backing, and viola, instant thickness sander!...

You know I have thought on and off about buying a cheap Ryobi planer to do just that-convert to a drum sander, only now I wouldn't have to build infeed and outfeed rollers.

These small planers work well. I have a Ridgid 13" that I use to plane down some of my guitar soundboards, backs and sides, to less than .090" thick! This does require the use of a shop-made platen (made from a piece of synthetic bowling alley lane), or 2-side taping to a piece of plywood. Does NOT work with figured graining!

[Mountaincraft]

You know I have thought on and off about buying a cheap Ryobi planer to do just that-convert to a drum sander, only now I wouldn't have to build infeed and outfeed rollers.

These small planers work well. I have a Ridgid 13" that I use to plane down some of my guitar soundboards, backs and sides, to less than .090" thick! This does require the use of a shop-made platen (made from a piece of synthetic bowling alley lane), or 2-side taping to a piece of plywood. Does NOT work with figured graining!

When I get more settled into all of this, I definitely want to explore guitar making... I'll be bugging you then..LOL

In the more immediate future, I need to come up with one or more chain gears for this sander.. And seeing as you made one for your nephew (I think it was), I'm seriously considering hitting you up for a little info/advice on making my own.. I have the aluminum, and a bit.. All I need now is a plan and a clue...

I figured it might be a good primer project before I tried to tackle making my gantry end supports out of the thick (and expensive) stuff...