Benchtop planer

[dwasifar]

I'm considering a small benchtop planer for occasional use. Do any of you guys have experience with the low end - Wen, for example, or the Bauer ones they sell at Horror Fright? The HF one is actually more expensive at $289 than buying a Porter Cable at Lowe's ($269). The Wen is $219 and looks like it shares mechanicals with the HF.

Will I get acceptable results with a basic unit, or do you really need to go to something like the $400 DeWalt to avoid frustration, heartbreak, and disappointment?

 

[derosa]

I'm considering a small benchtop planer for occasional use. Do any of you guys have experience with the low end - Wen, for example, or the Bauer ones they sell at Horror Fright? The HF one is actually more expensive at $289 than buying a Porter Cable at Lowe's ($269). The Wen is $219 and looks like it shares mechanicals with the HF.

Will I get acceptable results with a basic unit, or do you really need to go to something like the $400 DeWalt to avoid frustration, heartbreak, and disappointment?

I've seen the work a couple of people have done with the HF unit and it was as fine as anything my dewalt had produced just a lille more snipe but snipe is something that should be planned for either way. My current 1100.00 jet is also worse then my dewalt was despite any adjustments. Just keep sharp blades in it. Can't speak to wen, when steel city was in business they seemed very similar to wen but my only experience with steel city was a 12" handsaw in which the wheels couldn't be adjusted to be co-planer, for what little that is worth.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have a Ryobi from the late 80's. It is fine for small projects but long hardwood it snipes too much . the mechanism isn't robust enough to take on a long board.

 

[rrich1]

I have the DeWalt 734 and love it. Does your home Depot accept harbor freight coupons? I used a 20% on mine making it a steal at $320.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[dirt_dobber]

I got the Porter Cable at Lowe's. You can use one of the $50 off $250 coupons and it beats almost any deal. I have not had one problem with it yet in over 6 months of weekly use.
For huge volumes of board feet I take it to the side yard.

 

[wrenchguy]

I got the Porter Cable at Lowe's. You can use one of the $50 off $250 coupons and it beats almost any deal. I have not had one problem with it yet in over 6 months of weekly use.
For huge volumes of board feet I take it to the side yard.

aromatic cedar?

 

[jimkinney]

Ryobi here also. I bought it off CL for $75ish a few years ago. It works better than I expected and as long as you support the ends of long boards the snipe isn't bad. It now has a small nick in one blade, but it's easy to avoid except on wide boards.

Also used dads Dewalt 2 blade that worked fine also.

 

[Mandres]

Imho they're all about the same. Grab the cheapest one you can find on cl. Supporting the board evenly and planning to sand or hand plane to the final dimension is always smart even with a top of the market planer. I always treat it as a rough stock remover

 

[Maui]

I bought a Craftsman 12" planer from a cabinetmakers shop that was closing down. It was manufactured by Parks in the late 1950s. Together with the cast iron base it weighs about 600lbs. I bought it for $178.00, and couldn't be happier with its performance. It does an impeccable job planning boards, and can run all day long. If you have the ability to find one of these beauties, I'd say buy it!

Maui