Broken planer worth it?

[87quest]

Casually looking for a planer and this pops up. Would try and talk him down, but with the symptoms I would guess it is either a problem with his house wiring, switch/brushes/cord, or the motor? The first two make it it worthwhile but the motor makes it more expensive than a brand new one. Any ideas or warnings?

https://savannah.craigslist.org/tls/5991220089.html

quest

 

[Reese]

My guess would be a shot motor. You could eliminate house wiring if he has any other power tools and they work correctly. Is this owned by a homeowner or contractor? I would pass if he a contractor. If a home owner I would still not be very excited about a project.

I have bought basket case tools a few times, and the best I have ever done is end up with the cost of a good used tool in a used tool with the hassle of doing a repair. I would be more interested if it were a nicer planer.

 

[jimreed2160]

Well, it requires 15A. Probably at least that much at startup, so house wiring could be suspect. Kinda expensive for parts. $50 is much better.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Motor will cost as much or more than a new planer. No alternatives either because of specialized housing and shape.
As far as parts, it is only worth buying if you have two other identical models and want reserve parts, and can get it for ten bucks.
Pass. You can do better.

 

[climb.on]

Well it's about a $300 machine, new. You'll have 4 hours (minimum), plus parts, into fixing it. Even after it's fixed you'll only have a $200 machine. I might think about it for $20. What's your time worth? When I do stuff like this (all too often) I estimate about $60 an hour, because I want to be sure it's worth it and because I usually underestimate the time I will put into it. Check out the cost of a new motor before you do anything.

 

[woody 73]

On the expensive side wonder if he would go down in price ???

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/tls/5902698397.html

 

[nine4gmc]

NO way I'd pay $80 for a broken one, that said, I got one for free from my scrap guy with a bad motor and mounted a 1/2 hp motor on top with a door hinge to tension the belt and created a baby death trap that worked wonderful but scary as **** to operate.

 

[American Locomotive]

Well it's about a $300 machine, new. You'll have 4 hours (minimum), plus parts, into fixing it. Even after it's fixed you'll only have a $200 machine. I might think about it for $20. What's your time worth? When I do stuff like this (all too often) I estimate about $60 an hour, because I want to be sure it's worth it and because I usually underestimate the time I will put into it. Check out the cost of a new motor before you do anything.

I really hate reasoning like that. It's one thing if he's planning to make money with the thing, but a completely different thing if it's something he's going to tinker around with in his spare time to try and get it going. We waste tens of hours every week doing stuff that doesn't make us money - eating dinner, watching TV, etc.. It's no big deal to shift 30 minutes of watching TV to tinkering with a tool. Because lets be honest, if I wasn't tinkering with something, I'd probably be sitting on the couch watching TV or sleeping anyways.... and I certainly don't get paid $60/hr to watch TV.

To the OP, $80 is still way too much for the machine. I'd probably do it for $20. $50-80 would probably get you a used, working planer if you looked around.

 

[climb.on]

I really hate reasoning like that.... I'd probably do it for $20.

You hate my reasoning, but draw the exact same conclusion.

 

[American Locomotive]

You hate my reasoning, but draw the exact same conclusion.

I hate the "What is my time worth?" line of logic when it comes to fixing things. Because to me, my "tinkering" time is essentially worthless, since I'd be doing something just as unproductive otherwise. I personally enjoy taking stuff apart and trying to fix it. I'd drop $20 just for the fun of it.

The conclusion is the same, because at $80, you start getting in the territory of "working functional machines".

 

[climb.on]

I hear you and I don't always approach it that way. Maybe it help me validate all the time I spend restoring and fixing stuff. Whatever the value we place on out time, I think we'd both agree it is certainly worthwhile! Cheers.

 

[Empty Pockets]

My guess is that he already knows the motor is shot. I'd look elsewhere

 

[crguy]

Forget it and look for a good running one.

 

[McFarmer]

It appears to the the same as a little Delta I have. Could be brushes. Offer $25, the knives are worth that, they would most likely for a Delta if you found one.

Worth a shot I think.

Whoever put that motor on the other one. Props to you. (Kids still say that?)

 

[Monsoon1]

NO way I'd pay $80 for a broken one, that said, I got one for free from my scrap guy with a bad motor and mounted a 1/2 hp motor on top with a door hinge to tension the belt and created a baby death trap that worked wonderful but scary as **** to operate.

http://redzonline.com/computerfiles/images/img_2434.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://redzonline.com/computerfiles/images/img_2435.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://redzonline.com/computerfiles/images/img_2436.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://redzonline.com/computerfiles/images/img_2437.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

so [B][I]you're[/I][/B] that guy :wtf:

 

[MercLSU]

so you're that guy

...and then he sold it! ...or did you trade that, Nine?

 

[nine4gmc]

Traded it for the 170# Swedish anvil.

That would be me.

 

[Socket Pounder]

$80? Hahaha, if it were $20 I'd take it and build a 12" jointer via Matthias Wandel.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

I bought a working one at auction for $80. It was a Delta. Needed a new infeed roller which aren't available but finally found one from a different brand that fit right in.

 

[MercLSU]

Traded it for the 170# Swedish anvil.

That would be me.

That's right...I forgot exactly why I hated you

/hijack

 

[Packard V8]

Coming in to the fight after everyone is winded, but those weren't much of a machine when new, many parts have gone NLA and the motors are essentially a cheap router laid on its side.

OK for light, occasional use, but not sure I'd take a dead one for free. They come up here on craigslist pretty regularly.

As to how we value our time, if it's a high quality machine one could never afford when complete and working, maybe a better investment.

jack vines

 

[87quest]

Wow, thank you for the responses. I did kind of have the feeling that it was the motor itself. Probably just hoping. Thanks for all the advice, think I will let this one go.

Unless... I will have to try and find that video of a jointer from it. Will still need to find a motor.

And I would love to try the link from Jacksonville, but I definitely don't have it lol for that much planer. Haha

Thank you gentlemen.

quest

 

[Roberts210]

NO way I'd pay $80 for a broken one, that said, I got one for free from my scrap guy with a bad motor and mounted a 1/2 hp motor on top with a door hinge to tension the belt and created a baby death trap that worked wonderful but scary as **** to operate.

My kind of guy!!

 

[nine4gmc]

My kind of guy!!

At least somebody feels me!

I miss that planer, needed it times since I traded it off... I have Merc and my scrap guy on the lookout for another one.

 

[FMC1959]

OP, it really depends on you, how good are you at fixing things and how much time you got. I know guys that can and will fix anything. Even if the motor is burnt, they'll use some old motor they got for $15 from an old furnace and hook it up externally....that's their thing....tinkering. Even if they put 20 hours into it and get it to work, it was worth it.

Bottom line, I used to be a tinkerer but don't have time these days to do anything, so I would pass, even at $20. If it's your thing, make an offer, $50 or less wouldn't be too bad.