Planer

[apollo11]

What's a decently priced 12-14 inch brand?
A buddy wants to buy a home depot one and I'd said I'd check what was available elsewhere with this forum for him.

 

[KEH]

Dewalt. Cutterhead has 3 blades, cuts smoother.


KEH

 

[turbowoodworker]

For portable/benchtop, DeWalt, hands down.
Others may be cheaper, but DeWalt holds up well.

 

[Jonj]

Ditto on Dewalt

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have an older 13" Rigid from HD. It has served me well over the years

 

[rrich1]

The Dewalt 734 is a beast for a lunchbox planer. I use mine all of the time on cherry, hickory, pine, and walnut. The three cutter heads really help vs the 2 cutter heads of the other lunchbox planers. Depending on where you are located try using a harbor freight 20% off coupon and/or menards rebate match.

 

[apollo11]

Thanks to all

 

[tarbellb]

From this post earlier in the week- https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373755


"From my research seems sub $300 models are almost exactly the same. Small diameter vertical post, limited in/out feed tables, barely adequate motors, poor chip collection. But its a 13" planer for less then $300.

Then it goes up to $350, where Ridgid's R4331 w/ beefier 4 post and cutter head lock is best.

Next up the chain is Dewalt DW735 @$600, gets excellent reviews and worth the money.

After that its industrial floor mount stuff, Grizzly, Delta, PW, etc....

The WEN for $200+/- has been passed around as decent for the price, same with the HF. A thickness planer takes a lot of stresses and abuse, its the frame strength and cutter head movement that matters most."

 

[rrich1]

From this post earlier in the week- https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373755


"From my research seems sub $300 models are almost exactly the same. Small diameter vertical post, limited in/out feed tables, barely adequate motors, poor chip collection. But its a 13" planer for less then $300.

Then it goes up to $350, where Ridgid's R4331 w/ beefier 4 post and cutter head lock is best.

Next up the chain is Dewalt DW735 @$600, gets excellent reviews and worth the money.

After that its industrial floor mount stuff, Grizzly, Delta, PW, etc....

The WEN for $200+/- has been passed around as decent for the price, same with the HF. A thickness planer takes a lot of stresses and abuse, its the frame strength and cutter head movement that matters most."

The DeWalt 734 is $400 with a 3 blade cutter head. No better planer for the money as the cheaper models are all 2 blade.

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[tarbellb]

The DeWalt 734 is $400 with a 3 blade cutter head. No better planer for the money as the cheaper models are all 2 blade.

Meh, 3 blades are better then 2 , but the upgrade in chassis is what you really want in the 735.

 

[6PTsocket]

The DeWalt 734 is $400 with a 3 blade cutter head. No better planer for the money as the cheaper models are all 2 blade.

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The later versions of the HD have 3 blades. But if anything fails I sure do not want to deal with Ridgid. A lot of these lunch box planers are very similar and probably come from the same place. As you move up there are spiral blades and individual cutters in stainless and carbide. Steel City is gone but some new outfit is importing similar stuff wwith supposedly great support. The name is something like Cutech. They just do jointers and planers. The Rikon stuff is similar.

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[guy48065]

...The name is something like Cutech. They just do jointers and planers.

You mean Geetech? I have the 6" jointer. They make good tools at great prices...if you can find it.

As for planers I have the older model 2-blade, single speed, 4-column locking head Dewalt and am happy with it. Prior to that I had the Makita and it's MUCH lighter but I didn't like that the table went up & down instead of the head.\
As with sliding compound miter saws the so-called portable planers just keep getting bigger & heavier.

 

[GarageGuy89]

Have the 733 or 734, cant remember. Its the smaller one with a wixey micro measure thing.

Works great no complaints, got it on craigslist for around $150. Very loud and dust collection is a must. You'll wish you bought a helicoil machine if you do it for any larger project...

 

[6PTsocket]

You mean Geetech? I have the 6" jointer. They make good tools at great prices...if you can find it.

As for planers I have the older model 2-blade, single speed, 4-column locking head Dewalt and am happy with it. Prior to that I had the Makita and it's MUCH lighter but I didn't like that the table went up & down instead of the head.\
As with sliding compound miter saws the so-called portable planers just keep getting bigger & heavier.

No I had it right. CUTECH. Google it. It refers to the fact that all they carry are cutting tools. They are relatively new.

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[packet]

I have a Cutech planer. No complaints. The spiral cutter head is amazing. Especially if you chip a blade. Way easier to replace and adjust a single blade than the long ones.

 

[osumet]

Dewalt DW734 is a great planer. I've used it to make a table and 8 chairs, 3-in-1 crib, bed, end tables and much more. I use mostly cherry and poplar but occasionally use maple and pine. I'm only on my second set of blades. The blades are reversible, extremely sharp, and hold a sharp edge for a long time.