WH7 Planer-Molder

[Pen & Wrench]

This summer I did some mowing for a friend of mine who had back surgery, and he gave me his Dad's old Williams & Hussey W7 Planer-Molder. It doesn't appear like it was used too much. I don't know a lot about this type of machine. Is anyone familiar with what they are capable of? It has a 1 hp motor wired for 120 volts that came with it. It appears you can run a wider board through by turning the board around and doing a second pass. I see on the Williams & Hussey Website you can order molder knives for various standard profiles or can order custom made profiles. I noticed in pictures I can find, the motor is usually mounted below the planer head, but this one was set up with the motor mount on the top of the stand, same level as the planer head. From what I can see this is quite an older machine, but it appears to be in good shape. I put the stand together, mounted the planer/molder head and the motor, and I need to buy a V-belt to hook up to the motor and it should be ready to plane. I have a DeWalt DW 734 suitcase planer, but maybe this one is a little more heavy duty? I'm not sure if I will like the narrower cutter head. As you can see in the picture, this machine has been pickled for a few years and I haven't removed the oil and wax paper on the bed of the planer unit. If anyone is familiar with this machine and can educate me on it a bit, I would appreciate it. Is this something I should consider using, or will it make more sense to use the DeWalt planer I have, a much lighter planer but it does have a wider cutter head. I'm thinking until I start doing a lot more wood planing,
maybe this machine will easily do what I need it to do. I do plane wider than 6 and a half inches at times, but if turning the boards around and running them through twice isn't too much of an issue, I have more time than money, plus my DeWalt planer will do wider boards also. Your opinions will be appreciated. Thanks.






Thanks in advance for any info you may have for me.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Wow, that is cool. You have a very old version of the W&H planer molder.
You can see the newer models here>

MOLDERS

Molder Comparison Chart Profile Knife Tips & Tricks Click Here for W&H Operational Videos

www.williamsnhussey.com

These are really good at making specific moldings, like crown or replicating antique moldings for a renovation of a house or furniture. The company sells specific knives for most moldings, and I think the can make knives for something really odd ball.

As a planer, the bed is narrow and if you do lots of woodworking and have a DeWalt, I would stick with the 12 in width. But if you want to make moldings, that will do the job.

I have tried to buy the newer ones at auctions several times and failed, mostly because I just backed off, not needing the specialized machine. But you ave a pretty cool unit there.

Rick

 

[jar944]

Solid little machines. I have a couple for running moulding.

Imho they are not great planers since there is no chip breaker or pressure bar.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Try this video. It will show you what it can do.

 

[RTM]

The concern I would have with turning the board around to plane the other half, you are now going against the grain of the board, so you might get an inconsistent finish, which might require more work, getting rid of tear out.

 

[jar944]

Don't let it fall off a truck, they are surprisingly fragile when they tumble down the highway.. fortunately not much had changed on them in 70 years.