Planer question

[mikeg]

I'm looking at planers, something low end since I'm reaching the current end of my budget. I see where I can get the Delta ShopMaster TP305 12-1/2" Portable Planer from Amazon for $217.99, free shipping, and probably get 10% off that. Or I could get the Ryobi AP1300 at BORG for $199 plus 7% sales tax.

I've seen reviews that both of these are decent for what you pay. I'm a hobbiest and don't plan to run a forest through it but I do want to be able to by rough lumber (hardwood) to save money and have more selection.

What are your opinions on these two machines? Is one better than the other? Are they both junk? Should I wait until I can afford something better?

thanks in advance,
mikeg

[Copper]

I'm fairly new to woodworking, too and I don't own a planer yet. I've heard a few people say that a drum sander is the way to go rather than a planer. I haven't researched a lot yet since my budget doesn't currently allow the purchase of either, but I believe a DS will cost a little more (although you can find discounts occassionally). Maybe some others can chime in with their more experienced opinions. I'm not telling you either way, but rather just giving you another option that you may not have thought of.

[just4funsies]

Drum sanders are considerably more $$ than surface planers, and are more suited to producing a fine surface than for wholesale thinning of material. The DS will give you a beautiful, ready to finish surface, much superior to that of the planer (no snipe marks, for one thing), and the open ended models let you turn the board around to get double the width capacity. The planer will take off more wood in a single pass, but will often leave you with a sanding job, particularly the cheaper models. Also, the knives in the planer (usually there are 2 or 3) will need periodic sharpening, and then properly re-set into the machine, whereas the DS only needs the occasional sanding sleeve. The DS will turn all scrap into fine powder, instead of shavings like the planer, so if your dust collection and air filtration are not up to snuff (pun intended), you will have a problem.

[joekj]

planer

I have a jet planer, but given the choice betwwen the two, I would get the delta for product support and parts down the road. ryobi makes nice products but their lineup changes too often imo. Joe

[jnesmith]

I have that Delta. However, I got it for something like 60% off when one of the Big Boxes closed it out. I like it. Haven't had any real problems. I'm not sure I would pay full retail though. I seem to recall reading good things about the Ryobi. I might have gone that way if I didn't get the deal on the Delta.

If you can wait, it might be a good idea to hold out for a sale on any of the $200-$250 benchtops.

[Whaler]

I have the Delta and have been pleased with it.

[uglystick]

Happy Ryobi AP1300 owner

Hi mikeg,

I bought the Ryobi planer a week ago at the $199 price at HD with a 10% Lowes coupon. Some HD stores will take Harbor Freight 20% coupons, YMMV.

Overall, I am pleased with the quality & performance of the unit. Note that I don't have experience with any other machines for comparison, though. I've only run some 4/4 cherry thru it so far. Initially, there was some snipe on the boards, but adjusting the infeed/outfeed tables solved that.

It's got some neat features like the replane set gauge & a depth gauge to measure the cut depth before it happens. Mandatory features for any planer: a means to lock the cutter height & dust collection port. Also, the blades are double sided, so you can just flip them over when dull.

Cons so far:
The dust collection port seems barely adequate. It doesn't seal well so chips escape where it mates to the unit. Some or all of this could be that my 6gal shop-vac is not adequate. Also, with the port attached the outfeed table will not fold up completely.

Adjusting the infeed/outfeed tables is not very convenient, as it's done with 2 bolts & a locking nut on each side under the table. Trial & error required here.

For my current hobbyist status, this unit exceeds my expectations. It is a joy to use & I've had great results so far.

[LYU370]

I've got the Ryobi planer as well. Works just fine for me, there was no snipe right out of the box. But recently I have noticed a little. Looks like it's finally time to adjust the tables.

[monte]

For the service I would go with the Delta. Parts are readily available.

[JSUPreston]

I've got the Delta (same model as Nahm), and I love the thing. I've had it two or three years and have yet to do anything to the knives (although the shop was unused all last year...don't ask!). It is a two speed model, and I usually go ahead and make my last pass at high speed, and with a little light sanding, which isn't always needed, I'm good to go.

[LCHIEN]

Drum sanders are considerably more $$ than surface planers, and are more suited to producing a fine surface than for wholesale thinning of material. The DS will give you a beautiful, ready to finish surface, much superior to that of the planer (no snipe marks, for one thing), and the open ended models let you turn the board around to get double the width capacity. The planer will take off more wood in a single pass, but will often leave you with a sanding job, particularly the cheaper models. Also, the knives in the planer (usually there are 2 or 3) will need periodic sharpening, and then properly re-set into the machine, whereas the DS only needs the occasional sanding sleeve. The DS will turn all scrap into fine powder, instead of shavings like the planer, so if your dust collection and air filtration are not up to snuff (pun intended), you will have a problem.

J4F has made some good points here. I think for the begining woodworker the Thickness planer (TP) has some appeal over a Drum sander, one beacuse its cheaper and two its more versatile, e.g. you wou want to thickness plane a 3/4"-7/8" board down to 1/2" or sand it down? Definately the TP will do that job much more efficiently even if you need some finish sanding later.

As for the planer, I think you will be a lot happier with one that has a cutterhead lock like the TP400LS (I sure hope I have the right number, probably should look it up) for reducing snipe and other problems.

As for vacuums, I think a shop vac is very hard pressed to keep a TP clear, the cuttings are large and fluffy and jam easily if not cleared; you're removing a large volume (perhaps the largest of all woodworking machinery, 1/16th inch by 12" wide swath), a shop vac cannot handle the air volume needed. If you just let the TP spew out cuttings, you have the danger that some cuttings wil land on the wood entering the TP and it will cause dents in the wood when it gets between the feed roller and the wood.

[Boomer_01]

I recently bought the Delta for $199.00 at Lowes. No coupons required it was the regular cost. The pricing label said that $199.00 was the new price .. down from $229.00.

I like the machine for most jobs. But I do get some sniping on the infeed and outfeed ends. One pass with a hand plane seems to be enough to take care of the problem.

Good luck..


Boomer

[John Hunter]

I have a Delta 12" TP300 that I got at Lowes when they were changing models for $161 it has worked fine.

[Hoover]

One item not discussed here is that the Delta TP305 does not have a cutter head lock. The Ryobi has this feature. You eliminate much of the snipe with the locking feature. Also the infeed and outfeed tables on the Ryobi are adjustable, to eliminate snipe. I don't know if the Delta has this feature or not.

[lkazista]

Cutterhead lock?!

OK - so I will admit that I do not own a thickness planer.

Sad I know.

I understand its job, but I have no idea why a cutterhead lock would reduce snipe. I thought that feature was like a spindle lock on a router, designed to help with blade changes. Is that not the case?

Thanks for the help.

Lee