Ryobi planer

[jonathan55]

I don't have much experience unsing a planer but was convinced by the prices of finished wood.

So I decided to buy a planer and have heard some good about the Ryobi and Ridgid. I went to Home Depot to look at them and they had the Ryobi TP1300 for $199 whereas the web site shows the TP1300 for $249. Is the TP1301 an improvment, reading here it looks like some think the 1300 is a better deal.

I'd like to stay under $300 so the $199 price is pretty appealing.

[Knottscott]

I don't know if the 1301 is an improvement over the 1300 or not. The 1300 got acceptable reviews, saying that it's essentially fine for a hobbyist. Either way the important features are a cutterhead lock and a dust chute of some sort....any additional doo-dads are gravy.

[gsmittle]

If you can stretch the budget, maybe think about the Rigid. I'm very happy with mine. It comes with double-edged knives, and there are spare knives stored under the outfeed platform.

The cutterhead lock is very firm (almost too tight to operate), and there is a sliding stop for common lumber thicknesses. Comes with tools and a 4"/2.5" dust chute, too. There's also an indicator on the infeed side that purports to show you how much material you're about to shave off. I've no idea how accurate it is.

Only drawback for me is the beast weighs 80 lbs. In my new shop it's getting a rolling stand of its own.

g.

[jonathan55]

Thanks

thanks for the replys, I also found a used Dewalt 733. Also will concider the Ridgid for warrenty and it seems to come with a stand now.

[mikeg]

Amazon has the Delta TP400LS Shopmaster 12-1/2" Planer with Stand for $259 plus shipping. It also includes a spare set of blades. I just got one and, while I don't have anything to compare it to, I like it. It doese have the cutterhead lock which is desireable.

mikeg

[cbrown]

I was thinking about saving up for the Rigid but found a Ryobi 1300 planer still on the shelf at HD. I have been happy with it. It has a cutterhead lock, preset stops at 1/4" increments, a material removal gauge, and infeed and outfeed tables (I think the 1301 lacks most of these features). I have not had serious problems with snipe. The surface is good but could use some final light hand sanding. The 1300 seems to be the same as the Metabo planer, which probably accounts for the one annoying feature, the fact that the crank is on a metric screw, so to change depth 1/32, e.g., you have to look at the indicator instead of going by turns. I'm not sure what additional features the Rigid offers for ca $150 more except the included stand.

The Delta 22-580 planer offers two-speed feed, and the Dewalt has a three-blade cutterhead. If I hadn't been able to find a Ryobi 1300, I might also have looked for the Dewalt 734 which is sometimes discounted below the Rigid.

All in all, though, I decided that the Ryobi 1300 (not the 1301) was competitive with the features of the Rigid for substantially less money.

--------
Christopher

[SARGE..g-47]

I run a Delta 22-580, but I have used a Ridgid, DeWalt, Ryobi, Wood-tek and a Grizzly. They all have one thing in common.. they will all surface lumber. Some just have better cutter-head locks, adjustment controls, dust systems, easier knife changes, bigger in-feed and out-feed tables than others. But again, I have not seen one yet that won't surface lumber.

A few things you might consider when you get what you get is not always starting your stock in the same place each time. Vary the location to give equal wear to the entire lenght of the knifes. If you get snipe at the front of your stock, try lifting the rear ever so slightly as the front surface meets the cutter-head. If you get a chip in a blade that leaves a raise in the stock, run it back through in another spot. It's magic! :>)

Keep your tables waxed to cut down friction for the feed and keep the rollers clean. Either can cause the planer to resist or stop feeding, especially the rollers when they gum up. They will clean nicely with several solvents, wiping with alcohol probably being the simplest. And last, but not least is if you are getting snipe at front and rear, not a bad idea to cut your lumber a wee bit longer. Then if you get the snipe, you can cut to final plan size and the end snipe goes with that waste cut.

Good luck with your decision..

[drumpriest]

I have the Ryobi AP1300 and am quite happy with it. The 1301 is NOT an improvement, it is actually a step down. Ryobi is generally going to the dogs because of the fact that some of the Ryobi tools were too close in quality to the Ridgid tools. Instead of having a Ryobi alternative for 100$ or more less that was almost as nice (and sometimes better), they want Ridgid to be the good line of tools and Ryobi to be the weekend warrior line.

The 1301 doesn't have a cutter head lock, that's the big feature it's missing, but the 1300 does, and works well. Has replane stops, and a dust shoot.

[ryan.s]

I have the ridgid which i picked up last year through the recycler for $250.00 and have been very happy with it. It was basically brand new but was just sitting in the guy's garage for a couple of months when I bought it. Had some dust on it but no signs of it being used. Buying used can always be an alternative option if you don't mind that sort of stuff. There are good deals to be found if you're patient. Check your local craigslist or online recycler.