another AP1301 question/comment opportunity

[Muddler Mike]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for my first planer and, after reading the reviews in the second to last Wood Magazine, am tossed up between the Ridgid TP1300LS and the Ryobi AP1301. The ridgid got good marks and listed as a best value, but the Ryobi was mentioned as a good performer except for the markedly poor snipe. They suggested that you can either build some infeed/outfeed tables for it or just count on cutting off the snipe, but the finish was on par with the top performers like DeWalt and Delta. Given the $150+ price difference from the Ridgid and the probability that I'll be using it less than a dozen times a year, I'm considering buying the Ryobi, building the infeed/outfeed table, and putting the extra cash towards something else.

For those of you who have had negitive comments about the AP1301, would you elaborate on the actual problems you have had with it? I'm looking for opinions that are more than "it's a piece of garbage", rather what performance issues that you have had with it and if you attempted to remedy them without success. Likewise, do any of you have the AP1301 and have found it to be a decent machine for the price?

Thanks,

Muddler

[gsmittle]

I've had the Rigid for a couple of years now, and I use it far more than I thought I would. Since I don't have a jointer yet, I build at jig for jointing wood in the planer. I've also used it for flattening stock (there's at least a bajillion articles on this on the net and the mags).

I'm very happy with my planer. Sorry I don't have any experience with the 1301. When I went to the BORG to buy a planer, the decision was made for me since they didn't have the 1301 in stock that day...

g.

[sandoz71]

I can only offer that I have used the 1301 for fairly short runs of maple, walnut and cherry (35" or so). No problems with snipe and I havenet gotten around to building some in/outfeed tables yet. I am in agreement with you that for the few times I use a planer it was tough to justify the additional cost of the Rigid. Dont get me worng, I love Rigid stuff and I have a Rigid 3650 (sorry BT3 bretheren, coulndt find a new BT and wasnt interested in the Sears fold up clone) and their excellent router combo, but for the money I simply cant couldnt stretch for the cost. I even use my Rigid shop vac for dust collection and for the most part it is up to the task. Just have to empty it more often.

I use my MLCS, table saw mounted router table to face joint and that has worked pretty well too.

[JSCOOK]

FWIW,
I had the same dilema myself this past month between th AP1301 and TP1300LS ... then I spotted the Delta TP400LS on clearance for $199 CDN ($171 USD) at our local BORG and bought the last one they had in the box ... from the reviews and posts I had read up till then, I was going to go for the Ridgid ... I figured it would keep a better resale value if I decided to change

[Muddler Mike]

thanks for the replies, guys. I guess not too many members here have actually used the machine. I guess it won't matter - it seems the BORG has taken the AP1301 off it's web site. Maybe Ryobi is planning a replacement?