Looking for recommendations for purchasing a thickness planer. I am in the midst of rebuilding a keybed on an old Knabe grand and the keybed ends were constructed like a sandwich - hardwoods on the top and bottom and softwood on the inside - and I gotta do some exacto planing on my replacement lumber. I have only a small shop and have no significant plans of expanding. I would have only occasional use for the planer. What do ya'll recommend regarding size and quality. Will a Crapsman do for me? What size should be sufficient (I believe they are sold by the width of board they will plane)? How does quality affect the cut surface of a piece of hardwood? Obviously I need to be able to send a piece of oak or hard maple through it. I want to get what will work properly, but of course, I don't want to spend more than I have to. I will not be going to Reno this year (boo-hoo-hoo) because of a budget shortfall - so you know money is tight.
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