Thickness Planer

[Greg Newell]

Terry,
    My brother swears by his new Delta drum sander. It's big but cantilevered so
he can do a 36" wide board to whatever thickness he chooses. He won't use his
little 12 1/2 planer anymore. (Perhaps he'll sell it to you if that's what you
really want). You can put on varying grits on the drum  from large rocks glued
to paper down to particles so small you'd swear it's not doing anything. If I
were to do it again I think I'd consider this just for the size of the piece you
can get in it.

Greg

Farrell wrote:

> 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.

--
Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
12970 Harlon Ave.
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
216-226-3791
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net