Thickness Planer Delta, Rigid or ?

[gtvrb]

I am in the market for a planer and would like a few opinions. I would like a 13" and it needs to be semi-portable. (Benchtop) I will need to store it away while not in use as my work area needs to stay clear.
There is a Delta 22-580 used locally for 325. The reviews are pretty good but it seems to be a discontinued model.
Thanks for any input you may have. I appreciate it.

 

[whodatpat]

I picked up the Rigid 13" for $200 on craigslist and I could not be any happier.

A note of technical diference is the Delta has 2 blades while the Rigid has 3.
I believe 3 is better than 2 but I also like my Amp at 11 because it is one more.

 

[adirondak5]

Ridgid , good machine .

 

[Colt W. Knight]

If you want something thats easy to move around, super hard to beat a Ryobi AP1301 planer. At ~200$ new, its half or less than half the cost of compariable planers. Ive built a lot of guitars using my Ryobi. Cheap blades and they are easy to change.

 

[Mojotron]

Ridgid , good machine .

Me too - that is an awesome planer.

 

[OpenG Capo4]

Do you have any snipe issues with that planer Colt? I have their "bells and whistles" version of that planer with the feed ramps and such and I had a hard time getting it adjusted properly (which explains why I got it so cheap) and its still not perfect.

Its also not very "portable" as it weighs probably well over 100lbs. I might mount it on a stand and put some casters on it if I ever get a proper "shop". Seems like the Rigid and DeWalt units are built on a more skeletal construction and are much lighter.

Are the blades hard to change? The ones in mine are still sharp but I know I'll have to have them serviced eventually.

 

[Guitarnut]

Ridgid , good machine .

Me too - that is an awesome planer.

+1.

And a three blade setup is better. More cuts per revolution which is important since it doesn't have 2 speed infeed rollers. The second speed would be a slower feed for smoother cuts.

Mark

 

[Colt W. Knight]

Do you have any snipe issues with that planer Colt? I have their "bells and whistles" version of that planer with the feed ramps and such and I had a hard time getting it adjusted properly (which explains why I got it so cheap) and its still not perfect.

Its also not very "portable" as it weighs probably well over 100lbs. I might mount it on a stand and put some casters on it if I ever get a proper "shop". Seems like the Rigid and DeWalt units are built on a more skeletal construction and are much lighter.

Are the blades hard to change? The ones in mine are still sharp but I know I'll have to have them serviced eventually.

I built infeed/outfeed tables for my Ryobi to control snipe. If I only take small bites, I can get by with almost no snipe. But I have never used a portable planer that was snipe free. I usually just cut my wood a few inches longer and cut the snipe off. At worst, its 2.5" on either end.

Mine is a lot lighter than yours. Its right at about 50 lbs.

The blades on my Ryobi are the easiest to change of any lunchbox planer I have ever used, plus they are reversable.

These smaller planers are designed to be portable, used on jobsites. So the snipe or infeed outfeed tables are not an issue.

The larger lunchbox planers are nicer, but they do cost a whole lot more. My next planer is going to be either a 15-20" Grizzly with spiral cutterhead.

Most of the smaller planers are built by the same company. The Ryobi and the Rigid use the same blades.

 

[Mojotron]

+1.

And a three blade setup is better. More cuts per revolution which is important since it doesn't have 2 speed infeed rollers. The second speed would be a slower feed for smoother cuts.

Mark

I think the Ridgid is 85lbs - I'm OK moving it around from time to time, but that might not be everyone's idea of portable.

Also, I think you can get snipe with any planer - but with proper adjustment and using an infeed support when needed I get minimal snipe - especially on boards that I can feed diagonally even just a little works miracles: And, I think that is similar for all planers - without making some supports for it snipe can be an issue. On big expensive boards I will glue on a sacrificial board on both sides...

 

[Colt W. Knight]

I think the Ridgid is 85lbs - I'm OK moving it around from time to time, but that might not be everyone's idea of portable.

Also, I think you can get snipe with any planer - but with proper adjustment and using an infeed support when needed I get minimal snipe - especially on boards that I can feed diagonally even just a little works miracles: And, I think that is similar for all planers - without making some supports for it snipe can be an issue. On big expensive boards I will glue on a sacrificial board on both sides...

+1, dealing with snipe is part of learning to use a Planer.

For the record, I think the Rigid is a better planer than the Ryobi, but the Ryobi is lighter and little smaller, making it more portable IMO.

 

[guitarbuilder]

I have the powermatic bigger boy 690 I think. It is a 3 knife cutterhead with disposable knives I think ( I'm on the first set). I'd say I like it but it's still not perfect in terms of snipe. I don't have any aux. tables for it yet due to space considerations. The Ryobi 10" were the first in portable planers and were pretty expensive back then. I think it was $499. My father in law has one since they were introduced.... it's a sniper too.

 

[axedaddy]

In my experience, Rigid tools are awesome for the money. I think that whatever planer you get, if you get one with 2 speeds, you are way ahead. It will make working with highly figured and/or wider work pieces much better.

 

[gtvrb]

Thanks everyone so far. I guess I wasn't clear in how portable it needs to be. I just need to be able to pull it out and use it and then store it when not in use. The big machines with built in tables etc are just too large for my small work area that must also be used for other things.
Is it worth the extra money for the 13" unit. I am looking at building some telecaster and lp jr style guitars and J and P basses. The J bass I have is slightly wider than the 13" If I can't run the whole body through is it worth it to get a smaller (cheaper) planer and run the body through in two pieces and then join.

 

[axedaddy]

Thanks everyone so far. I guess I wasn't clear in how portable it needs to be. I just need to be able to pull it out and use it and then store it when not in use. The big machines with built in tables etc are just too large for my small work area that must also be used for other things.
Is it worth the extra money for the 13" unit. I am looking at building some telecaster and lp jr style guitars and J and P basses. The J bass I have is slightly wider than the 13" If I can't run the whole body through is it worth it to get a smaller (cheaper) planer and run the body through in two pieces and then join.

I have a 13" Steel City spiral cutter head planer. I thought it would be fine, and for the most part it is. But to be honest, I wish I had gotten a 16"-20" planer. Everyone has there own opinion, but IMHO 13" is the minimum you will need for guitar building.

 

[Colt W. Knight]

Thanks everyone so far. I guess I wasn't clear in how portable it needs to be. I just need to be able to pull it out and use it and then store it when not in use. The big machines with built in tables etc are just too large for my small work area that must also be used for other things.
Is it worth the extra money for the 13" unit. I am looking at building some telecaster and lp jr style guitars and J and P basses. The J bass I have is slightly wider than the 13" If I can't run the whole body through is it worth it to get a smaller (cheaper) planer and run the body through in two pieces and then join.

Run down to Home Depot and give the Ryobi AP1301 a good looking over. It will do 13", and is probably the most portable out of all the planers. ITs not a bad planer either. If it was a POS, I would have replaced it a long time ago.

 

[goldguitarguy]

Anyone ever use a Mastercraft make?????They go on sale here once a month for $190 at Canadian tire

 

[Colt W. Knight]

Anyone ever use a Mastercraft make?????They go on sale here once a month for $190 at Canadian tire

I did a quick search, but looks like that Mastercraft is a 12.5" width planer. Not big enough for teles.

 

[guitarbuilder]

I absolutely wouldn't get anything under 13" and would prefer a 15" actually.

 

[gtvrb]

Thanks to everyone so far. I would definitely like a larger planer (15-20") but it looks like 13" is the largest in the portable-ish planers. If I had a large dedicated work space I wouldn't mind cashing out but I just don't have the room. I have actually seen some good deals on Craigslist on the bigger planers I just can't make it work space wise.

 

[Shepherd]

Why dont you just get a 15" and put it on a mobile base? The footprint isnt much bigger than the lunchbox planers. I've got a Makita 16" thats really low and I just store it under my work bench when I dont use it.