Popular Woodworking 2000-11 № 118, страница 67

versal motor, so these machines are noisy and require more maintenance than an induction motor tool. The rollers that feed the wood under the cutterhead are almost always rubber, which doesn't grip as tightly as the serrated metal rollers in big planers. The rubber also tends to wear out.

All planers have a tendency to "snipe" a board. Snipe is when the last two or three inches of a board gets cut deeper than the rest of the board. We've found it's trickier to adjust out the snipe on a portable planer than it is for a floor model.

Benchtop planers do have some real advantages. The blades are generally easier to change than those in stationary machines. The machines can be stored under a bench when not in use, and the price is reasonable for the home woodworker.

Be aware, however, that you cannot treat a benchtop machine like you would a stationary one. These machines aren't as good at handling rough stock. So if you're bringing home a lot of rough-sawn boards from the lumberyard, you'll find that the boards can bog down the motor. However, portables are perfect for people who buy only a few rough-sawn boards and are willing to patiently coax the machine.

When shopping, look for a machine with a high number of cuts per minute. The higher the number, the better the finish. Check out how easy it is to adjust the infeed and outfeed tables. These will help you reduce snipe. And be sure to open up the machine and see how easy it is to change the blades. This varies from unbelievably simple to a task requiring three hands. Look for portable models that come with two-sided disposable blades that will give you twice the life of single-edge blades. Also see if you can adjust the blades side-to-side slightly so you can cancel out any nicks in your blades.

Cutterhead locks are another feature that's appearing on portable planers. These hold the cutterhead in place on your final pass. They reduce, but do not eliminate, sniping. And finally, some manufacturers tout their turret depth stop, which allows you to return to the same thickness again

and again. Some work OK, some don't work so well.

Stationary Planers

These heavy-duty workhorses are powered by an induction motor and built using cast iron. As a result, they are heavier, more reliable and need less coaxing than their smaller cousins. Stationary planers start at 12" wide and go up. Most home woodworkers buying a stationary planer will shop for a 15" model, which is about $1,000.

When shopping for a 15" machine, check out the horsepower (usually 2 or 3 hp) and cuts per minute (between 13,500 and 15,000). But a better measure of the guts of the machine is the maximum cut the manufacturer recommends you take in one pass — most 15" planers can take between Vs" and V4".

Check out the feed rate, which is how quickly boards move under the cutterhead. Some floor models have variable feed rates that can be changed with a lever or by adjusting a chain inside the machine.

Another important feature is the knife-changing method. Most use springs or jackscrews to hold the knife in position as you lock it to the cutterhead. If your planer doesn't have one of these, buy a jig for setting your knives.

Rollers are critical in stationary planers. Most quality models use serrated steel feed rollers to grab and drive your wood under the cutterhead. Most have an adjustable chip breaker that will improve the final finish of your board. And be sure your stationary planer has adjustable bed rollers. These rollers are opposite the cutter-head and move stock more smoothly.

Finally, don't forget to add up the niceties that come with some planers. You'll probably want to buy infeed and outfeed rollers for your planer. These come packaged with some planers and are expensive accessories on others. Some planers come with knife-setting jigs, some don't. Some planers come with a dust hood, others don't. When included with the purchase price, these accessories can quickly turn an expensive machine into a reasonably priced one. PW

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The following planers have been tested or used by the editors of Popular Woodworking and have earned their recommendation.

Occasional User

For the woodworker on a budget, we highly recommend the Delta 22-560 I2k>" portable planer. You're not going to find an easier knife-changing system. The 22-560 is truly a portable machine at 65 pounds, and the price keeps falling all the time.We've seen it as low as $300. Ridgid entered the thickness planer market a little late. But when the company designed the TP1300 13" planer the company's engineers combined many of the best features of their competitors and came up with a great machine.We were impressed by the attention to detail.There's on-board tool storage for everything you need to adjust the machine, including a nifty knife-changing tool.The planer's depth stop is particularly ingenious, and the fit and finish are excellent.We awarded the TPI300 a Best New Tool award in 1999.

Serious Home Woodworker

If you are serious about woodworking, you need a stationary planerThey're more accurate, durable and powerful. Many of the 15" planers on the market today are remarkably similar. In fact, some look like the only difference is the paint job. Among the 15" clones out there we recommend the Bridgewood BW-15P planer for its combination of features and price.This planer has the motor mounted underneath the machine in a cabinet to reduce vibration and make knife-changing much easierThe 3 hp motor is rated to take a H" cut in one pass. It comes with jackscrews, a dust hood and infeed/outfeed rollers.The price: $850. What a deal.

Advanced Woodworker or Professional

For the pro, it's hard to ignore the price of the Grizzly 1033 20" planer: $1,295 plus shipping. Grizzly has been selling this planer for 13 years, which features a 3 hp motor, two speeds, extension rollers and a dust hood.We see them in shops all over the country