Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-5, страница 77

Combination machines are not a new concept by any stretch of the imagination. The idea of using the same motor and frame to power a couple of different applications has a commonsense appeal that is right up many woodworkers' alleys. However, these machines are rare in U.S. woodshops.

Here in the U.S., if you could talk to most woodworkers and ask them about a combination woodworking machine, the picture that would come to mind is the Shopsmith Mark V. And while that particular tool has a faithful following, many of whom would rather lose a body part or a beloved pet rather than give up their Mark V, its reputation in the craft is that it does a couple of things well, and other tasks in a sub-optimum manner. In other words, dedicated machines (for example, table saws, drill presses, disk sanders, etc.) will outperform their combo machine counterparts in almost all cases. (Shopsmith owners take note: I am reporting here, not editorializing. Please keep your complaint letters professional.)

Across the pond in Europe, combination woodworking machines are an entirely different kettle of fish. Companies like Felder, Rojek, Robland and Laguna have built sophisticated combination machines that perform at unquestionable levels of excellence. These machines combine various components: for example, a planer/jointer in concert with a table saw or mortising appliance. There might also be a shaper and even a panel saw combined with a table saw and almost any other mix-and-match combo you can think of. I don't think I would be wrong in asserting that in Europe, a woodworker would find it odd to purchase a machine that did just one task. Here, of course, it is just the opposite situation. I could speculate as to the reason, but I would just be guessing. Having been reared in a traditional American shop, I grew up suspicious of combination machines — European or otherwise. But when I really started to consider the benefits of combination machines, I had to admit that my prejudice was without merit. This is especially true when it comes to jointer/planer combination machines.

The Perfect Marriage

Leaving aside for the moment all the other considerations involved in the combo machine discussion, when it comes to the planer/jointer, there is little room for argument regarding its practicality.

Shop Test continues on page 78 ...

How Wide is Your Planer

(So why do you only have a 6" jointer?)

To properly use a planer, one face of the wood must be flat and out of wind (not twisted) before you start. So the first step in planing wood is face-jointing. You can do this with a hand plane, but most of us prefer a jointer for the task. Curiously, most planers on the market are 12" wide or more. On the other hand, most jointers in home shops are 6" or 8" wide — with the 6" version predominating. Face-jointing a l2"-wide piece of wood on a 6" jointer is a pain in the woodshop.The same is true of 8"- or IO"-wide stock. It can be done, but if it were me, I'd just rip the stock narrower and go from there. Imagine if you had a 12" jointer to go with your 12" planer ... life would be a bed of roses (or at least of woodchips).

Twelve-inch jointers are expensive, and even the benchtop models of planers are not cheap. But by combining both tools into one, you have a more practical stock-surfacing system at a price that can be very competitive. Do you need to face-joint 12" stock regularly? Perhaps not, but what about 8" or 10"? If your answer is "yes," a 12" combo planer/jointer may be in your future.

Preparing a 12" wide piece of lumber for planing using a 6" jointer is tricky. For that reason alone, a 12" jointer is a very practical tool.

Woodworker's Journal October 2008 77