Replies

1. 
   frenchy | May 28, 2008 04:22pm | #1

   hthr

     I can strongly recommend not to buy Delta.  My experiance with mine so soured me that when ever the subject comes up I jump in..

     I have heard many people praise Mikita. Others will wade in but please consider whatever brand they buy chances are they like it..  It's hard to admit that you made a mistake or another machine is superior..

1. 
   Philter | May 28, 2008 04:57pm | #2

   Bought a new Dewalt 735?...newest model anyway, it works great ,top reviews in most mag.s lately, and won't even consider others after using this one!

    

    "If 'tis to be,'twil be done by me."

2. 
   MikeHennessy | May 28, 2008 05:10pm | #3

   You might want to try posting this question over in Knots (or do a search in the archives there). You'll get lots of conflicting opinions. ;-)

   I have an older DeWalt that, for what it is,  I like, despite the fact that it has crummy bearings. The new ones (735) seem to get good reviews, but some folks say the blades are junk. Others say that the blade problem has been corrected. Folks also seem to like the Makita and the Grizly, IIRC.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

    

3. 
   alwaysoverbudget | May 28, 2008 05:20pm | #4

   what a loaded question.i have a 10 year old delta that has been great.decided back in dec to buy the new dewalt. 1st one wouldn't feed wood after a 100' and the blades were nicking up. so took it back got #2. same story ,so i took it back,bought new blades for my old delta and here i am.

   i don't get this blade deal on the dewalt,but evryone complains about it and i found it to be true,to soft of metal?    

   if i went out to buy new today i would be at a loss.larry

   if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

4. 
   GW52 | May 28, 2008 06:45pm | #5

   Got a Dewalt 735 works great no complaints. The blade problem that some see, I haven't. I did have to change the blades but that was my fault, didn't see the staple in the wood. The blades are easy to change, no problems with alignment.

5. 
   MisterT | May 28, 2008 06:49pm | #6

   portable or stationary ???

   Dewalt (default) sounds like a good Portable choice...

   Sphereoid has one and likes it...

   I gots me a monster grizzly.

   15" though and really needs a dust collector.

   but a solid value.

   look at there 12" models.

   .
   .
   "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion"

   -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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   If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???

1. 
   Sphere | May 28, 2008 06:56pm | #7

   I heard that.

   I have 3 now!

   Ryobi AH-115 20+ years old, 12.5 '' and 6.5" jointer attached..great machine.

   The DW 13" 3 knife, so far I DID have the feed problem, gotta keep the bed slick is the answer..I use dri-cote..no problems.

   And I just scored an old Grizz, 20" monster..needs some TLC.

   To the OP, get the DW. I did a lot of homework and between it and Makita and Ridgid ( the only three that meet my needs) the DW won out..and I got a free sander with it.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

1. 
   MisterT | May 29, 2008 01:10am | #12

   20"!!!that puppy must weigh 7-800 lbs.Grant will help you move it....
   .
   "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
   .
   .
   .
   If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???

1. 
   Sphere | May 29, 2008 01:21am | #13

   No moving needed, it's in my "town" shop up in Lex. I have a space there to work on stuff that I can't fit or won't want to do at home.

   Gotta clean it up and change knives.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

6. 
   fingers | May 28, 2008 08:40pm | #8

   I think you've gotta decide if you want a small "portable" lunch-box style planer (Makita, Dewalt, Delta, Rigid, etc.) or a more substantial  planer with some cast iron in it.  Grizzly, bigger Deltas, powermatic etc.

   If you decide on the lunch box type, I don't think you can go wrong with the Makita.

   If you go for the bigger style I know Frenchy has had great luck with Grizzly.

1. 
   Squash | May 29, 2008 12:58am | #10

   I was in your shoes about three months ago. My older portable planer just wasn't cutting it anymore. Actually, it never really did that great to begin with, but it sufficed for a few years. I finally gave up and started looking again, with the Makita and the DeWalt being the only three that interested me. The more and more that I thought about it and my dissatisfaction with my previous planer, the more I realized that having a bit of a bigger machine with some actual weight behind it makes much more sense in the long run. As luck would have it, I found a nearly new Delta DC-380 15", 3 hp, all cast-iron behemoth locally on Craigslist for $500. SOLD. Haven't looked back either. Yes, it limits my planing to in-house work but 95% of what I use it for is in-house work anyways. Think about it and shop around a bit. This week alone I've seen two or three planers in that size range listed somewhat locally - Central Massachusetts - and I'd be willing to bet that a bit of patience could pay off. Hope that helps a bit.Nick

7. 
   Henley | May 28, 2008 11:36pm | #9

   I have the Delta.
   It's been fine for me.
   The carriage locks firmly, with no snipe.
   Dust shoot tends to clog
   You have to keep the beds clean and lubed, but that true of all of them.

   Some of the others are nicer. So if your on a budget- I get along with mine.

8. 
   RW | May 29, 2008 01:07am | #11

   Have the Dewalt. Once again, it makes me swear off the brand forever. I am one of the people with the problems, but the next choice up in quality isnt 50 bucks. What I really want is $2500, don't we all. The first one lasted 2 months and burnt. Blowes took it back, the replacement is about 3 mos old and already having trouble feeding stock.

   Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

9. 
   hthr | May 29, 2008 02:50am | #14

   Thanks for all the Feedback!

   I am looking for a portable, lunchbox style.

   Does anyone have complaints about the Makita?

   It is sounding like my best option.

1. 
   Sphere | May 29, 2008 03:05am | #15

   I know of no complaints but ..

   Is it 2 speed?

   Is it 13"

   Does it have the forced chip blower?

   Does it have 3 knives?

   Those things swayed me ...

   That and the DW was readily available locally.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

   Edited 5/28/2008 8:06 pm ET by Sphere

2. 
   DavidxDoud | May 29, 2008 05:38am | #16

   "I am looking for a portable, lunchbox style...Electric Thickness Planer..."I think we need to talk about exactly what you want in a bit more detail - the 'lunchbox' planers are 'finishing' machines more than 'thicknessing' - yes they will reduce the thickness of stock fed thru them, but they are not hogs made to clean up roughsawn lumber in two passes - they are at their best making a light pass and leaving a surface ready for finish - that said, I have a 'vintage' cast iron 24" 'hog' - and a 13 Delta 2 speed - I'd like to have a 15" or so machine like Mr T, and probably will score something someday if I live long enough - the Delta has been great - within it's limitations - only two blades, double edged, disposable, $40 a pair (so $20 an edge), 5 minute change, self aligning - keep the cut to a reasonable depth and the wood clean, it spits out a beautifully finished stick - if you're surfacing rough oak, you better have patience - if I'm not running wide stock, I rough on one side of the table and finish on the other, gets more mileage out of the blades, IMO - anyway - my 2 cents - I do like Makita tools in general, but can't offer any first hand experience with their planer - "there's enough for everyone"

10. 
    Jer | May 29, 2008 02:00pm | #17

    I have the Ridgid, probably 7 years old now. It was rated #1 back then in that class of planers, and I've never had a real problem with it.
    Like any stationary tool it needs adjustment from time to time and the best thing to do is to get to know the machine.
    I hear the DW (newer model) is really a great tool. If they had it back then I would have bought it.

    My first one was an old cast iron Rockwell 15". Weighed a ton and was a beeeitch to set the knives, but was dead on and reliable. I sold it to the guy who bought my house when we moved 10 years ago.

11. 
    jc21 | May 31, 2008 05:26am | #18

    A vote for the Makita 2012NB. I looked long and hard at the DeWalt 735 and the Delta 22-580 and decided on the Makita. No regrets. It's quieter than the DW 735 (the noise from a 735 will raise the dead-it's over 100 dB) and Delta 22-580 and more portable than either. Minimal snipe and leaves a nice surface finish. The earlier DW 735's had issues with broken sprockets and knife life. Downside to the Makita is you have to pay extra for the dust collection hood, the outlet on the hood is a bit of an oddball size- 3", and the Makita has an inch less capacity, 12" vs 13" of the others ........... not an issue for me but it might be for you.

12. 
    dedhed6b | May 31, 2008 05:26pm | #19

    "ELECTRIC"?? Do they come any other way?

1. 
   joeh | May 31, 2008 05:50pm | #20

   Resaw, hand plane.

   I used a Ridgid a few times, seems a nice tool.

   I have an old Parks, not very portable but does a good job.

   Joe H

2. 
   jc21 | May 31, 2008 06:17pm | #21

   How about this?

   http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=4_5