Is this used EXTREMA 20" planer worth $850

[Trace Beard]

Are EXTREMA planers easy to work on and adjust? Any known problems with them?

Here's the CL ad;
This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a $4000 production quality machine for a reasonable price. It needs a bit of tinkering (new belts and bearings) and it will be ready to go. This is a newer machine and parts are available from the manufacturer. It weighs over 900 pounds and is powered by a 5 HP 3 phase Baldor motor. It has obviously been well cared for.

I will entertain any reasonable offer.

Included is a owner's manual and diagrams.

I have a phase converter and I have an engine hoist, just not sure of this is worth the risk.

Thanks,

Trace

[Van Huskey]

You have the power and movement covered. I would say IF you are a tinkerer hard to think you could go wrong. Figure the price of bearings, belts and blades and see what you feel like. If it was local to me and I had 3 phase available and a way to move it wthout a huge hassle I would be all over it. I would want to ensure it ran giving the belt and bearing issues I wouldn't take their word that it worked.

[Chip Lindley]

A "newer" planer that needs bearings has been well used commercially. I would insist on seeing the planer under power to check for vibration and metallic noises. If the bearings only make a *dry/rough* noise with no vibration, the machine is very probably sound. Well worth a bearing change.

If vibration has wallowed out the cutterhead bearing recesses in the machine's frame, the situation changes. Grab the cutterhead (with gloves on) and try to detect any movement along either axis; end-to-end, and radially.

Depending on your previous experience with used machinery, available tools, and mechanical ability, the planer may be a real *gloat* or a real *nightmare*. But if you trust your ability to rebuild the machine, you may even get it for wayy less than $850. Good Luck!

[Pete Bradley]

Search the web a bit and you'll find a few stories about Extrema. They also have a web site.

As Chip said, condition is everything. Does it really just need belts and bearings (in which case why are they selling instead of doing belts and bearings?) or is something seriously wrong with it?