Planer advise needed

[Richard Verwoest]

I would also recommend a model that the head moves up and down. Not the table.

Richard

[Todd Schwenk]

Thanks for the input.

I would also recommend a model that the head moves up and down. Not the table.

This is a great point. Is there a specific reason? I would "think" Languna would have control on this as most machines I have seen from earlier models the head moves and not the bed. Are there accuracy issues this way?

[andrew whicker]

Some tools fall into the category of "bigger really is better" and planers are one.

I have an 18" and there are times when I wish it was wider.

But then eventually I'll have a wide belt sander and that will help satisfy those times to a degree.

The other thing to specify is whether you have interest in investing time and effort into a used machine. They can be a bargain financially if you are willing to do some refurb.

Segmented rollers are really nice when you go wider as well. Feeding multiple pieces at once let's you use more of the bed and is obviously more efficient

[Todd Schwenk]

Some tools fall into the category of "bigger really is better" and planers are one.

Thankyou. This is the kind of info I am looking for to sway me and in my mind make the right decision. $6k is not a cheap tool especially when you're trying to lie to your wife about it I MEAN CONVINCE

Now I need to figure out this table movement issue or if that is a long time ago issue? I have heard not to purchase a planer where the table moves before but I have to believe Laguna has a handle on this and if you look at this table the 4 corner move from what I see just like a Dewalt 13". I also like the fact they offer a 2yr warranty but I am positive Powermatic is also a top-notch machine but you do pay for that.

[Terry Therneau]

The advantage of a moving top is that you can set an outfeed helper once and leave it there, a roller or whatever. On the other hand, the heavier industrial planers all have moving tables, because it gives them a more solid mount/casting for the business portion. I have no trouble with the moving table on my 16" SCMI jointer/planer: the table is large enough that for a longer board I can start if from one end and have plenty of time to walk to the other and catch it. (Look at a Buss or Newman planer at vintagemachinery.org for the ultimate in "stout"; the tables move, but a > 2000 lbs the planer doesn't :-)

[Izzy Camire]

Todd, a year ago I bought a 15" Oliver that I like very much. It is a solid well built machine (Taiwan built). They have a 20" 5hp planer that might interest you. I have called the company a couple of times and they pick up by the 3rd ring and you get a human. The office is on the west coast. I am very happy with the machine and their support.

https://olivermachinery.net/20-plane...cal-cutterhead

[Bill Dufour]

I paid just over $400 for my 18" powermatic with 7.5Hp. Paid more then half that for a vfd and trailer rental. About the same for the grinder, It came with grinder bar setup. I see them used for 1,500-4,000 all the time. You need a lot of dust collector to keep up.
The same basic machine came in 12, 18, 20, 24 inch size

Bill D
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12632943725...Bk9SR4TW8IPPYw
https://www.ebay.com/itm/36390386426...Bk9SR4TW8IPPYw

[Todd Schwenk]

This is great input.
I have not heard a lot about the Oliver but it looks solid.
I believe I understand better about the movable table not being a perfect setup. I think I could get around that but it would take a bit more money and time.
I just purchased the Grizzly 2000cfm dust collector that will literally suck the hair off your head and I have it hooked up and ready I just need to build a hydraulic wood chip compressor to heat and I will be set to go.

You guys have given me some good info to look at. I am now starting to shy from the Laguna especially since I just found out that Powermatic offers a 5yr warranty on their product. I am narrowing them down

[Richard Coers]

I'm a big fan on old iron for a thickness planer. Back in the day I bought a 24" Yates American machine. You could take 1/4" cuts on 12" wide boards with no hesitation. New machines are not in the same league as these old machines. Oh yeah, I paid $1,200 for that machine. Sold it to my great friend years ago for the same price. That's because I can still use it in his shop. There is one on eBay for $4,000. https://www.ebay.com/itm/31508785060...Bk9SR5yU9pDPYw

[Jim Becker]

This is a great point. Is there a specific reason? I would "think" Languna would have control on this as most machines I have seen from earlier models the head moves and not the bed. Are there accuracy issues this way?

A fixed table planer allows you to use work support for infeed and/or outfeed that you don't have to adjust height with every pass. This is particularly helpful when you are processing longer or very heavy material.

[Patrick Kane]

I own a powermatic 209 with a byrd head. As someone else said, there is a bit more to it other than 2hp and 5" of width. Most 20" machines have additional features like a pressure bar and segmented infeed rollers. It is also nice to have additional mass. Not that 500lbs is light, but you might have to worry about long and heavy material leveraging on the smaller machine. I dont know the price difference between the 15" and 20", but I do think the 20" machine is a different class--whether it is Grizzly, Laguna, Powermatic, Jet--and something you would appreciate for that quantity of material. For what it's worth, ive bogged down the 5hp PM before on feeding multiple boards/wide glueups. If you take a 1/8"+/- pass on something wide, then the machine definitely slows down. That might be a factor of the byrd head too. All in all, i am not totally enamored with the machine. I would give it a 3.5/5. The oil gearbox has leaked from day one. I reached out to powermatic on the warranty, and never had it resolved. They basically told me, "it happens, oh well. grab a rag". It isnt a constant flow of oil, but it drips occasionally and makes a mess of the side of the machine when mixed with sawdust. Over the last 6+/- years ive probably put about 15,000-20,000 bdft through it, and it has proven to be a workhorse.