planer advice, nice powermatic 221

[skip gleichman]

I am looking for a planer, heavy industrial type, to be a unmovable, workhorse, mainstay in my new shop. I want something that will give me dependable results but that will perform well on figured wood.

I am looking at a powermatic 221, 10hp with a knife grinder and wonder if that feature will help with tearout? Can you back bevel? Otherwise a Byrd head is $2,000 for that machine. I would love an Oliver 299 but that byrd head is $4,000 + and an Itch head is $10,000. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Dennis Peacock]

Get what you really want to help avoid the "I should-uh's" later down the road. Besides that? You only need to sweat the money part just once. I've upgraded a lot over the years and have lost a LOT of money during all the process.

Be smarter than I have been and do it just once.

[Jeff Singleton]

Skip, I have Powermatic 180 with a Terminus head and it is very quiet and no tearout on oak. Besides the Powermatic's are the easiest planers to rebuild and adjust and they last.

Jeff Singleton