Advice on new Planer thicknesser

[Rim Basses]

Hi All,

Names Robbie from RIM Custom Bass Guitars, in currently looking to upgrade from my Axy bed planer and benchtop CT330 thicknesser. i thinking of getting the Axy Aw106pt2 but also looking at the record power pt107, if anyone has either of these two machines can they post some advice on them. I like that the axy has a cast fence and weight wise its a little less, as i will need to move it around sometimes.

Cheers,

Robbie.

 

[Dodge]

I would go for the Axi if I were you as just stated on another thread - If you have problems with it Axminster will bend over backwards to sort it out - If the Record goes wrong dont expect any help - Their back up service is lousy!!!

Many years ago I had a maxi 26 which had a casting collapse dropping the motor - Phoned them at about 4.30pm in the afternoon and they offered to look at it giving me a date over 2 months later! - which would have left me without the saw etc for that period. On asking whether there was any earlier appointment the chap I spoke with was quite off and said in quite a blase voice "well you could get it here for 8am tomorrow morning sir!"

OK its about 150 miles from here but you should have seen the look on his face when he rolled in at 9am and I was sitting there waiting for him! Priceless. He tried to get out of fixing it but had no choice as I had called his bluff!

Rog

 

[Peter T]

Hi Robbie,

I've had the Axi P/T106 for nearly 12 months and I'm very please with it. It's quiet and powerful and it does what it says on the tin!!

I bought it new from Axi and it came pretty well set-up. A little tweaking to level the tables and it was ready to go. Changeover from planer thicknesser and back is quick and easy and repeatable, although you do have to remove the fence so this needs to be checked for square when replacing it.

I also got their mobile base so I can move it around and this also works very well.

The only criticism would be the extract when in thicknesser mode. In planer mode the extract is superb but when thicknessing it's not so good and a lot of wood chips are left on the outfeed table. Some of these get pushed off as wood comes out and I've got used to putting a bucket under the out-feed to catch the rubbish.

Oh yes, the knife setting tool supplied is also not much use, but there are plenty of ways round that.

Apart from this it's an excellent unit and I would recommend it.

Whichever unit you choose, make sure it has a good lock on the thicknesser table adjustor as some machines don't and the table can drift with use if it's not locked.

Good luck,

 

[stuartpaul]

Robbie,

Do you really want to change from separates to a combination machine?

I did and am now in the process of moving back again :roll:

Of course it depends on what you do and how you do it but I found the continual changing over and trying to regain previous settings a right royal pain the the proverbial.

Stuart

 

[mickthetree]

Hi Robbie

Great to meet you on Saturday. Some fantastic basses you make!!

I guess it will be a weekend for you, but if you do pop over to Axi in the week, pop into see me and I'll show you the big metabo unit we have in the workshop. We have the record units in so you can compare, but the Jet machine does look the business.

I'm sure you will get a great unit that will do what you want.

Cheers

Paul

 

[NetBlindPaul]

I would never recommend a combination machine for a prefessional user!

Does the Axi comply with PUWER98, it seems the OP is running a business using the machine, thus he must comply with this legislation whether he employs or is just a sole trader, that is the law of the land.
CE does not = PUWER98 compliance as it is not required.
Even if the Axi does not comply with PUWER98 there is nothign wrong in selling it even to a business as it is the responsibility of the business not the seller to ensure PUWER98 compliance.

 

[tomatwark]

Paul

I am curious to know what parts of a planer thicknesser that is being sold new now would not comply with PUWER98 as the guards etc are fairly standard.

The only thing I could come up with is it not having a sectional feed roller which is easily overcome with a sign.

You do raise the point however that it does not matter if the machine costs a few hundred pounds or many thousands, they are still dangerous bits of kit, and really should all be made to comply with the standard.

Tom

 

[Rim Basses]

Thanks for the advice guys and paul mate all the best with the bed planer. i will try and make it down to see you if i go to the Axy unit in HW. Im sure the Axy machine will be great for me, looking forward to getting hold of one soon.

 

[NetBlindPaul]

tomartwark,
I can't comment on individual machines other than to suggest that the purchaser checks for PUWER98 compliance.
A DIY machine whilst requiring CE marking does not need to comply with workplace legislation.
I was asked by one customer to provide a particular type & brand of machine.
All of them were CE marked however IMHO they did not comply with certain aspects of PUWER98 requirements.
When I contacted the importer, they advised me that as the machines were intended for the DIY market they did not need to meet workplace legislation, with which I agreed, however when I queried the retailer targetting them at business users I had a no comment please contact your retailer, these machines are aimed at the DIY market.
In a survey conducted a few years ago by an independent machinery CE marking / safety specialist, it was found that IIRC the majority of machines inspected did not fully comply in ALL aspects with the UK legislation.

 

[tomatwark]

Paul

I agree that you should check that the machine complies, but the question is if the retailer knows enough to answer the question, the main machinery dealers should.

I suspect alot of the internet companies and the guys selling stuff on ebay probably don't and are not really interested anyway.

There is certainly alot of well suspect machinery and tooling being sold on Ebay.

Tom

 

[NetBlindPaul]

Tom,
I was dealing direct with the importer.
Most dealers have scant grasp of the requirements of PUWER98 trust me!
If you are a business you have a statutory duty not only to check but to ensure that the machine complies, however and here is the rub.
IF the machine is CE marked and does not comply then it must be modified to comply before use in a business.
Once it is modified the original CE mark is invalid.
One of the requirments of PUWER98 is CE marking.
Thus you are in a vicious circle!

 

[tomatwark]

IF the machine is CE marked and does not comply then it must be modified to comply before use in a business.

And of course if you modify it you make any warrenty invaild.

Tom

 

[NetBlindPaul]

Well, that depends on who modifies it!