Alternative Planer?

[stuartpaul]

I was looking to buy the Axminster CT1502 (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod370404/) but as it's just taken a wacking £80+ price hike I thought I'd look around a bit more.

Trouble is I haven't been able to track down anything remotely similar. Lots of really big, beefy and expensive stuff but nothing at this sort of level.

Anyone know of any similar machines (second hand is an option but I'll not go above £500) or is it a case of suck it up as there's nothing else around?

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

why not call them and tell them you'll give them the pre new year price (+ extra 2.5% for VAT)

 

[Chems]

I remember when it was under £400 new.

 

[OPJ]

If Axminster aren't prepared to sell it to you at the former price then, I think you're best bet would be to look for a used model on eBay. They've been appearing quite frequently lately; it's mostly of question of where they are in relation to your location. In the For Sale forum, there was a member offering the older, blue model for £250, if I remember correctly. One major difference was that this model came with the "porkchop" style guard, which has always been quite popular in the US. If you did want to replace it with the modern bridge guard then, Axminster can supply them from stock for a very reasonable fee. He was based in North Devon somewhere, if it's not already been sold. I was interested myself but, my car's knackered and I couldn't seem to get a reasonable courier quote, even on Shiply.com.

As far as other models go, I've never seen anything like this Axminster model under another badge. Next up would be the 8in wide Jet 60A, which costs over a grand now. :-( Fox (through Rutlands) used to sell a more affordable 8in machine and there was also one available from Lyndhurst (I recall a thread by ByronBlack on this forum) - but, both of those disappeared a few years ago.

eBay's always worth a look. While there is a constant stream of industrial three-phase kit, you also occasionally come across slightly smaller but still cast iron models, in single-phase, from Multico, Daltons and other "local" manufacturers of years gone by. These machines tend to be much heavier than the 80kg of the CT1502 and some are as long as 6ft, if not more.

It's sad, really, when, yet again, the American market seems to cater for a much larger range of planers and thicknessers...

 

[Dodge]

What about the Fox one Tom Owens is selling here on the forum?

Rog

 

[stuartpaul]

I can't believe someone is suggesting I go to a commercial retailer and 'make an offer'!

I wonder how many people on this forum who would take kindly to such an approach for their services? Perhaps I may be naive but it's not something I'd feel comfortable doing (it's not a second hand car I'm buying).

Chems, - I remember when Mars bars were only 3 d each and nearly a foot long. Doesn't help me though :roll:

Olly, - thanks. I'm keeping my eye on second hand stuff and will be going through the for sale forum in more detail later.

Dodge, - thanks but I've just got rid of a P/T and I'm going back to separates.

Guess I may have to dig a bit deeper than I wanted to but at least it's a well rated machine.

 

[Chems]

Chems, - I remember when Mars bars were only 3 d each and nearly a foot long. Doesn't help me though :roll:

Yeah I know but I've only been into Woodworking for 3 years. I imagine your older than 3!

The unfortunate flip side of the higher prices is that more business are going out of business and more workshop sales are appearing, which is sad but evens out the market for people like yourself.

 

[János]

Hello,

What do you think about this?

http://www.wgm-maschinen.de/product_inf ... chine.html

It is very similar... and cheaper.

By,

János

 

[stuartpaul]

Hello,

What do you think about this?

http://www.wgm-maschinen.de/product_inf ... chine.html

It is very similar... and cheaper.

By,

János

Thanks Janos,

Exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for. My German is a bit rusty but the specifications look similar to the Axminster.

I'll have to research the import issues but it could be the EEC actually works in my favour with the single market?

 

[Chems]

That only £43 difference. Once you've paid your shipping that will nearly be gone, and with the little extra you get the ultimate axminster service should anything ever go wrong and some english people to talk to cheaply on the phone.

I'd keep an eye out on ebay and on here before I bought from Germany. There was a 8" Jet on the For Sale a few weeks back for less money.

 

[Shane]

I can't believe someone is suggesting I go to a commercial retailer and 'make an offer'!

I wonder how many people on this forum who would take kindly to such an approach for their services? Perhaps I may be naive but it's not something I'd feel comfortable doing (it's not a second hand car I'm buying).

That's what I would do, they have enough mark up on it, especially after their recent price hike which is a joke.

I wouldn't take kindly to such an approach for my services becuase my pricing is based on materials + overheads + my labour rate, if I give a discount I'm working hours for free, and I'm not about to get into that habit, I can stay home for free. Retail is different, the cashier isn't going to be working for free, the company is purely making a smaller profit.

 

[stuartpaul]

That only £43 difference. Once you've paid your shipping that will nearly be gone, and with the little extra you get the ultimate axminster service should anything ever go wrong and some english people to talk to cheaply on the phone.

I'd keep an eye out on ebay and on here before I bought from Germany. There was a 8" Jet on the For Sale a few weeks back for less money.

Yep - just had a quick look and it appears that delivery alone will wipe out any saving.

As you say the warranty etc. would also be worth having so I think it's a non starter.

Nice little planer though

 

[János]

Hello,

This is a link to the Austrian company's website:
http://www.bernardo.at/index.php?id=61& ... on_id=3173

These machines are well made products, intended for small scale professional use. I run a small (one-man) commercial woodshop, and have some Bernardo machines: they are almost exactly the same as Record and Jet machines, my lathe is the same as Record DML305, but was painted to off-white and blue, and the tool-post is 16 mm dia.
http://www.bernardo.at/index.php?id=61& ... on_id=1379

My workshop is 45m2, so I do not have the luxury of full-sized machines, but I am trying to buy well-made and safe equipment I would be able to use at least for a decade. I have been a cabinetmaker for more than two decades, so I know what I am speaking.

I am not a great fan of shoveling our money to communist dictatorships, but seeing what Black&Decker has made with DeWalt machinery, and even Metabo fabricating their stuff in China, I decided to turn to "cheap", but quality “no name” products instead.

Have a nice day,

János

 

[Ateallthepies]

I'd keep an eye out on ebay and on here before I bought from Germany. There was a 8" Jet on the For Sale a few weeks back for less money.

That's what I am doing, scouring ebay and the sales section for an Axi planer so if one comes up there could be some bidding going on

Typically there has been a couple of the older models on the bay at the moment but always seem to be in the north with a collect in person status

Steve.

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

I can't believe someone is suggesting I go to a commercial retailer and 'make an offer'!

I wonder how many people on this forum who would take kindly to such an approach for their services? Perhaps I may be naive but it's not something I'd feel comfortable doing (it's not a second hand car I'm buying).

Why? I've got up to (and possibly more than in some cases) 15% off things doing this.
This is the problem with Britian in general now people just accept the price on the sticker and that's the end of it. For a good example of how to get things at a better price Watch "The apprentice series 6 ep 9"

Episode Nine: A hard bargainer ...


Jamie assumed the role of Project Manager for the Discount Buying task, instructing his two teammates to devise emotive stories in order to secure bargains. This tactic paid dividends, as Chris deployed his tales to fine effect.

Hunting for items on his own, with a lack of prior phone calls, proved to be a frustrating experience for Jamie. He struggled to find out the identity and whereabouts of a 22 carat gold 'tikka' during his search in the jewellers of Hatton Garden. Yet once he discovered that it was an Indian headdress, he landed it for an impressive £135 – after very persuasive and persistent negotiating that Karren Brady commended.

He also picked up a sewing machine for £35 – significantly cheaper than the amount paid by the Apollo team. Yet these were the only two items Jamie located, as he spent hours on a futile bid to track down a kitchen worktop. The combined absence of three items from his team's list incurred £511.50 worth of fines, but their haggling was enough to secure victory.

Jamie was Project Manager on the winning team Synergy. Their total expenditure, including fines, was £1020.50.

Best thing to do on the phone is ask for the sales manager then tell him you want X off. I just say "I give you X for all of this" or that was cheaper and I want it at the cheaper price, tell him if he dosen't do it for that then you'll walk and buy it elsewhere out of principle. The trick is to keep nagging (in a nice way), eventually they get fed up and will discount things. No point in talking to the sales advisors as they have no power though you can nag them 1st and get them to ask on your behalf, then if not ask to speak to the manager yourself, you can creep upwards slightly depending on how badly you want the original price.

 

[Chems]

Best thing to do on the phone is ask for the sales manager then tell him you want X off. I just say "I give you X for all of this" or that was cheaper and I want it at the cheaper price, tell him if he dosen't do it for that then you'll walk and buy it elsewhere out of principle. The trick is to keep nagging (in a nice way), eventually they get fed up and will discount things. No point in talking to the sales advisors as they have no power though you can nag them 1st and get them to ask on your behalf, then if not ask to speak to the manager yourself, you can creep upwards slightly depending on how badly you want the original price.

I think that would only work with a certain type of business, a small one with the owners managers actually responsible. If you went into screwfix and demanded of the manager to give you 10% off or you were walking I'd bet you'd be walking.

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

In retail, a lot of managers actually can give up to 10% off if they want to but they rarely want to. Depends on what you are asking for as well, 10% off a pen no hope but 5-10% off a £1000 worth of stuff or getting stuff thrown in for free isn't unreasonable. It's a lot harder if you are not doing it face to face but it is possible. As it is though in this case where there has been a massice price hike I don't think it would be too unreasonable to get it for the original price or at least 50% of the difference off.

 

[Jacob]

Plenty of 6" planers about I would have thought. Try searching for 6" jointer perhaps?