anyone own an Axminster AW106PT2 planer thicknesser ?

[LarryS.]

If you do could you measure the base and post the measurements ? I have one being delivered tomorrow and want to have a wheel base ready for it.

If in doubt this is the model :
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-...r-Thicknesser-with-Cast-Iron-Fence-650093.htm

thanks

 

[motownmartin]

Hi Paul, I have the one without the cast iron fence but everything else is the same and the base measures 22 1/2" x 17"

 

[OPJ]

Just sent Paul a PM on this (my metric rounded-up equivalent was 570mm x 430mm, in case anyone needs to know).

One thing I also suggested (which I didn't do myself...) was to make the wheel base slightly larger than 430mm so that you can get the back cover off the machine should the need arise to service any of the gears or chains inside, etc. Trust me, you cannot get the cover off otherwise! :wink:

 

[motownmartin]

Just sent Paul a PM on this (my metric rounded-up equivalent was 570mm x 430mm, in case anyone needs to know).

One thing I also suggested (which I didn't do myself...) was to make the wheel base slightly larger than 430mm so that you can get the back cover off the machine should the need arise to service any of the gears or chains inside, etc. Trust me, you cannot get the cover off otherwise! :wink:

Sorry, forgetting the younger generation are not familiar with old money

 

[LarryS.]

thanks both for the information, and no problem martin - I rang my dad and he explained inches to me

 

[Digit]

I rang my dad and he explained inches to me

Now I feel really bloody old!

Roy.

 

[NeilO]

PaulR wrote

I rang my dad and he explained inches to me

Personally Paul , I feel if your too young to understand inches, your far to young to be using these woodworking machines with nasty sharp blades, so I suggest you spread them about through the forum for us senior members to look after till your old enough... :lol: :lol:







on a more serious note, lets know how you get on with AW106PT? as I took a fancy to that model myself....Cheers

 

[LarryS.]

I will write up a report on the PT and the bandsaw as soon as I get an excuse to use them. My plan is to head to yandles or interesting timber to get something to try on them (see my other thread about wood for a garden bench).

If any measurements need to be reported I will firstly do them in millimetres, then for the older boys in inches, and for the really elderly I will report in knots on a piece of string

 

[Digit]

Good idea Neil!

Roy.

 

[TrimTheKing]

on a more serious note, lets know how you get on with AW106PT? as I took a fancy to that model myself....Cheers

I have this planer chaps and will say this, when it arrived the blades were all perfectly set (I checked them with the supplied blade setting tool) and with a reasonably slow feed rate the finish was absolutely stunning straight from the planer.

In all honesty in some places it was almost impossible to see the planer marks, and all it took was a single pass from a smoother to bring up the faces to perfection.

I do have a problem with the way that the fence works though, it is tightened by way of two 'Bristol levers' which have a tendency to pull the fence out of square on the final tightening. Would be good to know if anyone else has noticed the same thing or whether it is just mine.

Other than that I am extremely happy with it.

Hope that helps you decide

Cheers

Mark

 

[Digit]

I have short listed the AX for purchase later this year, and after following comments on the forum I'm pretty sure that is the way I'll go.
Anyone got any negative comments?

Roy.

 

[wizer]

Anyone got any negative comments?

Well, seeing as you asked.

I seriously considered this model. After viewing it at Axminster, I wasn't happy enough to buy it. Yes it's nice to have a cast iron fence, but you have to take this off every time you want to thickness (it's heavy). You of course need to put the fence somewhere while you are thicknessing. You also need access all around this machine, not great if space is limited. I just found the whole process of changing between modes a bit of a pain tbh. In the end I went with the Jet which doesn't have any of these problems and is build like a tank.

 

[OPJ]

Hi WiZeR.

I haven't seen the JET model in the flesh (it does look very nice in the catalogues though! ) and I agree with your point on having to remove the fence. I don't see how else the JET model will save you space though? The thicknesser is still operated from the opposite end to the surface planer, surely? All two-in-one machines require a fair amount of space, no matter how much you spend.

The only major downside with the JET model (ignoring the price) when you consider it for the home/hobby workshop is - and please correct me if I'm wrong - that it has to run off a 16amp supply; not everyone has this at home.

Roy, as for negative comments, the old aluminium fence is pretty good but, as mentioned earlier, is not without its faults. I'd like to think the cast iron one is an improvement on this though.

If your machine isn't set up out of the box, it's not easy to get it set up correctly is you're unfamiliar with this kind of machine. If you do get really stuck though, give Axminster a call - they were happy to collect it, set it and return it to me; all free of charge!

It is a pain having to change between modes, but I can't see how any combination machine would make the process any more enjoyable - I think it's down to your personal planning or methods over anything else.

I personally don't think the dust extraction hood is all it very nearly could be. Maybe it's down to the extractor I'm using, but I still find a good amount of shavings get left on the thicknessing bed, whatever size I'm thicknessing. It works great when your surfacing but I personally think it's a little too narrow and restricted inside to cope with the waste coming from the thicknesser. Saying that though, unless your extractor bag is full, it won't leave any chips stuck in your timber. :wink:

 

[wizer]

Fair point about the 16amp supply.

With the Jet you just release the table lock, lift up the table and rotate the dust chute. Takes seconds. The fence stays locked in position at whatever point you had it, as does the guard. In thicknessing mode, everything is clean and easy to see. IIRC on the Axi, you need access to the rear of the machine, but I can't remember what for so this might be a brain fart. When we measured it up, the Jet was much more space saving than any of it's competitors. Mine stays where it is and only gets moved for very long pieces which need to be fed with the garage door open. If anyone is interested i'll measure how much it stand away from the wall, it's minimal. I spent the extra on the Jet purely because of the ease of swapping between modes and after quite a bit of use I'm (smugly) glad I did.

EDIT PS - I can't fault the dust extraction on the Jet either.

 

[OPJ]

Looking again at the back cover of F&C, you might be right actually; it does appear as if the tables on the JET machine don't fold back quite as far as the Axminster (and thus, saving space). I'm still very happy though.

 

[wizer]

The axi gets some excelent reviews on here. I'm sure it's a very good machine. I'm both fussy and lazy.

 

[OPJ]

Well, if I had £900 to spend on one machine at the time, I'd probably have gone for the same machine...! :roll: :twisted: :wink:

 

[stuartpaul]

I'm another one considering the Axminster.

Have been using one of their thicknessers and a Perform jointer for a few years now and fancied the upgrade to a single machine.

As I had a delay in the finance becoming available I've been wondering whether it's actually worth upgrading. I've managed perfectly well with what I currently have and produced some reasonable work. Is it truly worth the extra to have a single machine (which by all accounts can be a bit of a pig to change between modes)?

Space isn't a major consideration as I have them on castors.

Any thoughts?

Of course if I don't buy the Axi I'll have to find something else to spend the money on

 

[TrimTheKing]

(which by all accounts can be a bit of a pig to change between modes)?

It isn't that difficult, just not as easy as some. To change from planing to thicknessing all you do is, remove the fence (which is the only pain in the a$$), turn the two handles to unlock the tables and flip them up, then flip over the extraction.

All in all it takes me no longer than 30 seconds to go from one mode to the other. I am very happy with the machine, as others are with their own different models, only issue I have is with the fence.

Cheers

Mark

 

[wizer]

erm Stuart, if you're happy with your setup, why on earth would you change?? I think it's generally accepted that separates are better than a combo. Obviously that depends on the quality of your current setup. Certainly, if only one of your current machines is letting you down, then upgrade just that one.