anyone own an Axminster AW106PT2 planer thicknesser ?

[Digit]

Lack of space is the reason I'm having to move away from my present separate planer, a Wadkin, and DeWalt 733 thicknesser.
I was looking at a Charnwood at my local suppliers the other day and the same objections exist there as well.

Roy.

 

[OPJ]

One other thing I sometimes notice is snipe when using the thicknesser. This is probably something you can get around by minutely raising the infeed/outfeed supports if you don't want to lift the length each time at each end. I also find it helps if you actually lock the bed in place at the desired setting.

 

[TrimTheKing]

One other thing I sometimes notice is snipe when using the thicknesser.

Not suffering with this myself OPJ, probably just a slight tweak needed as you say.

Mark

 

[stuartpaul]

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.

Ahem (cough)

I suppose because I can! Like many people I very rarely have enough cash for a major item of equipment. Table saw was upgraded a few years ago and I was looking to improve my planing capabilities.

The thicknesser has been a real workhorse and enabled me to produce work tat otherwise wouldn't have been possible (consistent thickness). The planer being the 'old' perform (now they do it in white) has again been a good beast but does suffer from a rather short table. I did consider just upgrading the planer but a replacement would take up virtually as much room as a combined machine and it sort of made sense to do it that way.

Whilst space isn't a major issue I currently have the planer on top of the thicknesser on a 'trolley' and swop round as required. If I go for the larger tabled planer I will be impacting on space.

I am seriously rethinking my options but this sort of financial opportunity only comes around infrequently.

 

[OPJ]

Not suffering with this myself OPJ, probably just a slight tweak needed as you say.

Mark

Really? I seem to get it on both the in and outfeed. It's barely noticable at all, but you can hear it as the knives cut and just about see it under a light. You might be right though, how much do you think I should raise the supports by? Bearing in mind that I only want to lose the snipe, not curve the edge of the timber! :wink:

I do also have a slight problem with snipe on the surface planer, although that's only since I started trying to abide by the method of setting the cutting circle a fraction higher than the outfeed table, using two black lines at 2mm apart method.

It doesn't really bother me, to be honest with you, since I generally allow a good couple of inches waste at either end, just in case I miss something or if the grain goes a bit funny. It's only if I were to PAR something for a friend that I might have more concern...

 

[OPJ]

Stuart, I assume you've already seen Axminster's CT1502, which seems to be the closest thing to your short planer in terms of an immediate upgrade?

Those thicknessers look pretty compact - are you sure you couldn't just store it under your bench or something? I'm sure you'd benefit from having a longer surface planer at some point.

If you do decide to go for a two-in-one machine then, I'd advise you to look at nothing lower than the AW106PT. The re-badged CCNPT (AWEPT106) is, in all honesty, not worth half the asking price.

 

[OPJ]

WiZeR, I know you read F&C... Mine arrived this morning and a new Record Power catalogue came with it. Inside, I noticed they are now bringing a PT300 to the market of machines just under £1,000. Looks like it comes with an aluminium fence... But it could perhaps provide some competition for the JET!

 

[wizer]

That's an interesting machine Olly. I'll recruit the missus to pick me up a copy, cheers.