decent quality planer/ thicknesser

[johnnyb]

hi everyone,
this is my very first post but i have read this forum for over a year. i am currently setting up my workshop. i have a good quality saw a dw746 and i am looking for a decent planer and or thicknesser. i am tempted to get a jet 54a and a benchtop dw thicknesser. lyndhurst also make a cheap ci 8 inch planer. the sheppach(hms260) always gets good reviews but looks a bit flimsy. any views/opinions on alternatives or the mentioned machines would be gratefully received

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Johnny

Welcome to the forum.

I have the Jet 60A and the Makita thicknesser. Both are excellent.

If you have the space then I would thoroughly recommend going down the separate route.

Cheers
Neil

 

[colinc]

Hi Johnny,

I have the Scheppach HMS 260. I'm very happy with it and whilst it is a bit lightweight for a professional workshop I couldn't describe it as flimsy. It has plenty of power, is accurate and handles everything I have thrown at it.

I'd agree with Neil that seperate machines are good as I do hate swapping it back to planer mode. Really though, for an amateur's workshop that is a luxury and for the price & performance the Scheppach would be my first recommendation. Certainly mine will be staying for a long time yet but one good thing about it is that as they're well thought of I know I can sell it for a good price if I do want an upgrade.

I think that you'd spend substantially more on the jet/makita combination and if you're setting up a workshop then you can perhaps more usefully spend the money in several other ways. It all depends upon your budget and aspirations.

One thing to consider, if you haven't already, is that you'll need to buy a dust/chipping extractor. Some machines will run happily without (my Sheppach did) but others will clog.

Colin

 

[johnnyb]

thanks for the replies. i initially bought many of my tools between 5 and 8 years ago. as anybody will tell you the quality of machinery available was poor. and the price high. this second round of machine buying has changed my thinking. firstly after many years this isnt a fad. secondly i dont want to have another round of buying in 5 years time. my confidence(and patience) in cheap brands(record, elektra beckum, trend et al) has completely eroded. yes i bought a maxi. i have also (mentally) moved across the atlantic where woodworking is fairly mainstream and taken seriously. thus my new shop was naturally(going to be) built around a lump of american ci table saw. The sheppach now has a ci table. my thinking is keep the steel table but put adecent fence on it. aluminium extrusions that arent machined are something to be wary of.

 

[colinc]

Johnny,

I can't fault your thinking, buy the best you can afford. It's all about what budget you have and what range of equipment you feel you need to spread it over.

My Scheppach P/T has the steel top and does a good enough job, I doubt the CI version is significantly better. I don't have any trouble with the fence either, but I do check it before using it.

I expect you'll get some more informed comment from others later.

 

[gidon]

I have the steel Schappach and it's by no means flimsy - probably the best machine in my workshop. You do need to check the fence for square before use. And it is a pain changing over mode. But it's gives a great finish and rarely gives any problems with snipe. The newer CI should be even better - not so much because of the CI (the steel is fine in my opinion) - but the table flips up for change over - saves have to find a place for the outfeed table.
Seperates are nice if you have lots of space. But you won't get the nice 10" planing capacity.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Scrums]

Hi Johnny,

I've been using the same Scheppach combi for about 25 years now - and that was an ex-demo ! (the P/T bit is basically the same as the HMS260) now I use it commercially and am still quite happy.

Don't worry about the steel beds - set them up properly and they're deadly accurate. They are a little short for surfacing though, but one adapts ones style to get round it.

It's powerful and accurate - for any great amount of work you will need an extractor though - just a little surfacing and you're spitting woodchips everywhere!

Unless things have changed you'd need to fit 16amp blue plugs - it will draw 13a + on startup.

There's usually one or two on ebay most weeks at very good prices and they would fit into most car boots I'd think( 2 man lift)

Regards,

Chris.

 

[nhough]

Hi Johnny

I have the Scheppach HMS2600CI T/P and I have to say that I am really happy with it. The finish on the stock is superb and the machine has given me absolutely no trouble at all. Having to change the mode is a pain at times but it literally takes less than a minute and in all fairness is really easy! For the finish you get (ie with the rubberised infeed and outfeed rollers), the 10" planer capacity and the small footprint, all for way under a ton you really can't go wrong. Granted the planer table is shorter than the Jet 60A but in my experience I have planed 5' lengths of European Oak perfectly flat and superbly jointed without the need for additional roller stands. Many resellers that I spoke to prior to buying mine suggested that I'd struggle to get a better finish than the Scheppach - which is one of the reasons that convinced me. Also, you'll be spending at least £300-400 more simply to avoid changing the mode.

But if you have the cash & the space then go for separates!!
Food for thought anyway!

Cheers

Nolan

 

[woodbloke]

The one recommended in F&C this month is the Axminster AW106, cast iron tables, 250mm width and is ...'outstanding for the money' (£480) - Rob

 

[johnnyb]

wow a big thumbs up fot the sheppach! forums are a superb way of weeding out real stinkers. for instance who having used a maxi could honestly say it was worth buying. i was not aware that the steel table needed to be removed for thicknessing but the ci tables swing out. i also completely ignore any reveiw in english woodwork mags as they are completely inconclusive. fine wood working really put the machines they test through their paces. interestingly the lyndhurst(see ebay) is the only one of the bargains that i would like to try. that style design is classic and not at all complicated(like the jet) if it is machined to within 5 or 10 thou of right it could be shimmed and adjusted spot on.

 

[ike]

I first encountered the HMS260 nearly 20 years ago. I acquired one for the college workshop in Belize when I taught there. That machine did more than it's fair share. The only part that gave trouble was the feed drive belt broke twice. Years later I bought my own. The design hasn't changed (apart from the CI table recently) - sign of a well engineered product IMO. Yes it looks a bit mickey mouse compared to CI machines but it is exceptionally well made and will not give trouble for many years.

Ike

 

[ProShop]

i dont want to have another round of buying in 5 years time. my confidence(and patience) in cheap brands(record, elektra beckum, trend et al) has completely eroded. yes i bought a maxi.

John Try looking HERE

 

[johnnyb]

where is the best/cheapest place to buy a new sheppach? do they have a website? the felder seems really really nice and has a high tech feel to it that is unusual for wood machines. has anybody used the 10 inch sedgwick with the tables that dont flip?

 

[paulm]

Suprised you rate the EB and Trend as cheap brands Johnny, I use the EB planer thicknesser and the Trend T11 router and rate them both highly. Not industrial machines of course but more than adequate for enthuisiastic amatuers like me, and I suspect for many small pro shops.

You are obviously more demanding than me !!!

Regards, Paul.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got the 16" sedgwick, its a good machine, plenty of power, i'd assume the 10" is ok.

 

[colinc]

Johnny,

if you want to try the Scheppach just pm me. I'm only a quick run down the A50 from you. May help to settle things.

Colin