P & T combination or separates

[wobblycogs]

Hi,

Thinking a bit into the future here as I haven't even got a floor to speak of in the workshop yet but would you recommend getting a separate planner and thicknesser or a combination machine?

I'm planning on making most of our furniture and the kitchen and would then consider making a few pieces to sell. I'm also looking for something that will last me for a good many years to come.

I've been considering the Axminster AW106PT2 but my head has been turned by a couple of bench top thicknessers. I like the idea of a bench top thicknesser because I can just put it away once the sizing is finished. All the combination PT machines I've used also had awkward access under the tables for the thicknesser which I would rather avoid if possible. My workshop will be in a cellar with difficult access for a 150KG combination machine and I don't yet know if I will be able to level the floor, it's currently brick and in pretty bad shape. Although I've found a few thicknessers I like I haven't found a separate planer I like the look of. Any recommendations?

 

[big soft moose]

we've got seperates at work , a dw733 thicknesser and an old multico 6" planer we got second hand - i'm far from an expert but i like seperates because they are simpler and thus have less to go wrong - plus if one does die you've still got the other for emergencies.

 

[frugal]

The consensus seems to be to get separates unless you are so space constrained that you can not afford to have two machines taking up space.

It seems that most of the machines that both plane and thickness required you to mess around with moving the tables and often removing the fences (which then means recalibrating them afterwards).

 

[miles_hot]

consensus seems to be to get separates unless you are so space constrained that you can not afford to have two machines taking up space

Though when I asked this same question some time ago the Jet 310 (and little bother 260 - I think) were very well regarded as a repost to that normal position.

Miles

 

[frugal]

consensus seems to be to get separates unless you are so space constrained that you can not afford to have two machines taking up space

Though when I asked this same question some time ago the Jet 310 (and little bother 260 - I think) were very well regarded as a repost to that normal position.

True, but the 260 is £1000 and the 310 is £1,400, You could buy a decent planner and a thicknesser for the same price or less.

 

[OPJ]

If you've got the space then, by all means, go for separate machines.

The downside hear is that most sub-£1,000 surface planers available in the UK are only 6in. wide. Where as, you can 'portable' bench top thicknessers that'll cut more than 12in. wide for less than half that amount. Unless you look at buying something old, heavy and second-hand...

I personally don't like the benchtop thicknessers because they're as noisy as sin, even when it's not cutting or 'under load'! :shock: If noise is a concern to your neighbours or yourself then, look for a machine (or machines) with an induction motor.

 

[Mike.C]

Hi,

Thinking a bit into the future here as I haven't even got a floor to speak of in the workshop yet but would you recommend getting a separate planner and thicknesser or a combination machine?

I'm planning on making most of our furniture and the kitchen and would then consider making a few pieces to sell. I'm also looking for something that will last me for a good many years to come.

I've been considering the Axminster AW106PT2 but my head has been turned by a couple of bench top thicknessers. I like the idea of a bench top thicknesser because I can just put it away once the sizing is finished. All the combination PT machines I've used also had awkward access under the tables for the thicknesser which I would rather avoid if possible. My workshop will be in a cellar with difficult access for a 150KG combination machine and I don't yet know if I will be able to level the floor, it's currently brick and in pretty bad shape. Although I've found a few thicknessers I like I haven't found a separate planer I like the look of. Any recommendations?

It sounds like you have already talked yourself into going down the separates route :wink:

The last time I looked (which admittedly was a while ago) the only downside to going for individual machines is that most planers are only 6 " wide (there are some 8" ones), whereas P/T's normally have 10" table's. Now if you will be using timber 6" or less most of the time this will not be a problem, but if you are going to be using wider boards you may want to keep this in mind.

A good point about separate planers is that a lot of them have cast iron tables, whereas the normal P/T's have aluminium. Another of my pet hates with a lot of P/T's is that they also have aluminium fences, which on the machines I have used always seemed to need resetting to 90%.

I have the Jet 54A planer http://www.brimarc.com/products/Jet-54- ... -21828.htm (they do an 8" version but this is almost double the price) which is an excellent machine with the best dust extraction I have ever come across (another of my pet hates). It has cast iron tables and more to the point a cast iron fence which is always at 90% and never goes out or needs resetting.

Another good point about separates is that planers usually have much longer tables then P/T's. Mine are 1700mm, but watch the cheap imports because unless they are well made the cast iron tables can drop after a while.

HTH, and good luck with whatever you choose.

EDIT: Oops, sorry Olly re the 6" wide planers our posts seemed to have crossed

Cheers

Mike

 

[wobblycogs]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I've not been considering separates as a possible route for long, I had just assumed that most people went for the combination machines because they seem to be pushed so much more than the separate machines.

In terms of space the shop will be a fair size at 34sqm (almost 6x6) but it has supporting pillars dotted about (and all the utilities) which makes the space a little less useful. When I get round to fixing it up I'm sure I'll be back for more help

I don't think noise will be that much of a problem. The cellar isn't attached to any building other than ours so sound would have to travel through 3m+ of stone wall and ground to get to anyone else. I'll certainly be looking for an induction motor device though.

Think I'll concentrate on finding a decent planner then as that looks like the hardest part to find. I wonder why no one makes a wide planer at a reasonable price?

 

[big soft moose]

I personally don't like the benchtop thicknessers because they're as noisy as sin, even when it's not cutting or 'under load'! :shock: If noise is a concern to your neighbours or yourself then, look for a machine (or machines) with an induction motor.

our 733 isnt that bad when its not cutting - course when it is cutting is a noisy as hell but thats the nature of the job - and i would expect a PT to make a similar row

 

[big soft moose]

Think I'll concentrate on finding a decent planner then as that looks like the hardest part to find. I wonder why no one makes a wide planer at a reasonable price?

this is the same as the one we've got http://www.gandmtools.co.uk/cat_leaf.php?id=5854 though this one appears to be missing its fence and in need of a clean up still for 75 notes...

 

[wobblycogs]

Thanks BSM, I wouldn't mind having a crack at fixing up a piece of old machinery. I've de-rusted and cleaned stuff before but where would I get parts for something like that?

 

[big soft moose]

Thanks BSM, I wouldn't mind having a crack at fixing up a piece of old machinery. I've de-rusted and cleaned stuff before but where would I get parts for something like that?

I understand multico are still trading in france so if it was technical you could get it from them but if its just a fence thats basically metal work so any metal work shop ought to be able to sort it out.

bob (nine fingers) is your man for questions of this nature

 

[JonnyD]

Multico also used to make a 9inch wide surface planer which is a nice size for a home workshop and would probably be a better buy if you can find one. I bought one from ebay for about £45 in very good condition but even up to £250 to £300 they are good value but you should be able to pick one up a lot cheaper if you have a bit of time to look for one. I would have thought making a solid metal fence that slides and tilts to 45 degree would take a bit of work and be fairly expensive.

I am presently adding a new floor to my workshop and i plan to put the multico up there when it is finished but the main shop machine is a combination machine which works well fro me.

Cheers

Jon

 

[OPJ]

It's true that any thicknesser or planer will make a racket when it's under load taking heavy cuts. But, I still find those portable thicknessers to be a bloody nuisance even when they're not... :? Fixing them to a solid bench (ie. binning the cheap steel stand) probably helps. I've also wondered whether it is possible to box them in at all but then, you've got timber going in one side, out the other and some times back over the top... Plus, you need an allowance for dust extraction - yeah, I'm not sure whether this idea would actually work. :roll:

Mike, no worries. I agree with your comment on dust extraction in particular. I have the AW106PT and, even with a decent extractor, loads of shavings end up on the bed and on the floor when thicknessing. Even surfacing leaves a good amount in theextraction hood. The aluminium fence is actually decent though.

 

[Mike.C]

Here's a 9" planer (does not give the make) which after giving it the once over and finding it in good nick, if you can get it for £200 would be a good deal.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Single-phase-9-in ... 3ca70a0388

Cheers

Mike

 

[big soft moose]

Here's a 9" planer (does not give the make) which after giving it the once over and finding it in good nick, if you can get it for £200 would be a good deal.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Single-phase-9-in ... 3ca70a0388

Cheers

Mike

thats a nice bit of kit - and probably a bargain assuming it works (if i had the space in my own shop at home, which i dont, i'd be clicking that buy now button)

 

[big soft moose]

Multico also used to make a 9inch wide surface planer which is a nice size for a home workshop and would probably be a better buy if you can find one. I bought one from ebay for about £45 in very good condition but even up to £250 to £300 they are good value but you should be able to pick one up a lot cheaper if you have a bit of time to look for one. I would have thought making a solid metal fence that slides and tilts to 45 degree would take a bit of work and be fairly expensive.

I am presently adding a new floor to my workshop and i plan to put the multico up there when it is finished but the main shop machine is a combination machine which works well fro me.

Cheers

Jon

i'm sure you are right that the 9 inch would be a better buy if you can find one - though that does depend what you want to plane - our six inch does sign posts and bench components which never exceed 4 inch dia so the six is absolutely ideal for us

and i'm sure you are right about the fence if you want one that slides and tilts - ours is fixed but as we only ever plane stock at 90 deg that isnt an issue either

at the end of the day it depends what you want and how much you want to pay which will differ from shop to shop depending on what you make and whether you are pro or hobbyist

 

[stuartpaul]

Maybe I'm the other end of the scale as I've just gone from separates (admittedly small ones) to a combined machine (AW106PT2).

Given me much more space and the size of the planer bed is far superior to what I had.

Hell of a lot quieter ae well!

(Anyone wanna buy a thicknesser? or a small planer? )

 

[Mr Ed]

I originally had a DW733 thicknesser, using hand methods for any planing parts of the job. I then purchased a Scheppach HMS260Ci planer/thicknesser which is a reasonable machine.

However, I find that I can't be bothered to covert the Scheppach from one mode to another, so I use that as a planer and still use the DW as the thicknesser - I was always happy with the finish, so why change.

Ed