Surface planer

[stuartpaul]

I have posted on this subject before but approaching purchase time thought I'd try again.

Having moved away from a P/T I've been looking for a decent surface planer (I'll also be getting a separate thicknesser as well).

The only half decent sized machine I've been able to find is axminsters CT1502. Despite flogging Google half to death I still haven't been able to find anything even remotely comparable. Ebay hasn't revealed anything in the range either at the sort of budget available.

Is it me or is there just a complete lack of surface planers out there for the hobby market? I found lots of great big industrial machines at silly money but no smaller machines.

I'd be prepared to consider a P/T again as long as it doesn't require tables to be moved around as I find the continual resetting a right royal PITA!

Clearly with the axy at £540 I'm prepared to go that far. A P/T to about £850, - maybe a bit more for the right machine.

Do I just have to suck it up and go axminster route or does anyone know of a machine (in the UK!) that might fit the bill?

 

[beech1948]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rojek-Planer-...sHasdware_RL&hash=item2a0ede6f96#ht_500wt_993

A Rojeck fixed beds P/T. £800 no bids
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cooksley-vint..._Woodwork_ET&hash=item4aa98fdb10#ht_500wt_993

A Cooksley in good order by photo
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/wadkin-planer..._Woodwork_ET&hash=item3f082b8c05#ht_500wt_993

An old Wadkin needing a full restoration
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/wadkin-wood-p...Woodwork_ET&hash=item4157b5b17a#ht_691wt_1022

Another Wadkin but working
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/7-Surface-Pla..._Woodwork_ET&hash=item2a0f1a5cdc#ht_500wt_993

Unknown make but looks clean
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Axminster-Ben...ls_Equipment&hash=item3f081dc324#ht_500wt_993

Axminster APTC planer

Alan

 

[beech1948]

What you google for may change what you bring up. I tried "PLANER" and "BENCH PLANER".

The older machines may look off-putting but are possibly the most sound solution. May take say 3 or 4 days work / evenings to resolve to finely tuned machine. For a hobbyist the APTC machine looks good value.
Alan

 

[Karl]

What size do you want?

Keep an eye out for Multico planers on e-bay - they come up fairly regular in either 6" or 9" cutting widths.

I saw one in good nick go for £78 recently. Generally they go around £200 ish.

Cheers

Karl