Which planer/ thicknesser to buy?

[r896neo]

After careful thought and very upper limit of £500 Here are my options which one would y'all choose.

SIP 01454 10"X6" Planer/Thicknesser
http://www.toolstop.co.uk/sip-01454-10- ... 240v-p3936

Axminster AWEPT106 Planer/Thicknesser
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... 580438.htm

Metabo HC260 Planer/Thicknesser
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... ETHC260CAV

DRAPER bpt260 PLANER/THICKNESSER
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... /DRABPT260

Record Power RPWPT260X
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... /RPWPT260X

Or any others that would be worth my while?
Thanks for your thoughts/ help!

 

[p111dom]

They're all the same and IMHO just not worth the money. Of all of them the Record is the best due to having cast iron tables on the new model but A) you pay for it and B) the aluminium tables weren't the problem with this machine. Having to remove the out feed table to convert to thicknessing mode is a pain. There are adjustment screws on the out feed table which invariably move when lifting the section off and on. Vibration can also alter these screws so I supposed the Record may have an advantage here as well with it's extra weight. Record also sell the machine with re-sharpenable blades as opposed to the others with disposables. This sounds good at first but I have found that I simply get a better result with disposables. The biggest downside of all these machines is the fence. A ali extrusion that simply isn't up to the task. angle ajustment which is both awkward and inaccurate. The list goes on.

My advice would be that if you really have to go for one of these due to the budget...get the cheapest one. Probably the Sip or Axminster model but you will be disappointed and will be looking to upgrade within a year.

 

[p111dom]

I should mention that I have an older model (ali tables) Record RPT260. Soon to be replaced.(Hopefully) [-o<

 

[ProShop]

This is a much better bet imho.

Axminster AW106PT2 Planer/Thicknesser with Cast Iron Fence

 

[r896neo]

Do you know if the cast iron fence (which can be purchased seperate) Would fit the entry level machine? as far as i can tell all the devices i listed are clones?

 

[OPJ]

Having owned a Perform CCNPT (predecessor to AWEPT106) and recently upgraded to the AW106PT model (only an extra £100 or so) I can pretty confidently say that the cast iron fence for the AW106PT2 would not fit any of those other models; which are, basically, the same machine.

There's also a problem with the feed roller drive belts on the 'clone' machines - where as, for an extra £100 or so, with cast iron tables, a reliable fence, three resharpanable knives and a 180mm depth of thickness - you really are getting an awful lot more for your money with the AW106PT2! :wink:

 

[Calpol]

Can I just jump in for a sec and ask if this one is worth the extra £200?

http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... HHMS2600CI

 

[BradNaylor]

At £500 I wouldn't touch any of these.

I'd look around for an old cast iron machine; Wadkin or similar. Budget £350 on ebay and another £150 for a phase converter so you can use it on a domestic supply.

Miles better than a new lightweight Chiwanese piece of junk.

Dan

 

[motownmartin]

At £500 I wouldn't touch any of these.

I'd look around for an old cast iron machine; Wadkin or similar. Budget £350 on ebay and another £150 for a phase converter so you can use it on a domestic supply.

Miles better than a new lightweight Chiwanese piece of junk.

Dan

I dare say you're right Dan, but they are rather large and will not fit in most peoples sheds/garages/workshops and on top of that spares cost a fortune or maybe i'm wrong

 

[Lark]

yer i would like a cheaper end one of these to help with wood i get limits what i can do and what i have to buy... as im only hobbyist and new still

and with both in the same machine to help cut down on space but will it do the job ok. or not

 

[BradNaylor]

I dare say you're right Dan, but they are rather large and will not fit in most peoples sheds/garages/workshops and on top of that spares cost a fortune or maybe i'm wrong

I have seperates, but there's plenty of old P/T's out there with a footprint no bigger than modern ones. They weigh a ton, of course!

As for spares, I've got half a dozen or so old Wadkin machines and I've never had to buy a single spare for any of them apart from drive belts or cutters - and those are generic items readily available anywhere.

Dan

 

[r896neo]

HEY cheers for replies, i too have my doubts about all these machines esp the ally fences! However i have the dilema of being in northern ireland and so little to no tools available second hand. I cant really stretch to the cast iron axeminster version as all in it'll be close to £600

When i can get the draper clone for £380 delivered its hard to overlook this.

OJP do you think the cast iron fence would fit on the ally table axminster version?

 

[ProShop]

At £500 I wouldn't touch any of these.

I'd look around for an old cast iron machine; Wadkin or similar. Budget £350 on ebay and another £150 for a phase converter so you can use it on a domestic supply.

Miles better than a new lightweight Chiwanese piece of junk.

Dan

No offense Dan but I think calling Chiwanese pieces of junk is a bit trait imho, some of them are quite good actually, a lot depends on the spec etc demanded of the importers. the one I mentioned in my post above is a good example. The Scheppach 260 always got good reviews in various mags and on this very forum & they're made in Chiw...... . It is true some of them are not that good, but you pays your money and................................ , as the saying goes .

The old cast irons you mention are usually a good bet, but i suspect that most members on here would be struggling to get them in their workshops, not so much by size but by sheer weight. And you need a good solid floor for some of them. We had an old Wadkin 28" when it started up it went for a walk around the shop till we bolted it down .

If you got an old 3 or 4hp 3phase machine an inverter to run it will set you back a bit more than £150 ish as the startup power would need to be around 6 or7hp and they cost real money, especially to a hobbyist.

And forget the lower cost static converters as they are not that efficient imho.
A better bet is of course the rotary or electronic inverters but as I say they cost more and I'm not sure some members would be comfortable with 415volts machines installed.