Woodmaster I'm thinking of getting one --Thoughts/comments?

[OEX]

I am thinking of getting a Woodmaster 18 planer, etc machine---thoughts on this? I have a joiner, but no thickness planer. The WBRF Restoration classes will need a planer, to handle rough cut wood, rip boards, etc.

How are these things, reliability, functionality, time saving….etc??
Cheers, Bruce
Dir WBRF

[ 11-06-2005, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

[OEX]

18 or 12 1/2?

[Wild Dingo]

Ive had a 12 1/2in thicknesser for some time now... and I know from photos hes posted that Art Read used one with his build of Melinda (Dark Harbor) they are a good usefull machine worth the money for sure

I bought a 15in thicknesser a few months back but havent had an opportunity to use it yet as Im still waiting for the shed to go up and power turned on... it needs its own power!! the 150ft extention lead just doesnt carry the juice for it... looking at it though its a bloody monster and solid as and I shouldnt have any problems with whatever I throw at it... I have recently been told by another bloke that the belts do need to be changed as theyre week so will be doing that before I set up for any serious wood throwing... eerr planing! ;)

Edited to add... what size thicknesser will depend on space as much as how much you throw at it... the small 12 1/2 is ideal if not much space is available and will handle a fair bit of heavy hardwoods... I threw mainly Tuart and Jarrah very heavy Aussie hardwoods at mine for the first year and not a peep was heard from the small one just took everything I threw at it... keep a spare set of blades around... the one I got came with a set that are resharpenable but I still bought a spare set... if you have a fair amount of space to use and a fair bit of timber to throw at it then the bigger one will serve well... so aside from the cost the space and amount will dictate which you end up with

Try a smaller one see how you get on for a few months then if you need a larger one get it... this is what I did and although Im still using the smaller one the big one is going to be hammered! the small one will go with my other mobile stuff to be used out in the humpyhoochy... okay Im done!

Great thing a thicknesser! combined with the jointer absolutely wonderful! never an unstraight board again :cool:

[ 11-06-2005, 08:20 PM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Bob Cone, the local guy I buy lumber from for various projects has had two of them... He sold one about a year ago, then bought a new 18 inch one just a couple of months ago. He has a woodlot that he cuts oak and pine from, and he custom cuts or buys logs and has cherry butternut maple and white oak on hand too.

He has decided to start running pine and oak moldings.. high baseboard and fluted door trim and so on... and this machine does a NICE job....on both thicknessing and molding. We bought about 400 feet of baseboard and door trim from him in red oak this summer for a reno job on a buddy's house. Really nice clean molding. My sense is that there might be competitors if you are just looking for a thickness planer, but this machine is quite versatile.

[Ellis Rowe]

I believe that there was a favorable review of these machines in WB a while back.

[Bob Cleek]

Unfamiliar with the unit you are asking about, but I will pass on one observation from the experience of myself and many others. There is no substitute for mass! Get the heaviest planer you can find/afford. It's about stability and momentum.

[Rick Tyler]

Oops. We're talking about 500 pound machines here. Never mind.

[ 11-07-2005, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: Rick Tyler ]

[emichaels]

Personally I would go with a Powermatic 20" planer its much heavier duty. The woodmaster 718 is a 5hp 30amp motor for an 18" cut. That is not enough HP. web page (http://www.woodmastertools.com/s/specs.cfm) You are much better off to run a phase converter and get a 7-1/2 hp or 10 hp planer. Use a dedicated machine if you intend to run it a lot. Use a shaper to do shaping/molding work. powermatic (http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/index.cfm?area=shop&action=detail&iid=78097) Notice the wt diffence. There is a reason for that. I just went and looked again and the 20" is available in 5 hp 1ph or 3 ph. Mine is an 4 year old model 209 with 7-1/2 3ph.

[ 11-07-2005, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: emichaels ]

[OEX]

Thanks all, but since these will be for the WBRF restoraton classes, they need to be a bit more portable. Looking at less than 150 lbs and 3 hp or so
...just got a Dewalt 13 inch planner ($378), and jet 16" bandsaw ($465)---can't remember the item numbers, but I will have them in the AM. and will let you know then. oh dust sysyem thing too, Jet 2 hp.
cheers

[ 11-07-2005, 07:47 PM: Message edited by: OEX ]

[Rick Tyler]

Originally posted by OEX:
since these will be for the WBRF restoraton classes, they need to be a bit more portable.Jeez, this makes me wish I hadn't edited out my earlier response. I've been using a Delta 12.5-inch planer for 10 or 12 hears. It's not as nice as a big stationary machine, but for occasional use it's great. When I'm not using it, it takes up the same space as a toolbox. It won't take the big cut of a stationary machine, either, but for a hobbyist it has been fine.

[RGM]

Good luck with your efforts. The need for portability can pretty well dictate what machine(s) are appropriate. But as Rick has touched on you have to take a lighter cut with the small machines. It will be especially important for you to spend time with your students teaching them how to use that new planer (what a light cut is). An inexperienced student could ruin that small machine in a heart beat. Additionally, if you haven't already, I suggest that you implement some safety/awareness training, proper tool useage, safety gear, etc. before a student uses the equipment. Because school woodshops have been turning into computer labs fewer people have the basic knowledge and skills to handle tools these days. Be careful.

[OEX]

Good idea, since you mentioned it...want to write up the protocol for tool use?

cheers

[Wild Dingo]

Gidday again OEX
The little fella will serve you well for a long time to come... as Rick and Roger both say take small swipes with it and she will be right as rain takes a tad longer but take big chunks and she'll be buggared in double quick time so little swipes it the go

Id also add... check the timber BEFORE it goes through for nails!! those buggars can kill it rapidly

First time I let Aaron run some Jarrah through he lowered it down TOO FAR and the machine wound itself to a stop then he wound it up a bit and the wood went through... all went fine till the last 3 foot nice raised ridge from there to the end... but he didnt notice and sent the next through this time he noticed!!... unplugged it and raised it up had a look at the blades and there they were all with a nice wee chunk out he checked the timbers and there it was at the start of the ridge in the first peice... the remains of a nail... so turn the blades over (you did get resharpenable double sided blades right?) and away he went again but he learnt to check each peice before he sent it through... dad was not a happy chappy but then son learnt so its all good ;)

But its an increadible drop from the big monster you were talking about to this little 13in isnt it mate? the big one would be a heck of a lot better since its real heavy and sturdy and will take the knocks and heavy work that I imagine will come with restoration and keen as mustard young fellas/sheilas... but a good learning curve for them none the less and you can always get the other at a later date if you find you need it or this one doesnt do what it needs to

Just remember to clamp it down! (if not bolt it but that does make the protability thing rather redundant eh?) have in and outfeed tables in use... set up a proceedure that they have to follow EVERY time regardless!

Good on you!! And good luck with the youngones and the resto work!

Cheers! :cool:

[OEX]

the dewalt has a table with it and I would say is about 160lbs and I have lead pigs to set on it after moving.

The class has about 22 people interested, not too young, but I would expect only 1/2 of those to actually come through.

so the shop has a 2 table saws 4 hp and 5hp, a jointer (10"), sander, chop saw, band saw, planer, and lots of hand tools---also the class has a bunch of shipwrights interested. Now just waiting on getting her moved---$4000-$6000 :( Fuel and insurance.!!! :mad:

Cheers