Safety Planer: I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of sandpaper.

This is on sale, reduced from $71 to $61. There are three cutting blades attached to that plate. For half the price, I wouldn't hesitate. Stew-Mac tends to be pricey.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

jerryc41 wrote:

I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of sandpaper.

This is on sale, reduced from $71 to $61. There are three cutting blades attached to that plate. For half the price, I wouldn't hesitate. Stew-Mac tends to be pricey.

That looks to be about 3" wide. Can you make multiple passes to plane wider piece of wood without it being a problem? Looks like it would be a pain to plane longer and wider pieces of wood.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

lowkick wrote:

That looks to be about 3" wide. Can you make multiple passes to plane wider piece of wood without it being a problem? Looks like it would be a pain to plane longer and wider pieces of wood.

Yes, you can. I know some online woodworkers who have something similar. I'm just wondering if I really need that, or if I would find many uses for it after I buy it. It is on sale, after all.

I looked on their site a couple of days ago, and it was $71.

Wally Phyfe

I know several people who have and use them, and speak highly of how well they function. (They are all luthiers.)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Wally Phyfe wrote:

I know several people who have and use them, and speak highly of how well they function. (They are all luthiers.)

Yes, luthiers I know, too. Maybe I can become a luthier if I buy one. How hard could it be?

Lonnie77 Loc: Kennedale, Texas

The lower shaft bearing of the drill press will wear quicker due to the sideway pressure as the wood is feed through.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of sandpaper.

This is on sale, reduced from $71 to $61. There are three cutting blades attached to that plate. For half the price, I wouldn't hesitate. Stew-Mac tends to be pricey.

Jerry: these things do work but the drill press has very little wobble in the quill, and they are dangerous as hell.
I operated a 30" block planer when I worked at a Brown shoe factory in 1972, the blocks I planed were 18" X 30" X3" maple with a plastic type material (so the insole dies could cut through the material for a longer time without needing to be resharpened). The blocks were so heavy I had to slide them off the cutting machines and on to the planer and the still had to be clamped to the planer table
The planer at that time was close to or over 100 yrs old

HOHIMER

jerryc41 wrote:

I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of sandpaper.

This is on sale, reduced from $71 to $61. There are three cutting blades attached to that plate. For half the price, I wouldn't hesitate. Stew-Mac tends to be pricey.

Too dangerous!

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of sandpaper.

This is on sale, reduced from $71 to $61. There are three cutting blades attached to that plate. For half the price, I wouldn't hesitate. Stew-Mac tends to be pricey.

I don't like the looks of that, I'd find a way to use me belt sander.

DaleBrown

Hello Jerry
CAUTION! CAUTION! CAUTION!
Not only is this the wrong application for this type of machine, tearing the wood out is going to be a problem for you. Very dangerous looking image, can’t imagine following that workpiece into that cutter with the push stick in the image. I would not try to plane anything with the setup image I am seeing.
If you must buy this, does it come with inflexible or replaceable inserts? Carbide indexables would be the best. Use with quill up as far as possible to reduce “chatter”. Light cuts only!!! Tighten drill chuck very tight( use small pipe on chuck key). This type of side pressure is not advised for drill chucks or drill press bearing assemblies.
Good luck,

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

I bought one about 45 years ago when I had limited budget and floor space. It now sits in the bottom of a drawer It works on small stock but plays havoc on drill press bearings which are not meant to be side loaded. I found it hard to control and replaced it with a cheap 4" jointer. Again disappointed and finally found the funds and space for a 8" long bed Delta jointer which is no longer available. 8" jointers cost about $2K and then you need a $600 13" thickness planer. Wood working is not cheap.
I would not recommend it.

Canisdirus

For the amount of area ... use a hand planer instead.

bamfordr Loc: Campbell CA

jerryc41 wrote:

I wonder if this is worth the money. It's certainly less expensive that a regular planer. A while back, I made a similar one out of wood. It accepts a piece of sandpaper.

This is on sale, reduced from $71 to $61. There are three cutting blades attached to that plate. For half the price, I wouldn't hesitate. Stew-Mac tends to be pricey.

I bought one for a chuck mounted on the accessory shaft on my Craftsman radial arm saw (about 50 years ago). The biggest problem - and show stopper - was holding the lumber down to achieve a smooth(ish) surface and a relatively uniform thickness. Don’t even think about twisted or cupped boards.

It is still in almost new condition on the shelf (I mean why discard something when it might prove useful for something?).

williejoha

I would call this contraption a widow maker.
WJH

srg

Wally Phyfe wrote:

I know several people who have and use them, and speak highly of how well they function. (They are all luthiers.)

Why do some people always have to bring religion (and/or politics) into every conversation? Lutheran, Catholic, we all believe in the same God.