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Can a 12" Planer w/o feed motor be converted to manual feed?

br549

Considering getting a used 12" planer, but the one I am looking at doesn't have the feed motor. (Variable speed switch is reportedly included but not presently attached.) In looking at Shopsmith Service Parts for the planer, don't see any mention of manual feed crank. Does anyone know if manual feed crank is still available, and if it can be added to a planer that did have a feed motor? Thanks.

ChrisNeilan

I can't answer your question, but this is the opportunity to get that Co2 Laser printer you've always wanted and cut your own wooden gears! :)

On a serious note, how much is a feed motor?

br549

New feed motor is $472 from Shopsmith, and new speed control is $362

beeg

ChrisNeilan wroteOn a serious note, how much is a feed motor?

Probably more than what he'd pay for the planer. :eek:

ChrisNeilan

Yikes! :eek: :eek: :eek:

rcplaneguy

With infinite time and money anything is possible, but I would not recommend it.

rjent

rcplaneguy wroteWith infinite time and money anything is possible, but I would not recommend it.

Could you explain why not? Not calling you out, just curious.

I have (briefly) run both and actually prefer the manual feed. Looking at the parts list (the manual feed handle is not shown) you could use the shaft of the motor (or duplicate it) and the gear the motor drives and seemingly quite easily convert the planer to manual.

rcplaneguy

rjent wrote
rcplaneguy wroteWith infinite time and money anything is possible, but I would not recommend it.
Could you explain why not? Not calling you out, just curious.

I have (briefly) run both and actually prefer the manual feed. Looking at the parts list (the manual feed handle is not shown) you could use the shaft of the motor (or duplicate it) and the gear the motor drives and seemingly quite easily convert the planer to manual.

With the DeWalt 12.5" dw734 often $375 new with disposable and reversible knives, and a 3 yr warranty, that is the direction I would go. Or, spend lots of time and $ on a used device that is untested. Is this one that is a SPT, with sheet metal table, depending on the ShopSmith headstock for power? If so, is it worth the effort? I don't see any dust collection on it. Mine is a ProPlaner separate with cast iron table.

cadman57

The answer to your question is yes - that setup can be made to be manual. I have had both and with a little investigation can come up with the gentlemans name that purchased the manual feed planer from me. I am sure he would be happy to help with dimensions / photos / etc.

I can tell you that the plate covering the two gears showing in your photo is the same bolt-on pattern as the plate holding the DC feed motor. I also sold a motorized unit at one time and removed that so as to be safer for shipping. I noted the similarity - if you have that plate all you need is a matching gear and hand crank. That is exactly how the older manual unit is setup.

I will look for the contact info - feel free to phone me if you would like to try this route .............. also, the base of this unit is one piece solid cast aluminum with the topside polished. Per the photo, this unit has the upgraded one piece handle instead of the older "wheel with short handle" and that is a big plus - not only easier to work with the better leverage, but in your case it could easily double as the manual hand crank because I am pretty sure that is what shopsmith used.

I have a proplaner model on its own stand with castors in the garage and just went out to check the table base - the other gentleman is correct also about the pro model being cast steel. I had not noticed that and had just assumed it was the aluminum however just got it when weather turned cold so have not used it to the point of looking closely. I would have no hesitation at all to go with the aluminum cast polished unit attached to the shopsmith headstock if you are just planing material every now and then. It is a wonderful planer and having the one piece frame is leaps and bounds better than any of the bench models with two piece / snipe causing cuts IMHO I have run both and find this to be true. You did not mention the cost, but having had and sold two machine mounted with DC feed at $550 - $650 and also having had and sold two crank mounted for around $375 - $400 I would think this unit with the issues involved should not be priced over $225 - $250 ............ assuming the rollers are good. Dust collection assembly can be simply added for about $40 (#300001) and is easy to install. The dust chute exits where the topside shopsmith logo is.

Offer $200 or so and do some work and mark it a bargain !!!!!

I am also betting you can purchase the gear that is on the end of the feed motor ........ everything else can be figured out. I do CAD design work for local tool and die companies (Omaha) in my spare time so if there is anything I could help with I would be happy to do so. I have that same height crank on my proplaner and am curious about what could fit it as far as shaft for the gear ......... do you have the outer plate ??

Dave (402) 517-0759

JPG

The pinion gear is the same so it should be obtainable. The rest is going to require some ingenuity. The cover mounts the same, but I believe the 'hole'/bearing is different. A shaft should be relatively simple. Any crank will do.

IIRC, these parts were on e-bay a while back. I do not remember if they sold.

br549

Thanks to both cadman57 and JPG for their detailed, thorough, and large amount of information! You have given me new hope. I contacted Shopsmith CS at the same time of my original post and heard back from them yesterday, with not nearly so encouraging news, but I can understand that they probably don't want liability issues if I make some parts myself. I may take you up on your offer for help in making/modifying a crank. One difference I was told by CS was that the gear cover to convert from power feed to manual feed had a larger hole and a bushing, both of which were no longer available (thru them). Glad to hear the pinion is the same in both versions, as that was what I had hoped. I will contact the seller today to see if planer is still available, try to learn more of its history, condition, etc., and I may be a proud owner with some work ahead of me soon! Will keep you posted, and thanks again!

br549

I got it, and at an incredible price of $100! Appears to be in excellent condition except for missing the gear cover and feed motor. Also missing the clamping brackets to secure it to the Shopsmith way tubes, but I'm sure I can either buy them or make something to work. My intent is still to convert it to manual feed, unless I happen to find a feed motor on eBay for a reasonable price. I could use some help with the following from anyone with a manual feed version:

The only gear cover available from Shopsmith is for a motor feed model. Can someone take some pictures of their manual feed gear cover and give me the dimension of hole diameter (in cover), how the handle attaches, any bushing sizes/dimensions, etc. Below is a picture of my drive end cover, which is probably very similar to the gear cover. The drive hub side cover has a 1.625" dia. hole.

The height adjustment handle may very well be able to double as a crank for manual feed. Below are pictures of my height adjustment handle. Can someone with a manual feed model send me pictures of their feed crank so I can see how the two compare?

The seller also had the variable speed control which I got, only it is missing the "key" to lock or unlock the switch. The seller took it apart and removed (and kept and included) the small plastic part and spring which will enable the switch to be used without the key, but I would prefer to put the part and spring back in, and either get or make a "key", so it will be usable as intended in case I do find a feed motor, or sellable. Does anyone know if the key is available from Shopsmith, have an extra, or could take pictures of theirs so I can maybe make my own?

JPG

Currently my planer is pretty much inaccessible. I will attempt to access it and take some pix. BTW, your pix are excellent!!!

br549

Thanks, whenever you get a chance to take some pictures would be appreciated. No big hurry ... I've done without planer up until now and have plenty of other things to keep me busy. And I looked more closely at the exploded parts diagram and see that the safety key is still listed available, so I'll be ordering one of those along with a few other things like the gear cover, pinion, owner's manual - things I'm going to need to get anyway to try to make it operational.

JPG

I did not get into the shop today. :( Don't give up! :)

JPG

Got to it today. I changed the topic so it may be more easily found later(?).

Took lots of pix. After reviewing your pix I realized I did not show the crank length. Mine has the round height handle, so I cannot compare them. If mine is longer than your pix shows I will post it.

Well I 'found' the max number of attachments = 10.

CRANK ID.jpg

SHAFT LARGE OD LENGTHpoor focus.jpg

SHAFT LARGE OD.jpg

SHAFT SMALL OD.jpg

SHAFT SMALL OD LENGTH.jpg

SHAFT KEYWAY AND GROOVE.jpg

TENSION PIN OD.jpg

TENSION PIN LENGTH.jpg

WOODRUF KEY WIDTH.jpg

JPG

More is here.

The crank appears to be the same length, but the knob is longer.(an easy thing to make for a woodworker!). Ya need that shoulder screw though.

WASHER THICKNESS.jpg

MOUNTING SCREW OD.jpg

MOUNTING SCREW LENGTH.jpg

COVER DEPTH.jpg

COVER BUSHING FROM COVER OUTSIDE.jpg

COVER BUSHING ID.jpg

br549

Wow, just saying "thanks" seems like an understatement! Excellent pictures and descriptions (graphically and verbally) show more than I had hoped for. At least the pinion gear is still available so I won't have to re-create that. I may need a little time to fully digest all of this information and warm up my ingenuity, but the biggest challenge at the moment seems to be the fact that the cover has that boss as part of the casting for the bushing. From the exploded parts diagram I see on SS's website, it doesn't look like the currently available gear cover for a motor feed has that boss. Perhaps once I get the actual cover I can figure out a way to bolt some material to the cover to give me sufficient thickness for a bushing, similar to how the motor apparently bolts to the cover from the inside. Maybe I'll get lucky and someone with a unneeded manual feed setup will put it on eBay. Hope you were able to reassemble everything OK and didn't have to shovel too much snow to get to the shop!

JPG

Since you will likely have to 'improvise' the shaft, the bushing could be mounted to an appendage external to the cover. The shaft could be continuous 3/8" with a 3/8 x 1/2 bushing added to interface with the crank. 3/8" all thread might work. Internal clearance might be a problem.

Just 'brain' storming. ;)

rcplaneguy

Kudos to JPG for taking apart his planer, measuring, photographing, and posting! I bet that took quite a while (and now to put it back together).