Wagner Safe-T Planer

[Sazerac81]

I received a Wagner Safe-T Planer in pristine condition with a bunch of my Shopsmith stuff. Not sure if it was ever used by the look of it.

It seems that a lot of music instrument makers use them. I was looking at the old manual that came in the package and it seems you can make some neat moldings for picture frames.

I was thinking of trying it on the shopsmith to see if Inkight be able to make some neat picture frame forms.

Not sure if anyone on here has extensive experience with them. I wouldn't use it to dimension lumber to thickness as I have a planer for that process. I would just use it for cutting molds to make frames.

I would love any tips/tricks from those experience in the use of this interesting tool!

Cheers,
John

[reible]

At a point in time shopsmith use to sell these. So finding one in shopsmith gear would not surprise me. You could and well should find a grinding wheel that you need to keep the blades sharp.

There are no special tricks to using them. Keep the cutters/blades sharp and take light cuts, hey were did you hear that before.

I haven't used mine in a while, I should dig it out and look at it. I seem to recall it needing some work and perhaps new cutters.

The company that use to make these no longer does but another company started making one that looks identical. I'd have to look up that information so it is probably just as easy for you to google it.....

Ed

[nuhobby]

I would just add that using the 1/2" Router Chuck, rather than a drill-chuck, is a good practice with this accessory.

Enjoy!
Chris

[greasemonkey2275]

Can you post some pics?

[reible]

I would just add that using the 1/2" Router Chuck, rather than a drill-chuck, is a good practice with this accessory.

Enjoy!
Chris

Really good point. That is the way to go and what I did. A drill chuck will work as they sold these with that in mind and the cut/bite is small but since you have a shopsmith with router chuck capability that is "more" better.

Ed

[reible]

OK so now I've had something to eat and ready to start my day I decided to do a little surfing and found this:

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Ty ... oCyRrw_wcB

Then there is this:

http://woodworker.com/drill-press-plane ... oCL17w_wcB

Check out the video on the first one.

Ed

[Sazerac81]

OK so now I've had something to eat and ready to start my day I decided to do a little surfing and found this:

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Ty ... oCyRrw_wcB

Then there is this:

http://woodworker.com/drill-press-plane ... oCL17w_wcB

Check out the video on the first one.

Ed

I've done both! Don't you love the Internet and Google? . I will definitely use the router chuck instead. Does this allow for more stability and securement of the 'bit'?

Cheers,
John

[Sazerac81]

Can you post some pics?

I will try to get some pics posted. It's actually quite a sign of the times it was produced in at the time. One of the pictures on the box shows a gentleman smoking his pipe while surface planing with the unit.

Another question to those that have used them. What did you use them for and why don't you anymore? It seems like a very cool tool to make interesting frame designs/molding but it seems to have fallen out of use over time.

Cheers,
John

[reible]

I got one of these pretty early on when I stated to equip my shop. It was small and easy to store so it provided added functionality with almost no down sides. As my shop grew other tools were added and most things I could do with it I could also do with another tool.

Then came carbide, steel tools need sharpening and effort to keep then tuned up where as carbide takes a beating and keeps on ticking. You have to keep working on the cutters, inside edges only and while not difficult or even all that time consuming it was never one of my favorite things to do. So you add kids and other time consuming things in life and pretty soon you go to use it and HEY it needs sharpening(again) so you grab a router bit and that happens more then a few times. Pretty soon you need some space for router bits or what have you and so you move the planner to a different location. Fast forward a year and it "where did I put that?" Then you find it and yes it still needs sharpening but what did I do with the grinding wheel? How come they are not together anymore?

So a couple of years ago I got all components back together and though maybe it was time for new cutters. Oh boy Wagner doesn't make these any more..... so I started looking for other alternatives but on the back burner.... and here it is today.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. And yes I still know where it is, I think.

Ed

[tomsalwasser]

Very clever. From the video it sounds like it makes a smooth finish. I think this could be really handy for lots of things I do.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5UOAnyPl0I[/youtube]