Wagner Safe-T Planer

[peterm]

Here are two pictures of the packaging:

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safety planer2.jpg (158.24 KiB) Viewed 8423 times

[Sazerac81]

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

Excellent story Ed and I'm glad you stick to your guns. Hmmm, sounds like someone needs to make carbide tipped inserts for these guys!

Cheers,
John

[everettdavis]

I had one of those for my Sears RAS back in the 80's and if the table was adjusted properly on the RAS to the arbor at all the measurement points, it worked very well. The motor would flip over to reveal the auxiliary spindle and you just screwed it on the shaft.

It was a very useful tool back then.

Everett

[JPG]

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]

Yeah, the 'platen' burnishes it.

[lyall]

I got an old Barron multi purpose rotary wood planer years ago. I have used it a few time and it does work. Got it for $3.00 at a garage sale.
It came with a allen wrench and the depth setting tool.

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note the different for the cutters

[BuckeyeDennis]

Yeah, the 'platen' burnishes it.

I have one of the red Shopsmith-branded ones. I just checked, and the cutting edges are about ten thou proud of the bottom "platen" surface. So no burnishing involved.

But I guess these are "safety" planers because, with three cutters, they can slice off only about 0.030 inches of flesh per rev. So lets see, 3000 RPM is 50 rev/sec. And 0.030 x 50 = 1.5 flesh-inches per second.

Yep, I'm going to give mine the same respect that I do a saw blade!

[robinson46176]

I have 3 of that general type. One like the Wagner, one of the Barron planers and one other type sold as Craftsman. I didn't buy any of them new (Or on purpose ). The Barron came from an uncle that passed away. I don't remember where I got the other two, I think one was with a used Shopsmith and the other in a box of stuff from an auction.
I have never used any of them but then I keep "everything". They look cute in the drawer.

1 planer 1.jpg (24.66 KiB) Viewed 8328 times

.

[Sazerac81]

I suppose the planer is only as safe as the user.

A bit of user error here with initial setup. I just used the drill chuck this time to quickly set everything up since I had it ready to go.

Here are some pictures of the results and the misadventure with the shopsmith table.

Looks pretty cool in the drill chuck.



As you can see, it gouged a thin bit out of the surface of the table. Note to self, when in drill press mode, really tighten up the head stock lock! I noticed that the head was slowly drifting downward during operation so immediately shut it off, but not before the surface planer just touched on the surface. Not a deep gouge and the table is still quite useable. A battle scar of ineptitude on the user's part. Doh!



These are thin angled planes so I could see if it would work with making some interesting picture frame forms. I ran it around 1600-1700 rpm just for starters, likely those rough marks would smooth out at higher rpms and possibly with using the more stable router bit chuck. Also, I hope that this isn't because it scraped the table prior to the planing part, but could be. I would hate to have damaged it since they are discontinued and the blades no longer exist. Not sure how well the non-original blades some people are selling would work.



So.... I learned a very important lesson.

[Sazerac81]

A few interesting pics of the very old manual!

I particularly like this one of the man planing and pipe smoking! Haha, I chuckled when I saw that pic.



Apparently, you can hand grind these. A true test of finger dexterity and strength!



A quick question to those that use their Shopsmiths a lot in drill press mode. Do you guys ever get concerned about the slight movement of the unit in that mode since the only thing that locks it down or secures it in drill press mode is that large screw bolt. It just seems a bit tenuous to me I suppose considering the weight of the unit. But I suppose all the weight is really in the vertical axis at that point. I just would hate to give the table a hard bump or lean up on it during an operation.

Cheers,
John

[JPG]

Ever 'try' to lower it without loosening that 'bolt'.