Which planer? dewalt or SS?

[everettdavis]

Shelix spiral head is a pretty high dollar investment for me to consider.

I've never used one and it sure would have to offer something else pretty snazzy for me to add one to my Pro Planer. I have both Shopsmith models and really like them with the standard cutter head.

What's the major justification for doing that upgrade for those here who have done one?

The Conical Sanding Disk and the Sharpening Kit makes sharpening blades relatively painless for me.

Am I missing out by not having one of the spiral heads?

Everett

[BuckeyeDennis]

Shelix spiral head is a pretty high dollar investment for me to consider.

I've never used one and it sure would have to offer something else pretty snazzy for me to add one to my Pro Planer. I have both Shopsmith models and really like them with the standard cutter head.

What's the major justification for doing that upgrade for those here who have done one?

The Conical Sanding Disk and the Sharpening Kit makes sharpening blades relatively painless for me.

Am I missing out by not having one of the spiral heads?

Everett

I obviously don't own one yet, but here are the claimed benefits that have me seriously considering one:

1) They are much quieter, because they take small nibbles instead of full-width cuts. My shop is in my basement, directly beneath the family room. And when planing a wide board, those straight blades get pretty loud -- easily the loudest noise in my shop.

2) Less tearout in figured wood, they say, due to the cutting angle. I've not seen a single review that disputes this.

3) Less time sharpening. I don't really mind sharpening. But I still work full-time, and I had rather be making something when I do get to spend time in the shop.

[reubenjames]

I'll cast my vote, for what it's worth, for the ShopSmith planer. I have the Mark V mounted variety, and I do have the PowerPro so perhaps there is some extra "oomph" there, but it is quality built. I got mine along with a Mark V 500, belt sander, jig saw, jointer, bandsaw a TON of other SS accessories for $500, so that was a steal. I would have paid $500 for the planer alone, and the planer is the real reason I put in my offer on the thing (I knew the SPTs came with, but I didn't realize the amount of other accessories I'd be getting when I bid), though I didn't have the belt sander or jig saw prior to that. Long story long, you can get a good deal on one with a little patience.

[reible]

We all have our opinions. I personally do not nor have I ever had a shopsmith planner on a buy or even a want list. I use to have access to a professional planner, the kind you would see in a place that planes wood to sell. If I recall the guy said he paid over $3000 for it and that was years and years ago.

When I no longer had access I had to come up with something to use. There were several things I looked for like I did not want to have to worry about sharpening knifes or setting them. I wanted a nice long in/out feed tables. I wanted it to be as inexpensive as I could get by with. I found something that matched what I wanted and I've been happy ever since. I see no snipe in fact I have never seen any.

The big problem I had with shopsmith was the price of the pro planner, I could buy 4 of the one I got for the cost of just one. They don't have prices list on the site now because they are not selling them now. So I can not compare new to new at this point. My guess might be more like 3 to 1 or so.

Used can be a problem. I've been on this and previous shopsmith related sites and I know that used machines can and do have problems. If you end up with one that has a feed motor go bad then a replacement is $448 just fot the motor! Speed control $362! The problem is you just don't know when you buy used. A big deal some years back was people getting machines that were shipped without being packed correctly , now this was not a problem with new machines shipped by shopsmith but ebay machines. Major rebuild needed. Even if you need new blades they will run you $110 for the set. We see people needing new rollers and other stuff as well and if that is all that is wrong well then no big deal. How ever as always buyer beware.

Btw if you want the shelix cutter heads on the dewalt just $450.

Is the shopsmith planner better then my cheap planner, well I would hope so at 4 times the cost. I don't own a BMW either but do I expect them to be better then my Chysler, well again I sure would hope so.

If my planner died tomorrow I'd most likely get the dewalt I mentioned before, it has a lot of nice features for the price and is a much better then what I have. I looked for this same sort of packaged deal when I got mine. The longer tables and the extra blades are worth the package price.

So I stand by what I know I would do as my best option. Others will have there own options.

Ed

[benush26]

Gene, Ed, Ben, do any of you own a Shopsmith planer?

Dennis, You are absolutely right. I don't own one and frankly my experience with one is a couple decades back, so I should not be bad mouthing it! One of the guys in Missoula had one that sat on the Mark V tubes. It was hell for stout but was heavy . I don't think it was a pro model? It did do a decent job, but I do remember he had a frustration with the blades. Maybe alignment??? I just remember he was talking about selling it.

Regarding the helical planers --About a year and a half back I was in Seattle and watched a DeWalt that had been converted to the helical system Dang it was impressive. Two years ago I put new bearings in my Delta, so it works fine, but I keep looking for excuses to replace it with a new helical head system.

Anyway, you are right, I should not have disparaged the Shopsmith as I really don't have one. I need to stop looking at all of these questions from the perspective of a weak old fart!!

Be well,
Ben

[Beave2012]

I got my pro planer for $400, and currently one for $600 on Craigslist. Is it with it... Yes. I've used the Dewalt and it's nice, but the shopsmith is extremely nice. Only thing I dislike about the shopsmith is the table moves, not the cutter... For the reason of its near impossible to setup extra supports infeed and out, or it would need to be adjusted every adjusted height.. So boo there but that's only once in a while issue.

[ibskot]

Well, thanks for the input. I didn't buy the SS planer due to condition so, the Dewalt 734 it is.

Thanks.

[cadman57]

Agreed - shopsmith is a fantastic planer. Really, either model is nice and basically the same. The pro planer main table is cast steel versus aluminum casting on the markV mounted unit and a couple of other differences, but nothing major.

Biggest issue people have with the mark V unit is moving it from shelf storage to working mode - easily taken care of with a shorty frame and can even run something on other end.

I have even used the hand crank feed model and agree that is worth it for doing basic planning every now and then.

The long main table is much, much nicer than any lunch box model when it comes to snipe divits when wood exits cutters also.

If you find a good used one and need a manual, message me and I can send you one .......... free, of course. Shopsmith should have every manual available on their support area - call and tell them that.

dave