Pro Planer speed control box problem

[BigSky]

BTW, in what part of the country do you live? One of us may be a nearby neighbor. I checked your personal profile for this info but it is not very helpful.

[tdubnik]

BTW, in what part of the country do you live? One of us may be a nearby neighbor. I checked your personal profile for this info but it is not very helpful.

North of Atlanta GA

[charlese]

... I would like to get this fixed without spending the $300+ that a new speed control box would cost...

My planer needs are modest now and I just can't justify $300 for the part when I could buy a new bench planer for about the same price...

Thanks for any advice.

In reviewing this thread, I think you have been given the full range of advice - from replacing the box ($$$) to trying to repair the board, or the components. When earlier, I suggested you call Shopsmith, that is still a good idea. You never know what parts they may have without asking.

If you want to repair the board, as suggested, you might be able to do that. Use small gauge wire to jump (shunt) the broken parts of the board. You can find breaks by attaching an ohm meter and wiggling the board. If there is any diodes on the board, you will have to be careful not to heat them up with your soldering iron. If possible find another place on the board to complete the broken circuit. Just use enough heat to get a good contact at jumper wire connections.

I recently repaired a small battery charger by installing two jumper wires to shunt over broken parts of the board. I've also once used a small piece of tin foil to act as a jumper.

Potentiometer or rheostats don't usually go bad unless really overheated. However they do get dirty and don't resist evenly through their range. A cleaner available from a radio repair house will help a dirty one. Also these things can be replaced fairly easily.

I still think that a $200 part from SS would still give you a bargain priced Pro Planer. As told on other threads these are very high quality machines.

Good Luck!

[BigSky]

I still think that a $200 part from SS would still give you a bargain priced Pro Planer. As told on other threads these are very high quality machines.

Good Luck!

Where can he get that $200 part Charles? http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... =Find+Item

[tdubnik]

Where can he get that $200 part Charles? http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... =Find+Item

About 5 years ago this part cost less than $120. I know inflation is high; --- but nearly 300% in 6 years?

If only my salary increased like that!!!

[cincinnati]

[quote="tdubnik"]About 5 years ago this part cost less than $120. I know inflation is high]

I noticed the other night how much this part cost and I was thinking I never noticed the high cost. It must have gone up in price.

Hope I never have to replace the control box or the feed motor. HOLY COW!!!

[Ed in Tampa]

This might be too quick and dirty for you but have you ever thought of going to a hobby store and buying a simple model train controler? Almost all have a varied ranger of voltages to choose from and all you would have to do is mount it somewhere and used the train speed lever to adjust your feed rate.

I guess you could roughly calibrate it by clocking some test samples through the machine.
Ed

[charlese]

Where can he get that $200 part Charles? http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... =Find+Item

He can't!!! I was looking at the Christmas Catalog - 2007 and the price there is $290.xx. I mis-remembered it as $190.xx.

Still- probably a good buy to get that thing going - as compared with the price for a new one.

It is a bit weird that I'm sticking up for the Pro Planer, compared to other planers. As I have said earlier, I would have one if it wasn't for the purchase price.

[tdubnik]

I took some pics of the control box and circuit board.

[tdubnik]

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[ATTACH]2357[/ATTACH]Pictures of the culprit.