A new toy

[Gene Howe]

A few days ago, my reliable old Delta 12" planer gave up the ghost. It just died. COD unknown, pending autopsy.

After considering all the features that I wanted in a new one, costs, and user reviews, I settled on a new 13" Delta.
Yesterday, the new one arrived.

I spent most of the day unpacking, reading the manual and and modifying the stand to accept the larger footprint. Ran a few pieces of mesquite through.
First impressions:
1. Lotta plastic
2. Lotta cut depth indicators. (3) One on the cutter head handle, one at the infeed, and one that's really a stop at preselected depths of cuts.
3. Even with the plastic, it's HEAVY. Definitely not a portable machine for this old man!
4. The cutter head raises and lowers sooo smoothly.
5. The DC attachment is a VERY welcome add on..
6. Out of the box, the tables were aligned to perfection.
7. The three knife cutter head leaves an awesomely smooth surface.
8. Not as noisy as the old one. Of, course that observation is tempered by the fact that the old one was going through it's death throes.
Pictures of the stand mods and planer features to follow.
I know I should have not cut the mourning process as short as I did, but I go through the 7 stages of grief real quick.

[JPG]

A few days ago, my reliable old Delta 12" planer gave up the ghost. It just died. COD unknown, pending autopsy.

After considering all the features that I wanted in a new one, costs, and user reviews, I settled on a new 13" Delta.
Yesterday, the new one arrived.

I spent most of the day unpacking, reading the manual and and modifying the stand to accept the larger footprint. Ran a few pieces of mesquite through.
First impressions:
1. Lotta plastic
2. Lotta cut depth indicators. (3) One on the cutter head handle, one at the infeed, and one that's really a stop at preselected depths of cuts.
3. Even with the plastic, it's HEAVY. Definitely not a portable machine for this old man!


4. The cutter head raises and lowers sooo smoothly.
5. The DC attachment is a VERY welcome add on..
6. Out of the box, the tables were aligned to perfection.
7. The three knife cutter head leaves an awesomely smooth surface.
8. Not as noisy as the old one. Of, course that observation is tempered by the fact that the old one was going through it's death throes.
Pictures of the stand mods and planer features to follow.
I know I should have not cut the mourning process as short as I did, but I go through the 7 stages of grief real quick.

Did ya check the brushes on the 'old' one?:D

[Gene Howe]

JPG,
Thanks for the suggestion. The motor's fine. I'm sure it was the cutter head bearings. I'd been hearing a rattle that got progressively worse on the day it died.

[Gene Howe]

Here is a pic of the planer on the stand. Had to attach the ply to accommodate the larger footprint of the new planer on the old stand.
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This is a mod to allow easy movement of the planer. I just step on the "L", tip it towards me and wheel it away.
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