Shopsmith Forums

What is the history of cutterhead motor size on Pro Planers? I am looking at a little used 1993 model(s/n 111192) with a 3/4 hp Emerson motor. This is the Pro Planer model as it has the cast iron table. The more recent models have a 1 3/4 hp motor. When did that motor size come into effect

gwg wrote:What is the history of cutterhead motor size on Pro Planers? I am looking at a little used 1993 model(s/n 111192) with a 3/4 hp Emerson motor. This is the Pro Planer model as it has the cast iron table. The more recent models have a 1 3/4 hp motor. When did that motor size come into effect

I am surprised that a 3/4 hp motor was ever used on a SS Pro Planer that had a SS supplied motor.

I do not know the date, but it makes sense that the larger 1.75 hp motor was introduced with the pulley change(speed increase).

Before the motorized control feed rate, wasn't there a manual crank planer by Shopsmith and were they any good? I'm curious too about the older 12" power planers, such as quality, snipe issues if any and longevity. Nick Engler's servicing video on the new units is very helpful and indicates lots of little issues to lookout for.

brad_nalor wrote:Before the motorized control feed rate, wasn't there a manual crank planer by Shopsmith and were they any good? I'm curious too about the older 12" power planers, such as quality, snipe issues if any and longevity. Nick Engler's servicing video on the new units is very helpful and indicates lots of little issues to lookout for.

I owned a Mark V mounted planer with the manual feed. Worked great! Gave me and my family some quality time together.......me feeding the wood into the planer and them cranking the feed crank. Only difference between that planer and others I have owned was the crank. Technically, you can more cuts per foot with the manual feed planer as you can really feed it slooooooooow.

I am wondering if the 3/4" hp Emerson was someone's replacement. I'll have to find the documentation I have for when the planer was introduced.

I can only talk about the manual feed, shopsmith mount version.


It does a very good job, and as Rob pointed feed rate can be manually made verrry sloooow which makes verrry smooooth cuts. As far as snipe is concerned, I have the older soft feed rollers and they will introduce some very small snipe as the workpiece exits the feed roller, but applying a slight upward pressure on the workpiece minimizes that(holds the trailing end tight against the table).

Other than the depth of cut crank, the feed motors etc, and the bed and power input, there is no difference that I am aware of.