Shopsmith Forums

I think I brought this up B4 after this offering from SS. I am not bashing our "Mother", or trying to be contrair. I have 2 SS as old as me, and another one on the way, and in some ways in better shape, with "all there original equipment" still working, then me.
I just cant see the SS planer for $1400.00 that has to plug into a $3000.00+ SS to drive the cutter head. That is over 2x as much as, what I consider the best bench top planer, Delta, which is 2 speeds and planes perfectly and does not need a Mark V to drive it.
Do/will they last as long as the main SS that drives them with proper maintenance? Are they as convenient to use/set up as a separate stand alone one? You still need about the same foot print to store it when not on the SS as a stand alone. So what if any is the advantage?

Bob, I can't speak as to whether or not the price is justified. Only "mother" can do that with any authority. I can only say that I cannot justify spending that kind of $$. My Jointer is a 40 year old 6" Craftsman that serves me well.

EDIT Ooops!! read more carefully, Gene.

rbursek wrote:I think I brought this up B4 after this offering from SS. I am not bashing our "Mother", or trying to be contrair. I have 2 SS as old as me, and another one on the way, and in some ways in better shape, with "all there original equipment" still working, then me.
I just cant see the SS planer for $1400.00 that has to plug into a $3000.00+ SS to drive the cutter head. That is over 2x as much as, what I consider the best bench top planer, Delta, which is 2 speeds and planes perfectly and does not need a Mark V to drive it.
Do/will they last as long as the main SS that drives them with proper maintenance? Are they as convenient to use/set up as a separate stand alone one? You still need about the same foot print to store it when not on the SS as a stand alone. So what if any is the advantage?

Here's a thread with a number of opinions on this topic. And here's a thoughtful review over at LumberJocks.

I bought my 80's vintage Pro Planer used for $225. After tuning it up, I can hold 0.005" absolute thickness accuracy without even trying, and probably half that if I was motivated.

There's one for sale in Cincinnati right now for $175. Bargains do crop up now and again.

That Lumberjocks review and comments is thoroughly convincing.
Gotta get me one a them things.

The question was not would you buy a SS planer for $225 but rather would you buy one at retail for $1400? That is the question.

I see a lot of guys on this forum rave about SS equipment but you nail them down they paid less than a 1/4 of what I did when I bought my SS in 80's. Yes a $300 shopsmith is a great deal!!!!!!!! Start talking retail and suddenly they have all kinds of other options.

For $1400 you can buy a new 3 hp 15" stationary planer and many used 3 hp to 5 hp Powermatic, Delta, Oliver, Bessley and others.

Frankly if I thought the Shopsmith Planere was a good deal I would own it.

But instead I own a Delta bought cheap about 10-15 years ago and it is still running fine. I have two sets of replacement blades bought on close out that I doubt I will ever use at the rate I'm going through them. New ones in and they are double sided so unless I hit a nail they are good for many board feet of lumber.

One other thought you don't want a planer where the table is moved up and down to set depth of cut. It is better to have the power head move up and down. That way you can build solid infeed and outfeed roller tables to support the lumber

Ed in Tampa wrote:The question was not would you buy a SS planer for $225 but rather would you buy one at retail for $1400? That is the question.

I see a lot of guys on this forum rave about SS equipment but you nail them down they paid less than a 1/4 of what I did when I bought my SS in 80's. Yes a $300 shopsmith is a great deal!!!!!!!! Start talking retail and suddenly they have all kinds of other options.

For $1400 you can buy a new 3 hp 15" stationary planer and many used 3 hp to 5 hp Powermatic, Delta, Oliver, Bessley and others.

Frankly if I thought the Shopsmith Planere was a good deal I would own it.

But instead I own a Delta bought cheap about 10-15 years ago and it is still running fine. I have two sets of replacement blades bought on close out that I doubt I will ever use at the rate I'm going through them. New ones in and they are double sided so unless I hit a nail they are good for many board feet of lumber.

Actually, the OP posed several questions. One of which was "Do/will they last as long as the main SS that drives them with proper maintenance?". I've gotta believe that my response shed some light on that one.

Would I pay $1400 for a new one? No, because new machines in that price range are not in my budget. But I was prepared to pay $400-$500 for a used one if necessary, believing that to be a better deal than a new lunchbox planer with a similar price. Besides, why would I buy a new one when I can get a good used one so much cheaper?

You do have a point regarding the moving table, though, at least in theory. I was concerned about having to tweak infeed & outfeed tables constantly. But in practice, I have not yet had to use infeed or outfeed tables at all. I provide infeed support by hand, until the board is about half way through and well balanced. Then I let go, walk around to the other side, and provide outfeed support by hand. I got a few inches of snipe on some of my initial attempts, but quickly got the feel for proper support. Now, I rarely get any significant snipe .. meaning it's only a few thou that I don't even notice unless checking with calipers. The long rigid one-piece table, and perhaps some good roller assemblies, make it a lot easier than it sounds. Now that wouldn't be a good process for a production shop. And I suspect that when I try to plane a long really thick board, the sheer weight of the board will keep me from sensing the table/roller pressure, and snipe will result. But it's been fine for my purposes so far.

I've got an 80's vintage (whatever year they came out - I think 1985) SS planer I bought new. I upgraded the out feed roller when that came out, otherwise it's the same machine I bought 30 years ago. I've never had a problem with it, and it has always performed beautifully giving me the wood thickness I need. If memory serves me I paid $650 for it (not sure if that included shipping costs). Using inflation calculator the same planer (not really the same as mine doesn't have the cast iron deck, so isn't the Pro planer) should cost $1,879.40 in 2014. $1400 doesn't look so bad with them eye glasses on.

Now one of the factors in the SS planer that I have come to appreciate is I don't have a 300+ lb. machine sitting on my floor taking up space when I don't need it. It is also easy to connect my vacuum system to it, or run it on either of my two SS 500s. I like the variable speed capability, and I've always been able to use my roller stands on in feed and out feed w/o a problem. Also, blade maintenance isn't difficult and parts are available. I know there are options under 300 lbs., but when the SS planer is on the mother machine, you do have some weight that you don't get in bench top models, as well as easy mobility (it ain't screwed down to a bench top when you discover you need more room for a longer board )

Once again, look at SS's market target - high quality for the DYI home shop. If I had a cabinet shop, perhaps I would want that 15", 300 lb machine sitting in a dedicated shed with doors on in and out feed so as to accommodate a multitude of board lenghts. But that doesn't fit my needs.

In short, if I had to buy another I would pay $1400 as it is less than I paid in 1985, and I have the advantage today to know how good it is at fitting my needs.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Actually, the OP posed several questions. One of which was "Do/will they last as long as the main SS that drives them with proper maintenance?". I've gotta believe that my response shed some light on that one.

Would I pay $1400 for a new one? No, because new machines in that price range are not in my budget. But I was prepared to pay $400-$500 for a used one if necessary, believing that to be a better deal than a new lunchbox planer with a similar price. Besides, why would I buy a new one when I can get a good used one so much cheaper?

You do have a point regarding the moving table, though, at least in theory. I was concerned about having to tweak infeed & outfeed tables constantly. But in practice, I have not yet had to use infeed or outfeed tables at all. I provide infeed support by hand, until the board is about half way through and well balanced. Then I let go, walk around to the other side, and provide outfeed support by hand. I got a few inches of snipe on some of my initial attempts, but quickly got the feel for proper support. Now, I rarely get any significant snipe .. meaning it's only a few thou that I don't even notice unless checking with calipers. The long rigid one-piece table, and perhaps some good roller assemblies, make it a lot easier than it sounds. Now that wouldn't be a good process for a production shop. And I suspect that when I try to plane a long really thick board, the sheer weight of the board will keep me from sensing the table/roller pressure, and snipe will result. But it's been fine for my purposes so far.

Someone had to buy the $1400 machine so you could buy it later at a sharply reduced price. If no one buys a $1400 machine there won't be any $400 used ones to buy.


It is like the guy that was complaining he can't find a used Power Pro.
No kidding! There aren't many people that will buy SS 520 use it 5 times upgrade it to a power pro and then sell it for $400. It just ain't going to happen very often.

Back to the question would you pay $1400 for a SS Planer or would you buy a benchtop for $300-$600 instead? Forget about used deals and think about today's retail prices.

I think you answered like many of us. NO because $1400 isn't in your budget.

That begs the question how many people in woodworking today have that kind of budget and if they do would they buy a SS planer or spend $1200 and get a 3 hp 15" stationary planer instead.

Ed in Tampa wrote:
Back to the question would you pay $1400 for a SS Planer or would you buy a benchtop for $300-$600 instead? Forget about used deals and think about today's retail prices.

I think you answered like many of us. NO because $1400 isn't in your budget.

That begs the question how many people in woodworking today have that kind of budget and if they do would they buy a SS planer or spend $1200 and get a 3 hp 15" stationary planer instead.

I am accused by my wife and child of being stuck in a past era when it comes to spending cash. And I have to admit, $20 isn't what it used to be. I can hear them now when I get upset when breakfast costs $10/person. Ed, could it be you live in a 3 figure era? As I pointed out, $1400 is the $500 bill of another era. Just go price a car today if you question this.