Shopsmith Forums

After an eye-opening trip to the local lumber suppliers, I find myself very interested in getting a planer. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with or opinions of the Delta Model #22-540. 12" by 5.9" Portable Planer. There is one for sale locally for $135 including extra blades.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/tls/1717062574.html

Several times in the past I have recommended against planers powered with universal type electric motors. Cutting to the chase, other than excessive noise ( probably over 90 dBA), the older model planers usually do a poor job of dust collection, and a planer generates more dust and chips than any other tool in the shop.

For these two reasons, if your shop is in the basement or attached garage, the rest of your family will get to hate this tool pretty quickly.

I had a Delta 12" planer a few years back, but don't recall the model number. The only issue as I recall was snipe at the leading and trailing end of a board, but I believe that's typical with most of the light planers. You can always run boards one after the other, butting the ends of boards together to prevent the snipe on all but the first and last boards (or use sacrificial boards as the first and last boards). Additionally, they are noisy. They do produce some chips, so hopefully you can rig some sort of dust collection to it.

The price seems reasonable, especially with the extra blades. If you go to look at it, take a couple of boards with you to ensure it works.

Snipe is typical of most "short table" planers. Extending the outfeed platform, especially when working on long stock, reduces the propensity for snipe.

I am not qualified to comment on the small Delta planer as I have never used one.

I think my Shopsmith ProPlaner would hold its own against any planer in its class and then some. I do have a minor and intermittent sniping problem on long stock.

I have a Delta 12" planer and I doubt find it too loud. I'm able to use it in the garage without disturbing the family or the neighbors. It does make a mess with the shavings and chips though.

Sigh -- there's that whole "you get what you pay for" thing at work here. I got a bit spoiled because my SS 500 was a huge bang-for-the-buck and now I'm waking up to the reality of tool prices.

paulrussell wrote:After an eye-opening trip to the local lumber suppliers, I find myself very interested in getting a planer. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with or opinions of the Delta Model #22-540. 12" by 5.9" Portable Planer. There is one for sale locally for $135 including extra blades.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/tls/1717062574.html

Make an offer around $100 and see what happens. My personal opinion is this is the way to go. I have the Delta 22-580 and it is super. I have had my planer for about 6 years now with absolutely no problem.

Snipe? Show me a planer that doesn't have snipe! Most can be adjusted so the snipe isn't noticeable but I don't know of a planer made for the home workshop that doesn't have some degree of snipe.

The current plan:
Offer $100 for Delta to allow me to move forward on my wooden gear clock projects.
At the same time enter into lurking grasshopper mode (thanks Rob! ) in wait for a SS jointer & planer at an affordable price. Think of the Delta as sort of a shop-level catch & release.

Paul,

IMHO, if you don't have jointer yet and you have the floor space I would look into getting a 6" jointer. There are several on criagslist in the Detroit area for $100 to $150.

Sincerely,

Ron