Shopsmith Forums

I have the option of buying a Shopsmith planer, originally a headstock drive type now converted to stand mount. The wood drive motor is only 1/2 hp.(the attached cutter drive motor is the usual 1/20 hp). Do you think this will be satisfactory considering the Pro Planer has a 1 3/4 hp motor.

Are you confusing the feed motors with the wood cutter motors? I know the stand-alone planer has a 1.75 cutter motor and also uses pulleys to achieve a mechanical/fast advantage.

I know the feed motor on the Pro Planer is more expensive than the Mark V planer. That's all I know.

the planer will surely be "under powered" with a 1/2 hp motor. larger hp motors are very expensive so be sure to consider that if you buy. i would take an oak board 8" to 10" wide with me when i went to look at it to see how it performs and i am sure it will not handle a 1/8" pass. if the price is right i would still buy it as you could mount it on your shopsmith to use until you get a larger hp motor.

Thank you for your comments. The planer is not available for trial as it will be shipped to me if purchased. Since I have a $200 shipping cost, that would bring the total to $650. The rollers appear to be rubberized, there is no wood chip removal attachment, and I am unclear on the state of the pulley ratio. The total cost with these considerations if beginning to mount. Any further comments?

gwg wrote:The planer is not available for trial as it will be shipped to me if purchased. Since I have a $200 shipping cost, that would bring the total to $650. Any further comments?

MAKE SURE it's packed WELL. It can be damaged by poor packing when shipped.

I'd pass on buying that planer.

A 1/2 horse power motor is hardly sufficient for a planer. Additionally, the rubber infeed roller was used on older planers, whereas newer models use a knurled steel infeed roller. The rubber ones can lose their grip over time. Upgrading to a new 1 1/2 HP motor and a new infeed roller will likely set you back a couple hundred dollars minimum. And, as Beeg said, it could be damaged in transit.

The $650 price seems quite high for that system which in all likelyhood will be underpowered and may arrive with issues from shipping. I guess I'd probably wait for a better deal... but I don't know your circumstances. I waited for a while to find mine and then drove 3 hrs each way to make the purchase at a very below-market price. Deals do come up from time-to-time.