portable thicknesser?

[Wild Dingo]

In my readings Ive often seen pictures and heard much ado about these small thicknessers that the yanks seem to have in every shed at a paultry cost in finances... probably equate to a small fortune here! :rolleyes: .. they do stock of about 12" but have never seen one up close and personal! Dewalt I think is the most popular one Ive seen yellow body anyway :rolleyes:

Are they any good or should one try to fork for a more expensive one... on that note whats one worth here???... and on that note where would one get one here?!! Ive looked through Bunnys and Colli but nothing I guess Im gonna have to hoof it to one of them specialist woodworking tool shops up in the smoke eh?

Wanna buy tools but dont wanna by crap! ideas thoughts suggestions welcomed... oohh and were not made of money! :(

[Robert WA]

I have a DeWalt and it is a good machine, but there are others that are much cheaper. Carbatec and Timbecon in Perth carry a variety. I am sure they would be available somewhere in Bunbury if you prefer to head south. Whatever you get needs to be solid. You will get plenty of recommendations.

The machines are wonderful if you work with rough milled or salvaged timber but you also need to be able to get square straight edges. If you buy a thicknesser you will soon want a buzzer. Think about a combination machine, to do both jobs.

http://www.carbatecwa.com.au/

http://www.timbecon.com.au/index.asp

A noteable feature of these machines is that they are better at finding buried fasteners in salvaged timber than almost anything else, particularly if you have just fitted new or sharpened blades.

[Wild Dingo]

Thanks Robert!

Now a couple of suggestions if you will mate... budget not unlimited around $3000 - $3500 tops cant see her loveliness possumpoop comin at lettin me snuffle anymore than that unless Im righteously lucky! which I aint cause as you can see I aint got that lotto cheque in me mitt!

Table saw {or should I make my own table and just add my Matebo to it? will a Matebo fit on a Triton??? dont know that I really want a triton look kinda fiddly and unsolid to me}
Thicknesser/jointer
Lathe
Router and table {or should I make my own? If so where to get ideas plans from?}
Bandsaw

And thats just for starters!! Then theres a dust system bits and blades arboteck thing for the grinder cause I think I can feel an arty farty moment coming on:D

Sooo can I do it for the figure shes given me? or do I need to adjust my grip on possumpoops wallet strings??:eek:

[Iain]

$3.5K should get you going, wave your dollars under the noses of the likely recipients and aggle like buggery with the threat of going somewhere else and I'll bet the greedy bastards will work out a deal to fill your garage and their cash register.
Reckon I could get a good saw (table saw, not a make believe one) thicknesser, jointer and extractor for that, and all would be premium quality.
Start by playing off two or three retailers against each other.

[Robert WA]

Yes, your Metabo saw will, almost certainly, fit into a Triton work centre. A lot of people love Triton gear and swear by it. It is not my choice, but it is an economical option. They are for sale second hand quite often.
Iain is spot on. If you take your time, shop around and haggle, you will get what you want for your money. If you are a bit mechanical, and know what you are looking for, you may be able to get some stuff second hand and then buy a bandsaw as well with the change.
Don't get caught up in the "brand name" or "appearance" thing. Tools is tools. They live in the shed, not in the living room. They don't have to look pretty, they just have to do the job.

[John Saxton]

Shane, Power Tools & Machinery Bunbury (Ken Ramage great bloke has also worked in the wood industry) or his brother Ray at their branch in Bayswater.
Cross Electrics also in Bunbury carry a range of Planers & Thicknessers.
Carba-tool in Balcatta, Northern Machinery in the same vicinity.

Alternately you could try the Mitre 10 stores who do carry the DeWalt range,but methinks with that pile you have at home something more serious will suffice for thee.

With the budget you have would you consider an over/under combination which would give you an access to not only a thicknesser but a planer for dressing out those boards for
square?

Those Small 12" thicknessers are OK but light and need to be bolted/clamped for serious work where the weight of the timber is concerned with infeed and out feed considerations also to be taken into account.

Good luck in your choice.
Cheers:)

[Wild Dingo]

Originally posted by John Saxton
With the budget you have would you consider an over/under combination which would give you an access to not only a thicknesser but a planer for dressing out those boards for
square?

Good luck in your choice.
Cheers:)

Thanks mate and thats about where my thoughts are heading... I am aiming at building a reasonably sized boat 25-40ft and should aim at getting the best value for the money that I can... thanks for the heads up with who to tackle!! :cool:

Robert ...Ive always considered that Triton simply looks too flimsy and was never a really serious choice just going on thoughts and suggestions from some others... would have to have a go on one before I settled on purchase but gut feeling is its gonna be too light... preference is for heavy duty gear... its going to get some serious hammering over the time I use it! ;)