Thread: Thicknesser for recycled wood

For that money I'd be going with this option http://www.carbatec.com.au/carba-tec...cknesser_c2610 I haven't seen the Ozito thicknesser but some of their other stuff if fairly cheap and nasty. I think seasoned hardwood would be a real test for it over the longer term. Oregon shouldn't be a problem.

I'm in the process of buying my first thicknesser as well and have decided on this one Gregory Machinery - Thicknessers - Jet JWP12

Hi,

I'd just like to say that in my experience buy as good as you can afford.
Although the cheap machinery seems attractive, you will spend more time setting these machines up and then again after putting a few boards through.

You would be better of with a good second hand unit rather than the cheap stuff.

Just my two cents worth.

Argy

agreed.

I'd also recommend running over the timber with a wire brush before machining to get any grit off; you'll get more life from the blades that way

I got mine from Hare & Forbes and its a hafco, I'm loving it. I had a look at the Ozitto one I am no expert but I say stay away from it I had a close look at an open one there at bunnings, it didnt look too good to me so I went to Hare & Forbes, and all of the above.
Cheers!

Hi, I agree with all comments made, I purchased a Carba-Tec handyman thicknesser, it copes fine with recycled decking hardwood and a variety of other woods but don't ask it to do heavy duty planning.

I stuck a piece of 100 year old wharf timber - 70mm Ironbark through it and it nearly had a heart attack!!!

Since I mainly make small boxes it does the job but I am getting a Jet JPT-260 which will cope with bigger material. Also look at the Woodfast combo machine.

For $1600 - $1800 which is pretty affordable for the machine your getting, save your pennies and get a proper jointer and or thicknesser.

Milo

Hi Optima,
I have a Ryobi bench top thicknesser.
I cannot fault it.
I don't think the original blades are very good quality, but I will improve on them when they need replacing.
As has been said, with recycled wood, wire brush it. If you have a compressor, then blow all the dust off the wood.

The real success of these little machines, is to take the absolute minimum off your timber in each pass.
Sounds boring and it is. "BUT", it is worth the end result if you have a little patience.

Our local, Men's Shed has just bought the table top Rockwell thicknesser, this seem to be a similar type of machine and I can see, given careful treatment it will be a good investment.

BUT, remember, you get what you pay for and your treatment of these cheaper tools will determine their life.

Paul.

I have the Ozito thicknesser from Bunnings and have had it for over 4 years now. It has never missed a beat but I mostly use pine to thickness. In that time I have thicnessed heaps of timber and as yet not had the blades sharpened or replaced. Milo stuck a piece of 100 year old Iron bark through a thicknesser and I think that would be enough to make any thicknesser have a heart attack.
Its all well and good someone saying save your pennies and wait until you can afford a more expensive one and suggests a machine costing $1600 to $1800 as being a reasonable priced machine.
I am not doubting the quality of such a machine but it is a far cry from a $400 machine so one would expect it to do a better job and be of higher quality but for some of us, unfortunately, saving those extra pennies is not that easy and we have to manage with something a little less expensive. I guess the ozito may not handle hardwoods as well as the more expensive machines but they do serve a purpose and depending on what timber you will be thicknessing mostly, would determine the quality of the machine you would purchase.
I can only speak for myself of course but for me the Ozito has been a fantastic little machine.
As mentioned above I have had my cheapie over 4 years and I don't treat it kindly and it has never let me down.

G'day mate,

good sharp tungsten blades in any thinniner with respect to the depth of cut will do the job for you, but remember thinniners only do that but they don't straighten, so best not to get too waylaid with technical stuff just make the things for the kids so they don't get any splinters. I use a Tracker metal detector I got from Dick Smith for about $30 bucks, it will find a pin head nail in any wood. But you have to dig it out

Cheers Oddjob1

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

agreed.

I'd also recommend running over the timber with a wire brush before machining to get any grit off; you'll get more life from the blades that way

I would also add - use an old set of blades for the first cuts - keep a "good" set for finishing.

- avoid putting painted timber through it - if you really do need to then have a set of blades for this purpose.

If you don't have a set of blades for this purpose - you probably soon will have as recycling always gets you a set.

Originally Posted by Bob38S

I would also add - use an old set of blades for the first cuts - keep a "good" set for finishing.

- avoid putting painted timber through it - if you really do need to then have a set of blades for this purpose.

If you don't have a set of blades for this purpose - you probably soon will have as recycling always gets you a set.

I fully agree with Bob's suggestion.

Before you buy anything, check the availability and price of replacement blades - you might get a surprise.

Use your old, sacrificial blades for rough work, good blade for finish work. Don't say you don't have some old blades - if you recycle then you soon will have.

Cheers

Graeme

I agree with everyone's comments!

The Ozito, Carbatec, Ryobi machines will do the job just fine on small projects and like others have said just take the minimum of cut and you will be fine.

I will keep my little Carby thicky for small jobs but if you can in the future try get a combo jointer/thicky machine it will open up new horizions....

Good luck!