DeWalt Portable Planer

[Mark Woodward]

If anyone's used the DeWalt 12-1/2" Portable planer that Ive seen at Mitre 10 for $1050, I'd really appreciate there comments. Does this seem a fair price? Is it any good?
Thanks,
Mark Woodward

[Neil Ellis]

Mark

I thought you said money was an option. Does this mean you have it to splash around. I took it to be that you were on a bit of a budget.

If the latter is the case then why not have a look in a shop that specialises in selling machinery etc. and get an item that represents good value for money. It may be that the De Walt is the best around but you would do well to talk to people who are specialists in the field rather than those who sell it because it is what's in this months catalogue.

If the specialists tell you it is a great tool and the price from Mitre 10 is right then by all means buy it there. However you might be surprised what spending an extra $50 will get you from the right dealer. Surely there is someone in your area that sells machinery etc. if not go to Sydney for a day, check out Carba Tec and some of the others. Get the yellow pages and let your fingers do the walking, you will find plenty of outlets in there.

I don't know of the tool you mention but I do know that there are possibly better solutions for your needs and if you get the wrong tool/machine you will probably regret it for a very long time.

Just my oppinion.
Cheers
Neil Ellis http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

[Mark Woodward]

Yep you were right Neil, money is an option! I've put aside $3000 ( yes the wife knows!) just to set up a functional workshop. Once that's gone that's it, so I want to do it right the first time. It just seems every book I read on woodworking says "make sure your stock is flat and square etc to start with" and "if you're trying to do it with a hand plane - good luck!". How true is it?
There is a woodworking club where I live (Dubbo NSW) so I'll get in contact with them. The Mrs is from Sydney, so next visit to the mother in law I'll try to get to Carba-Tec or the like. I Guess $1000 is a big slice out of my budget, but I'm happy to part with it if it's on the right gear.(Which I guess is half the problem. I Don't really know what "the right gear" IS!!)
Thanks for your informative reply. I'll certainly use the advice.
Mark
(PS - as you can probably work out, I'm pretty new to woodworking, so you'll possibly get sick of my 'ignorant' questions. Maybe we could have a "novices corner" thread?)


[This message has been edited by Mark Woodward (edited 17 August 1999).]

[Rod Smith]

I looked at one of these planers secondhand a while ago, I don't know how much use it had, but the rubber drive rollers were worn beyond imagination. Most of dewalts range is good quality though so they should be good. Be careful of the asian imports, quality varies a lot, and if theres anything in the workshop that you want to be a straight and true machine its the buzzer. A friend of mine bought one of those 12 1/2" thicknessers from Hafco, and is very happy with it. Perhaps an option if you decide against the Dewalt would be one of those thicknessers and look out for a secondhand quality buzzer, you should get one for under $300 if your patient, and quick. I'm certainly not ruling out the DW though, the one I saw probably had a lot of use, and you can replace the rollers eventually anyway. Good luck.

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[Rod Smith]

I jumped to the wrong conclusion about the Dewalt machine you were talking about, I thought you meant there over and under machine, buzzer and thicknesser. Sorry bout that. Rod

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