Planer/jointer Vs Planer & jointer

[chrisb691]

I'm ready to start seriously making some boxes, and would like use a variety of timber and size it myself. I have been looking around at planers and jointers, looking for what will suit my needs, budget, and the space I have available. I have fitted my 10" bandsaw, with good blades from
C & S, and can now do a reasonable job of re-sawing to 4". But I would need to joint it, and thickness it.

I have been looking at these (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250184158493&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:AU:1123) on ebay. They would fit my budget, available space, and timber size needs. I would like an opinion as to whether it is a usable purchase, or maybe a total waste of money. But bear in mind, that I have no intent, at this time, of making anything large. This may change in time, then I would re-think my needs then.

If this is a no-go, then I would most likely buy a carba-tec 6" bench jointer. This wont be terribly usful, on it's own, until I can get a thicknesser to go with it, and that will be a few months away.

Any thoughts are welcome.

[Koala-Man]

I have been looking at these (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250184158493&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:AU:1123) on ebay.

I think I've seen a jointer-thicknesser version of these on ebay and possibly elsehwere. I seem to recall that they've got fairly noisy, high-revving motors.

I'd be interested to know what the old hands think of them.

[AlexS]

It looks like a version of the ML 392. People have had mixed experiences with them - check out "The ongoing saga of the ML392". That said, I think Carbatec have fixed most of the problems with the ML392. That looks like a late model, or it may be the same machine with a different badge.

Check it out - put some wood through it. All jointer/thicknessers are noisy.

I have an ML392 and after doing the Carbatec upgrade to the drive wheel and putting in bearings in place of the bush, I'm pretty happy with it. BUT...dedicated jointer and thicknesser are always better than a combi machine if you have the $$ and space.

[markharrison]

A somewhat over generalisation. There are good combination machines but not in this price range.

[derekcohen]

If you are concentrating on boxes, you could consider a thicknesser along with a hand plane (such as a short jointer like Stanley #6 or a LV LA Jack). Use the hand plane to flatten one side, then thickness the boards.

Alternatively, just get a thicknesser and add a sled for it so that it can function as a (wide) planer as well.

Personally, I think a planer on its own is not a good plan.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Wood Borer]

You can do all those tasks using handplanes like Derek said. It will take a little longer but what's the hurry? You can resaw small pieces of timber and plane them in under half an hour.

The thicknessing is not the biggest time consumer when making a box. I'd suggest mucking around with the hinges takes longer than thicknessing by hand.

I have got away without either a thicknesser or a joiner for over 25 years mainly because my shed was too small. Now I have one (combination) still in it's wrapping waiting on the new shed:doh:

Using hand tools may give you enough breathing space until you can afford exactly what you want in the electron burning department. You may also discover you don't need a thicknesser/planer.

[BobL]

It looks like a version of the ML 392. People have had mixed experiences with them - check out "The ongoing saga of the ML392". That said, I think Carbatec have fixed most of the problems with the ML392. That looks like a late model, or it may be the same machine with a different badge.

Check it out - put some wood through it. All jointer/thicknessers are noisy.

I have an ML392 and after doing the Carbatec upgrade to the drive wheel and putting in bearings in place of the bush, I'm pretty happy with it. BUT...dedicated jointer and thicknesser are always better than a combi machine if you have the $$ and space.

While it does look like a 392, the one ebay is a 6" whereas the 392 is a 10" . I have seen these in Carbatec or Timbecon a while back but I notice they no longer sell them. Timbecon still sell the 6" planer - it turns at 10000 rpm while this one does 8000 rpm, they probably sound a bit like an angle grinder.

[chrisb691]

Thanks for the comments. Whilst no-one has actually been obviously anti the unit, I guess I'll sit back a while, and consider the suggestions made.