Thread: What is the best benchtop thickneesser for between $400-$500 ?

No affiliation with these products or stores but the masters brand 909's gimmick is that it has 909 days warranty, so no real reason to go the ozito assuming all things being equal

Originally Posted by andrew7

Interested to see your impression on the Masters one. Also make sure replacement blades are cheap/available?
I'm also considering the Carbatec Spiral or Dewalt but if the Masters one is ok then I'll give it a go, even if you have to a bit of sanding afterwards its a saving of $600.
Also the Ozitto will have 3 year warranty for the extra $100.

I know budget is a bigcosideration (its always present when i'm looking to buy anything)but please consider a few things to look out for.
I had a “cheap”benchtop thicknesser as my first and it was ok for about 18 months ofreasonably regular use. But as time went on things started wearingprematurely, broke or stopped working. First the spindle lock woreout and stopped working, the spindle bearings let go cracking themotor housing, the main chassis (containing motor et al) went out ofadjustment causing variation in thickness from one side of themachine to the other, dust extraction was never great and the digitalheight gauge lost position regularly. Individually they are smallniggles but put together amounts to lots of frustration.
Now...i was of the sameopinion as most, buy something cheap now, save for something betterlater but all that cost me was frustration and double the outlay. Ifpossible, i would try to wait, even a couple of months and make theJet your starting point (its already near the top of your budgetanyway currently at $450). That way you atleast have a machine with aquality reputation and some back-up. The amount of use is also afactor, if its only used once in while the a budget machine is theway to go.
In the end i suppose itsyour decision on which way to go. Just thought i would add to thediscussion.

Steven.

spokeshave,

What machine was that you had? Was it the HAFCO thicknesser?


I went to Masters and had a look at the 909 thicknesser. $297. I asked what happens if it was to break down etc. They said that if it does, it is not to be returned back to Masters, but to one of their authorised repair shops somewhere. Hmmm.

Also, a new set of blades are $45, but they did not have any in stock so it would have to be an order in item.

Originally Posted by Apples

spokeshave,

What machine was that you had? Was it the HAFCO thicknesser?

Yes the T330. It was a great machine for the first 18 months, then the issues started. I have now updated.

The JET benchtop thicknesser for $449 Jet Benchtop 12" Thicknesser : CARBA-TEC

Vs

the HAFCO T330 For $495 W805 | T-330 Deluxe Thicknesser | machineryhouse.com.au



Surely the Hafco is the better option here, with the cutter head lock and the fast and slow in feed speeds?

But you are saying that after a while it started falling apart and the JET benchtop is better? The JET benchtop looks very much the same as the other bench top units going. Like the Masters 909 for $297, is there $150 extra, in getting that JET over the cheaper 909???

But the Hafco unit compared to the JET, and Ryobi from bunnings looks to have more features for only another $50 bucks...


I wonder if I got the HAFCO unit if it would be possible to easily pre-empt (is that how you spell it???) the issues that you had. And maybe tighten things up etc...??

Originally Posted by Apples

The JET benchtop thicknesser for $449 Jet Benchtop 12" Thicknesser : CARBA-TEC

Vs

the HAFCO T330 For $495 W805 | T-330 Deluxe Thicknesser | machineryhouse.com.au



Surely the Hafco is the better option here, with the cutter head lock and the fast and slow in feed speeds?

But you are saying that after a while it started falling apart and the JET benchtop is better? The JET benchtop looks very much the same as the other bench top units going. Like the Masters 909 for $297, is there $150 extra, in getting that JET over the cheaper 909???

But the Hafco unit compared to the JET, and Ryobi from bunnings looks to have more features for only another $50 bucks...


I wonder if I got the HAFCO unit if it would be possible to easily pre-empt (is that how you spell it???) the issues that you had. And maybe tighten things up etc...??

It didnt exactly start falling apart. I must admit (and have mentioned in another thread) that mine was an early build. I purchased it not long after release so most of the issues may be rectified by now.

Steven.

For what it's worth, we bought a Talon 12" wide thicknesser about 4 years ago, when Deals Direct were selling a bunch bought from a liquidator. They were a $430 machine, reduced to $200 plus freight of $35 at the time - a fair deal.
Its innards looks like the Carbatec one, and the frame is similar, but the rise & fall wheel is on the top of this.

I was previously considering getting a Ryobi or some similar little piece of junk, but the price reduction on this Talon made it too tempting, plus my aversion to all things Ryobi due to some more recent issues and lack-of-warranty when they frommed Mitre-10 as a supplier.

However, having used it on & off for a few years, I can say that it's good for pine & silky oak & light stuff.
Don't think of trying to shove a 6"x3" of ironbark or spotted gum through, or you'll spend as much effort pushing the timber through as if you hand planed it all without electricity!

For anything in the seasoned hardwood stakes, I go back to the trusty 3 phase 5 hp Jeffwood thicknesser-you just can't beat those old beasts! (unless you have a snazzy Dewalt & a spiral head, perhaps!)

Well I was hoping that I could run these through....



20130901_170753.jpg20130901_170825.jpg

You do have a jointer don't you?

lol, no. But I have a triton workcentre with planer attachment and a router table. I figure I can fit a 100mm cutter to the router table and edge joint that way, or with the planer attachment.

Those pine sleepers will pull into place. I can always make a sled up to cut the bow out???? I wonder if the GMC/Masters 909 thicknesser will pull a pine sleeper through, let alone on a sled?

Dunno about facing anything wider that 100mm though.

Just watching with interest. Thinking about getting a thicknesser also. I do like the dewalt, but at $900 a bit pricey!

You get what you pay for ! Remember that thicknessing timber places a huge amount of stress on the machine's components - bearings, blades, chains, and rollers. If you are going to be dressing lots of hardwood eg jarrah, ironbark and other Australian timbers, the cheap ones will not last long. Get something that meets your requirements and lasts a long time.
I have a 2nd hand Elektra Beckum 330 (Metabo, Germany), and it handles the hard wood well, and has lasted a few years now without any trouble. Recently put through 3 jarrah boards 2400 L x 240W no problems ( freshly sharpened blades). Only problem is it is so noisy. Would love spiral cutter

Curious, what did you end up deciding on?

Nothing yet. Right now I have too much other stuff on at the moment. I nearly pull the trigger on the cheapo 909 form masters, but held off. I have managed to salvage some reasonable bits of old timber pallets though.