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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
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    Wollongong
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    Default Durden T520 thicknesser VS Jet JWP-208-3 20" thicknesser.

    Hey all!

    I hope this doesn't get on some of your nerves, but this is gonna be a "what thicknesser will best suit my needs"? sorta post. So apologies in advance.

    I've recently decided to turn my hobby into a business. I've been using a Dewalt thicknesser to do the bulk of my milling so far, but as i've become busier than usual, the Dewalt simply ain't cutting it anymore. Since I'm using recycled hardwood ranging from 90x35 to 240x45 - i'll process about 15m of 240's and maybe 45m of 90x35's until the blades are blunt (both sides) and the machine flipping the circuit breaker!
    Anyway, I knew for a while that I'd need a bigger machine - but I've never physically used one in a tafe/apprenticeship situation before. I'm hesitant to take the leap because I'm on a tight budget. What I've come across so far is a Durden T520 and a Jet JWP-208- 3 20". The Durden has a 3 phase 7.5HP motor and the jet has a 3phase 5HP motor. I'm wondering If I'm to mill, hypothetically, 100m of 240x45 to say 35mm thickness, which one would be the best option? will the Durden take off 3mm each pass without any sign of stress all day - or would the Jet be able to handle this amount of work too? I figure the Durden is the winner, but will the Jet do almost as much work for less money?

    Any advice will be greatly appreciated! So far it's been near impossible to find any useful info on the Durden thicknesser!

    Cheers,

    Jack

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Caroline Springs, VIC
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    Default

    I have no experience with either machine, and the only specs I have available is what you have supplied and a bunch of assumptions such as approx 75mm cutterblock diameter, 4500-5500rpm, 1.5mm cutter projections, 6-9m/min feed etc etc. I believe both machines will easily handle 240mm wide/3mm deep passes @9meters/min. One way to be sure is to test it out before you buy. Ask the guy selling the machine to take 3mm off a piece of your 240x45 recycled hardwood in a single pass.

    One thing to keep in mind is if you decided to upgrade the cutterblock to a helical head. Helical heads require more power to do the same amount of work.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,470

    Default

    The Durden in my opinion would be the better machine however in saying that the company no longer supports the product and in a commercial situation it could mean long down times while you have parts made, I think you find 3mm is a big ask of either machine as neither are considered full industrial and it sounds to me that is what you should be looking for

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Wollongong
    Posts
    20

    Default

    Yeah, I definitely will be trying them out before I buy. I guess the Durden would give me the option to upgrade the 4 knife cutter to a helical cutter later on down the track. I know helical provide a super smooth finish, but do the blades last very long on em?

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Wollongong
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    Default

    @ China

    I'm not in a commercialised setting. I've got a small 50sqm workshop making custom furniture. Full industrial isn't what I'm after, but something that's gonna last me a fair few years and work consistently for a full day if I want it to. If I have two jobs on I prefer to mill everything from both jobs first - if i can achieve that in a 1-2 days i'd be stocked! Even if it's taking 1-2mm off I'd be happy- as long it keeps powering through and i'm not wasting my time replacing blades and waiting for them to be re-sharpened or re-stocked. The durden looks solid enough in this regard, but it would be a pain to source parts if it failed in any way. The long down times wouldn't be a huge deal - I can get a local architectural hardwood joinery to mill some boards for me. Though he's a tad expensive.. Maybe I'm just hoping these machines will do the work since they're the only ones that I can afford, haha.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
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    4,470

    Default

    The Durden is a very reliable machine I just thought I would point out that parts are no longer easy to obtain, that machine was used in many technical colleges around Australia a few even went to Papua Nugini

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Wollongong
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    Default

    cheers man! Looking at it now I think the 7.5 HP would be the sweet spot for a small workshop setting. Seems like it would provide ours of work without any trouble. The jet might get the job done well enough and a lot cheaper too. Anyone had experience using these machines??

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