Fitting a Wixey Planer Gauge to a 15" Thicknesser - my experience

**SilentButDeadly** · 8th January 2008, 01:37 PM

Hey y'all

I took advantage of Woodworking Supplies special on the Wixey Digital Planer Gauge before Xmas with the intention of fitting it to our Carbatec CT-381 15" thicknesser.....which is the one with the fixed cutterhead but moving table.

Given that the Wixeywas really designed for the tiddler benchtop grade of thicknesser then it was always going to be interesting....

Turned out to be very straightforward

I had some 25mm square gal tube 700mm long which I sectioned diagonally for the top 90mm leaving an L shaped section. This section was drilled on the left with one 15mm hole and twice on the rear with 8mm holes. It was then attached to the cutter head - the anti kickback finger bar went thru the 15mm hole and was affixed with the existing nut while the two screws that formerly held the measuring scale now went thru the 8mm holes. Very solid fitment.

I replaced the existing red needle with a new L shaped paddle. This was bolted to an vertical extension bar which in turn was connected to the Wixey module. The Wixey frame was screwed to the outside face of the gal tube so when you face the table winder you face the Wixey. To preserve the manual scale I screwed a stainless steel ruler to the infeed side of the gal tube and lined it up with the top edge of the L shaped paddle.

I've no photos but hopefully the diagram below gives you some idea of the fitment

Over all it works well. The only thing is that the Wixey doesn't have the same operating length as the thicknesser height so it's possible to bottom out the Wixey before the thicknesser table....so you have to be careful that the bolts on the vertical extension bar are only finger tight lest you damage the Wixey whilst you are whittling big chunks of timber.

For extra stiffness you could also bolt the lower end of the gal tube to the thicknesser base....but I can't see the need as yet.

**rod1949** · 8th January 2008, 02:32 PM

Thanks SBD,

I've still to fit mine. I'll keep this post in mind.

**Waldo** · 9th January 2008, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by SilentButDeadly

The only thing is that the Wixey doesn't have the same operating length as the thicknesser height so it's possible to bottom out the Wixey before the thicknesser table....so you have to be careful that the bolts on the vertical extension bar are only finger tight lest you damage the Wixey whilst you are whittling big chunks of ti

G'day SilentButDeadly,

So what is the maximum height of the Wixley? I've been meaning for a long time now to fit a digital gauge to my CTJ-381, but haven't got there yet. I know H&F have a model that gives the full height.

If you can pics would be great.

**Big Shed** · 9th January 2008, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Waldo

So what is the maximum height of the Wixley?

According to PWS website 6"-150mm.

**Waldo** · 9th January 2008, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Big Shed

According to PWS website 6"-150mm.

Damn, way short of the 200mm+ of the thicknesser, looks like it'll be the H&F job.

**SilentButDeadly** · 10th January 2008, 12:37 PM

Yep, it's only 150mm.

BUT

The way I've fitted the Wixey means that I can adjust the connector bars to cope with this limited range.

In all truth, when you use a thicknesser you typically operate over a very reduced range....probably less than 20mm.

And the only reason I bought the Wixy was to ensure repeatability when processing large batches of similar timber - so all I'll do is process one piece to the size I want, then zero the Wixey, insert the next piece and then reduce that till the Wixy goes to zero again. I've never intended for it to be a measuring tool to replace the height gauge only a repeatability tool.....

That said....can you show me which page of the H&F catalogue this bigger gauge is on?

**Waldo** · 10th January 2008, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by SilentButDeadly

That said....can you show me which page of the H&F catalogue this bigger gauge is on?

http://www.hareandforbes.com.au/sample_2/home.php
it's the one down bottom centre, 1-Axis Counter.

I hate how the H&F site works, it's on page 43 of the Metal Working Cattledog. But, before I do buy one or the other I'll probably wait until the next WW show and have a poke at the Wixey from PWS and decide from there. (I always for get something when I'm at the WWshows

)

**SilentButDeadly** · 10th January 2008, 04:06 PM

You mean this page? I have seen these before too but Oh well!!

Hmmmm....Wixey was $79 plus postage and this H&F is $89 + $129 plus postage. That's big bucks for an extra 50mm

**rod1949** · 10th January 2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by SilentButDeadly

Hmmmm....Wixey was $79 plus postage and this H&F is $89 + $129 plus postage. That's big bucks for an extra 50mm

Jeez I"d gladly pay that for an extra 50mm

**lesmeyer** · 16th January 2008, 11:10 PM

Hi,
I have the CT381 thicknesser from CT and have fitted the digital gauge sold by CT. They sell for about $199 and have a full 200mm range. I also added the extra digital display which attaches to the top surface but this would not be required, only nice to have.
Les

**lesmeyer** · 16th January 2008, 11:14 PM

In fact the above deal from Hafco is an excellent deal. I paid alsmost double for the same.
Les

**bsrlee** · 18th January 2008, 08:28 PM

If you have a look at the Wixey site, they have a special extended fitting kit for large planner/thicknessers, as well as a completely re-designed digital head - it looks like the one for the table saw kit.

Both are available from Wixey for retrofits, nothing about them on the local PWS site.

**Waldo** · 18th January 2008, 11:35 PM

Regarding Bsrlee's above post with reference to the Wixey http://www.wixey.com/planer/index.html and that PWS have the Australian stockists of Wixey, I wonder if there was enough interest if he do a smallish bulk order?

I know i said I like the H&F version as it goes up to 200mm, but $60 US

Whatdaya think?

**Gwhat** · 20th January 2008, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Waldo

Regarding Bsrlee's above post with reference to the Wixey http://www.wixey.com/planer/index.html and that PWS have the Australian stockists of Wixey, I wonder if there was enough interest if he do a smallish bulk order?

I know i said I like the H&F version as it goes up to 200mm, but $60 US

Whatdaya think?

Hi all

From what I can see the H&F unit is a straight digital scale, whereas the Wixey is a dedicated Planer Gauge that is easily calibrated etc. The new WR510 will be here on a few weeks and only differs from the old model in that the 'screen' is angled upwards, it still has a 150mm range. The heads will be available as a spare part around $35 - $40.

Later in 2008 there will be a dedicated Planer Gauge for the 'moving table' type planers.

Yes, we're always interested in working with groups to put together bulk orders.

Regards

The Woodworker.

**Waldo** · 20th January 2008, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gwhat

The new WR510 will be here on a few weeks and only differs from the old model in that the 'screen' is angled upwards, it still has a 150mm range. The heads will be available as a spare part around $35 - $40.

Later in 2008 there will be a dedicated Planer Gauge for the 'moving table' type planers.

Yes, we're always interested in working with groups to put together bulk orders.

Regards

The Woodworker.

G'day Grahame,

How will the WR510 differ from the one to come out later this year? I ask as my thicknesser, the CTJ-381, falls into the moving table category.

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