Thread: HEADS-UP - Talon 13 inch thicknesser

I have been thinking about powering the digital readout from the mains power but on reflection, it would need a separate power supply and is likely not worth the effort. In the unlikely event that I do come up with something innovative, I will post it here.

Mine just arrived, works well, got to be happy with that, on one small thing needs a longer screw for the snipe lock..but you can buy a lot of screws for the money saved!!!

Cheers

Steve

They're back to $249+ freight now.

I wonder if they'll drop again? (Somebody please tell me when they do!)

Stewey,

Even at $249 they are a bargain....stop procrastinating and get your money out. I have one and it is great, you won't regret it.

Soon there will be tears because you have missed out.

Anthony

Got the talon thicknesser today and gave it a try out on some 4 by 2 tassie oak - all worked fine. Much better finish than I am used to with the handheld power planer and easy to use. Very happy.

Now I think I will order the talon saw as well.

This is my first post by the way, I have read many informative threads here - great forum.

For what it's worth, they're having a 'special' this weekend- if you pay by Paypal, there's no freight charge at all.

At least, if the machine needs parts, we have a list of former purchasers here who might have some parts!!!

Mine was delivered today. It took a little longer to get to the West than scheduled but I can live with that.

So far it appears complete, unopened box, tidy and looks totally new, parts match list in instruction manual, etc. I haven't fired it up yet, but have high hopes that my $225 was well spent.

I'll report back when it's a little cooler and I actually plug the machine in. That may take a couple of days, it's starting to heat up again.

All affected by the Victorian bushfires are in our thoughts this week.

Ok, tried the thicknesser this evening on a 250mm x 350mm, 30mm thick chunk of sheoak and a 1.5m x 80mm, 60mm thick recycled piece of old painted pine (not radiata). With both I took about 6-8 mm off (not in one feed of course).

Overall the result was fine, it is clear that it will need dust extraction though. I had to nudge the large bit of timber nearly every time after it had fed in about a metre, apart from that the feed was fine.

I am happy with the quality of the planing, the lack of snipe and the price. It is very loud, I'm not sure how it compares, not having had used a "portable" planer/thicknesser before.

If it keeps this up I will be extremely happy. By the way can anyone recommend a good (cheap) metal detector for timber; now that I have a thicknesser I intend to recycle lots of old timber and I need to find those hidden buried nails.

can anyone recommend a good (cheap) metal detector for timber

Yes, I'll recommend you buy another $250 Talon Thicknesser- one can be the metal-detecter/rougher and the other one for the fine cuts !

We've got an old Qld Machinery Co thicknesser- 6" x 12" capacity- 5 HP 3-phase motor, and it weighs about 350kg or so. It sounds like a helicopter starting up, and you don't go near it without ear muffs.

It's just a pain starting up the gen-set to get 3-phase power, so I ordered the Talon also- after reading here, plus seeing one genuinely for sale on the shelf in a tool shop in Toowoomba for $495. I thought it might have arrived by now, but we're still waiting.

Having one thicknesser for roughing & one for fine finishing is a bit luxurious, but practical, if you have room. The big one lives outside with a giant cover, and the shavings are aimed at fruit trees as mulch- they fly out about 8 feet from the back.

P.S. That piece of sheoak sounds really nice- what are your plans with it? It's hard to get a bit that width around here without splits, but it's a beautiful deep red iron-hard wood.

Whilst I may be criticised for my laziness (I know I should build a stand!) I splurged for the matching work centre/stand for the thicknesser.
http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/talo...l-work-centre/

Holds the thicknesser very securely and also holds my SCMS at the same time. A very solid unit. My excuse is that I don't have a free weekend to build a stand and this gets me straight into action.

Recommended for other lazy woodies or those with more jobs on the list than you can manage.

Peter

MIne arrived today. Well, I picked it up- couriers don't come any where near us, so I gave them an address 50 km away. I got the freight-free $250 deal, paying by Paypal over that weekend mentioned.

Impressions- it's heavier than I anticipated- get help to lift it.
I thought there was a missing screw or bolt for the locking lever, but it was there- the same as the cap-screws for the rubber feet. I attached all the bits needed, and there are four spare cap-screws- don't know what they're for.
I turned it on & it made a horrible noise. Turned it off,
then ten minutes later, planed a bit of hoop pine- easy- and quieter & a much better finish that I expected.

I had to calibrate the digital display- not a problem if you read the instructions and have patience- it was slow to alter, but fine & accurate.
There was 0.15 mm thickness difference between the left & right side, when checked with decent calipers, but who's going to argue over one-sixth of a mm. I couldn't adjust it better manually.

I like the storage pocket for the book & spanner & allen keys, if you keep them in the cliplock bag- and put it under the in-feed tray.

Snipe- I had a swidgin on the infeed, but no visible one on the outfeed- though the calipers could measure about 1/3mm thinner tail-end than middle of the board.
I've learned to live with snipe & trim the ends later, so this 1/3mm which is not visually perceptible is good, to me.

Overall- well, till it wears out, or gives me hassles changing blades or something, I'm very impressed with it & what it did, especially compared with our big old heavy thicknesser which has been a wonderful gutsy workhorse. Also, comparing it with a cheapy Canadian one a friend has, that I've used a fair bit, (it has a rise & fall bed, & fixed head), this is waaaay better.

I was expecting something much 'tin-nier', or much more 'tinny'.

(I haven't tried the dust duct- I'm used to having shavings fly out the back, and they did that well! We do have the 2 HP carbatec vac/bag/extractor system for the cnc router, but a friend calls them a 'dust distribution system', so I installed that outside, and ran PVC pipe in to the router. You need to earth it against static electricity though.)

Has anyone bought the Talon SCMS from Deals Direct ($199)? If so, any feedback would be most appreciated. I'm looking to buy a cheap scms most for renovating (skirtings, architraves etc), as my old (non-sliding) one is past it. From other posts on the site it seems as though the Ryobi's might be OK for what I need, but the Talon is cheaper. Just wondering if it is any good.
thanks for any feedback, cheers

I bought one for $149 a couple of weeks ago. Only cut a bit of board tho to make sure it booted up. Seems fairly well put together, and slides nice and smooth.

Michael

Thanks Michael,
$149 is a bargain. Even at $199, figure I'll get one and give it a go
Dave