Thread: Thicknessers $500

I think at that price range, most of them are actually even the same machine with a different colour paint...

I've got the ryobi and it's a stinker. Noisy like a banshee with it's finger caught in a door and snipe that would make an sas shooter proud, but it makes flat boards. I expect all the cheaper ones are pretty much the same.

Hi Hellofellow,

Trav's right. Most at that price are copies of other proprietary beasts with a different coat of paint. That said I have a Carbatec 13" planer/thicknesser which I bought 7 years ago and it still runs well. You may want to consider this though. It has a reputable name and parts should be readily available. As far as what to look for in a thicknesser, quiet operation!!, minimum snipe, reasonable speed. Consider also how much use the tool will get. There's no point in buying something for the Hobbyist if you're going to be using it every day 52 weeks a year! if that's the case, spend some more money and buy an appropriate machine.

Regards,

Rob

Originally Posted by LGS

Hi Hellofellow,

Trav's right. Most at that price are copies of other proprietary beasts with a different coat of paint. That said I have a Carbatec 13" planer/thicknesser which I bought 7 years ago and it still runs well. You may want to consider this though. It has a reputable name and parts should be readily available. As far as what to look for in a thicknesser, quiet operation!!, minimum snipe, reasonable speed. Consider also how much use the tool will get. There's no point in buying something for the Hobbyist if you're going to be using it every day 52 weeks a year! if that's the case, spend some more money and buy an appropriate machine.

Regards,

Rob

Hi Rob, must admit I am
Only a hobbiest, but I don't want to upgrade in a year. That being said I have been reading about the spiral blade 13 Carbatec. How have you found it? What's the biggest stock you can put through it?
Cheers

Hi There,
Went to Melb. WwW Show, & C/Tec had one with the Helical Head, & I thought it was $669, but I maybe wrong.
Wanted to see it go, mainly for sound, "but no can do" was the reply.
Chap I know got into hot water, as neighbors got the Council on his back & now he is Banned from using it. Absolutley SCREAMS.
Same with our Mens Shed, it is impossible to have a cuppa in the next room, while the Thicky is going.

Apart from the colour, I can't see any difference in that Carbatec Jet model from the Ryobi I bought last week.
The specs are certainly identical and the price is pretty close.

I have the Hafco T318 and as others have said they are extremely noisy but it has done all that I need . You need ear protection and to be careful of when you run so that you do not upset the neighbours. The snipe can be reduced by careful adjustment of the infeed and outfeed tables.

Hi again,

My 13" thicknesser is not one with helical heads. But I have heard them running and they are very quiet.

I have used a 12 1/2" Delta for several years. Other than replacing a couple of broken belts, it has been a good worker. Nil snipe after adjusting the tables. It looks like all the others in this price range. BUT it is hellishly noisy and I have to choose carefully the times and days it gets pulled out. I also find it underpowered for hardwoods, which means that the depth of cut is limited.

The next thicknesser will likely be a 15" model with hellical blades and a bigger motor. The trouble is that they are expensive. The cheapest version is the Carbatec, which has pseudo hellical blades. Nevetheless this has had good reports. The 13" version is apparently as noisy as anything else out there, consequently it appears that the choice is either a $500 "cheapie" or a $2000 machine. Nothing inbetween. As in all things, buy one with good backup service.

Regards from Perth

Derek