Thread: Looking at buying a Thicknesser

Your spot on there Dave, You are not go'ing to get much for $600.00.
Do lots of research google etc, see what guys in the forum come up with don't rush out and buy one straight away, maybe check out what is available second hand.
Cheers,Bob

Depending on how big you want the Jet 12" isn't a bad machine. Purchased one myself a month or so ago. Price was around $600 perhaps $650.

You will notice that there are many variations of the 12" machines out there. I didn't do too much research before deciding on the Jet as I felt the Jet name would provide a higher quality product for only a few dollars more. Since I have taken delivery of the Jet I have had a chance to look at a few of the others on the market and quality of finish and features of the Jet were worth the few extra dollars.

The finish of the Jet is still a little rough but it is higher compared to the others I have seen. I haven't given it much of a work out but so far I am very happy and there isn't any evidence of snipe at the moment and I haven't made any adjustments out of the box.

Anyway that is my experience. Only problem is trying to get your hands on one ...... the supply arm of Jet seems to be suffering at the moment which isn't helping out its dealers.

Jet Tools & Machinery Australia- Thicknessers-JWP-12

Cheers

Stinky.

Depends on what you are building.
If you are building electrics and want to be able to thickness a body blanks then you will need a machine which can do a minumum of 13" and a Thickness planer will work except in highly figured or cranky woods
If you are doing the thin woods for acoustics or want to finish sand thicker figured blanks, then a thickness sander is what you need and an open end one will do wide pieces in two passes.
I have both and use them both where they are appropriate.

Gday Dave,

Jeffhigh is spot on with his comment about planers & cranky timbers & sometimes due to this you may wish you didn't have one.

If your serious & want something that will last you can make something up for that money that will not only last forever but give excellent results on all widths, thicknesses & timber species without an issue.

If your interested i can explain it, it's easy to make, i may have time to do a quick 2D drawing as well if you like. Can you weld, if not you could bolt it together.


WayneW
Linguist Guitars

Originally Posted by WayneW

If your serious & want something that will last you can make something up for that money that will not only last forever but give excellent results on all widths, thicknesses & timber species without an issue.

If your interested i can explain it, it's easy to make, i may have time to do a quick 2D drawing as well if you like. Can you weld, if not you could bolt it together.


WayneW
Linguist Guitars

this sounds very interesting

Hi Dave,

Jeffs right, If your building Solid Body Guits, you really need 13 inches. I get around it by bookmatching or joning my Bodies, But if I want a one piece body I'll be asking around!

If I was buying a new "DIY" style Thicknesser this is the one: https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...stockCode=W805 ($480) Its got a 13" (330mm) capacity which will get you out of trouble most of the time if your careful, and then all the other bits like the stand, and the digital readout which will be good for easy accuracy etc, good value for money I reckon!

The only thing I can really say to look out for is the spindle diameter, I'm using an Ozito12 inch (cheap) and if I'm running hardwood like old Jarrah it tends to bend a little in the middle even with small cuts (minutely, but enough to annoy) causing an uneven finished surface.

Good luck
Pete

I picked up a Hafco 14" on ebay for 800 great heavey machine, I feed it lots of big hard pieces of hardwood and some of it recycled and it takes it in its stride. Go the biggest and strongest you can aford.

Originally Posted by WayneW

Gday Dave,


If your serious & want something that will last you can make something up for that money that will not only last forever but give excellent results on all widths, thicknesses & timber species without an issue.

If your interested i can explain it, it's easy to make, i may have time to do a quick 2D drawing as well if you like. Can you weld, if not you could bolt it together.


WayneW
Linguist Guitars

Maybe this is along the lines of what he's got in mind....


These is just basic concepts but there are lots of people doing the same thing using many variations. Check out Scatter Lee's jigs and templates on TDPRI

some of my jigs and templates - Page 3 - Telecaster Guitar Forum
.
I am keen to see what WayneW has got in mind

Cheers...Wayne (the other Wayne!)


801 Mortising & Planer Bits : CARBA-TEC

i like that alu jig alot, i think i will make that

Make me one too Andy.
Just noticed that guitar made joining 7 pieces of timber.

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

i like that alu jig alot, i think i will make that

Good stuff

For the intended application, that jig (plus the cost of a decent router) is a far better proposition than any cheap thicknesser.

Of the small bench style thicknessers (which is about all you'll get for $500-600) very few have a cutterhead lock to prevent snipe. When thicknessing boards snipe is a minor inconvenience (just leave all your boards slightly long), but when working with something like a guitar body it becomes a major pain.

Someone suggested the JET benchtop thicknesser, and thats one of the few that DOES have a cutterhead lock. All the real cheapies (e.g. Ryobi) don't have this feature.

Originally Posted by woodturner777

Make me one too Andy.
Just noticed that guitar made joining 7 pieces of timber.

haha no way, its mine all mine....
i already have ideas

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

haha no way, its mine all mine....
i already have ideas

Make sure you post your ideas so I can pinch'em!

I need one too......just been procrastinating too long over my design.


cheers...Wayne

Originally Posted by Gascat

Make sure you post your ideas so I can pinch'em!

I need one too......just been procrastinating too long over my design.


cheers...Wayne

you have a design too?

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