issues with metabo dh330 thicknesser

I have had the metabo dh330 thicknesser for several years and used it for hobby use building furniture mainly in Huon pine and myrtle.
After about six months of use I noticed that the machine was machining pieces out of square and scalloping across it's width. What had happened was that the wedge plate /blade retainer had bent between the tightening screws, allowing saw dust to be compacted underneath the blades.
I tried getting the wedge plate replaced under warranty with no luck, I had to pay $80 for a replacement!!
I was hopeful that with new wedge plate the problem was solved. This is not the case, saw dust continues to get in under the blades, although the new wedge plate looks in good condition.
I have been back in contact with metabo to express my disappointment with the machine and to see if there was a solution. It turns out this is the first time that the service centre in Australia has heard of this problem and only the second recorded world wide. I feel that it is a design fault and am confident that it isn't anything I am doing.
Has anyone else had the same issue? Or am I the only one?

Hi sounds very frustrating for you.
As this is seemingly such a rare problem do you think it might be a characteristic of the particular timbers that you are machining ?
Are you getting resin build up from the huon pine ?

To my eye I would say it is very fine saw dust, the Huon could possibly be leeching a small about of resin, but I don't think the myrtle would, no more than any other timber. A friend has another brand of machine, but with a similar blade retaining set up, he had the same issue. His solution was to get new wedge plates made from a high grade steel of some so. This is partly why I feel it is a design fault, and surely not the only one in Australia with this "issue"

To my eye I would say it is very fine saw dust, the Huon could possibly be leeching a small about of resin, but I don't think the myrtle would, no more than any other timber. A friend has another brand of machine, but with a similar blade retaining set up, he had the same issue. His solution was to get new wedge plates made from a high grade steel of some so. This is partly why I feel it is a design fault, and surely not the only one in Australia with this "issue"

Hi, I'm looking at getting a DH330 and found this post about the blade support/retainer problem, and was wondering if others perhaps had similar experiences? And opinions in general about the DH330 please? Another option for me is the RYOBI AP-13 which is pretty much the cheapest we get here in South Africa but perhaps good value for money for hobby/light work?

I just came across this page now after experiencing the same issue with my dh330 planer. Iv had mine for less than a year with occasional use on pine. I thought my blades were a problem. I just got a brand new pair and its doing the same thing. However my blades have now taken that bent shape to match the holding plate.