G’day, looking for machine advice & a bit about me.

G’day all,

Great forum & community here - I’ve been a lurker for a while and thought it’d be about time I join you all properly.

About me - I’m 30, living in rural(ish) Victoria.
Love fishing, camping & I’m also a big chainsaw enthusiast (you gotta be when you burn 4 cord every winter!)

Im a carpenter for a crust and am passionate about using reclaiming & recycled timbers. The old man is a retired mud brick/post & beam builder so it’s in my blood I guess.

Now, the reason I’m posting for the first time..

I’m getting into making barn doors & have decided to take the step to buy a planer/thicknesser, I’m looking to spend about $1500 on a second hand unit and would really love to chat to some members that can point me in the right direction on what would be a good machine to look for. Ideally I’m looking for a machine that take the largest width timber possible (who doesn’t love big timbered barn doors, right?) but am aware that budget & 240V are limiting factors.

Cheers mates!
J

Welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome, personally I think you will be way under budget, you need to double it $3000, planer thicknesser's are not that common, and because of there complexity ten to command higher prices
you may find it less out lay to buy separate machines i.e. buzzer/jointer plus a thicknesser

Ballarat - wood thicknesser

Welcome to the forum J. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Ahh that’s disappointing then.

Welcome to the forum.

Regards
Keith

Welcome to the forums. I agree with China about budget, but don't give up hope yet. Unfortunately, some of the best bargains will be in 3-phase machines. My father-in-law gave away a whole workshop of such machines a few years ago as no one wanted to pay for them, even though he had run a successful joinery business with them for 30 years. There are ways to use those on 240 V with a VFD I believe, but VFD units aren't cheap either.

If you do go for separate machines it is important to look for heavy-duty cast iron machines as the light-weight bench top units, although good for a hobbyist, will not survive heavy duty use.

Some of the heavy-duty Chinese machines such as made for Carbatec etc. seem to be pretty solid, but in my experience the Austrian machines, like Felder and Hammer are the most reliable. Italian, like SCM, produced some decent gear too. Some older Swedish (I think) machines like Luna are still giving good service but I'm not sure that parts are available.

Have a look in the forums here for old machinery - there are enthusiastic and knowledgeable restorers there who love the old gear and may be able to assist you with one of those multi-tonne monsters.

Good luck,

David

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas

Welcome to the forums. I agree with China about budget, but don't give up hope yet. Unfortunately, some of the best bargains will be in 3-phase machines. My father-in-law gave away a whole workshop of such machines a few years ago as no one wanted to pay for them, even though he had run a successful joinery business with them for 30 years. There are ways to use those on 240 V with a VFD I believe, but VFD units aren't cheap either.

If you do go for separate machines it is important to look for heavy-duty cast iron machines as the light-weight bench top units, although good for a hobbyist, will not survive heavy duty use.

Some of the heavy-duty Chinese machines such as made for Carbatec etc. seem to be pretty solid, but in my experience the Austrian machines, like Felder and Hammer are the most reliable. Italian, like SCM, produced some decent gear too. Some older Swedish (I think) machines like Luna are still giving good service but I'm not sure that parts are available.

Have a look in the forums here for old machinery - there are enthusiastic and knowledgeable restorers there who love the old gear and may be able to assist you with one of those multi-tonne monsters.

Good luck,

David

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G’day David,

Mate, thanks for the insight - it’s exactly what I was hoping for when I joined the community. I agree with cast iron & will look into the brands you mentioned. New/old does not bother me whatsoever!

Thanks for your input, it is very much appreciated.

Jake

Well, I’ve upped my budget to $2500 or so, so hopefully I can find something.

I’ve tried posting in the ‘wanted’ section but it keeps telling me I need to add a title prefix & have no idea how to do it!

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum.
There are quite a stack members around Melbourne and cross Victoria plus the rest of the country.....
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork......
Cheers crowie

PS - Watch out for local forum members get togethers to met up with and network....

When you place a new post there is a drop down Prefix menu. Hit the down arrow on the side of that menu and select one of the choices eg, “Wanted NSW’ or “ Wanted Vic”. Etc.

Welcome to the forum J.

I can appreciate the want for a machine that can do wide timber, however, what exactly do you consider wide and what sort of access and cost do you have to that width of timber?

Personally I've collected a # tonne of timber and the majority, by a long way, is less than 330mm. So I bought myself a DeWalt DW735 thickie and shoved a helical head in it, total all up $1700. I made input and output conveyors for it as well as a sled that turns the thicknesser into a planer for about $200, happy days. The rest of the wide timber I have will either get broken down to fit the gear I've got, or I'll make slabbie stuff with it, personally I prefer the former.

Just a thought.

Crowie, Lappa, Feckit - thanks all for responding & saying G’day!

I’ll be sure to checkout local meet & greets - I’m keen to meet some likeminded folk. In the meantime I’ll post any WIPS I have. (Does an HJ75 restoration count?!)

Thanks for the prefix info too Lappa.

Feckit - I have access to a lot of reclaimed timber & seasoned slabs. Oregon & ironbark specifically which range from 200x100 to 350x75. I also would like to rip a few small Blackwood slabs down the guts, pass them through the thicknesser and re-assemble for vanity units and shelving. I’m aware that hardwood will take a LONG time to cleanup in the thickie but I’m patient in that regard.

I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll need to drop about 3K on a thicknesser and planer but really need to get some feedback on the best units that are out there for that price point.

I’m eager to purchase and start putting in some hours.

welcome to the forum