Benchtop Thickness Planer

3666 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Steve Pack, Nov 15, 2018

mjadams61

Discussion Starter · Nov 12, 2018

I been needing a thickness planer here and there on some of my projects and being on a fix income and convincing the wife well it seems it would have been a long wait lol. Well now I am getting one and the wife approved it after she found out what I can do with it especially when it comes to some projects she wanted me to do for her

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After reviewing cost and what others had said about the different thickness planers out there I am getting the Wen 6552T model. Several factors led to that decision, one the reviews so many good ones on it, it having 3 blades and the dust collection set-up and the price.

Will give a review after using it for awhile. I purchase it from Home Depot online.

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DaninVan

· #2 · Nov 12, 2018

Not one of the usual makes often referred to here; looking forward to your review, Marlin!
Mines a Delta (12.5") and although it's OK, I think I'll get a DeWalt if I have to replace it.

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DesertRatTom

· #3 · Nov 12, 2018

I have a couple of WEn tools, and they're pretty darn good for the money. Look forward to the review. I have a DeWalt 735 and the 3rd blade makes for a smoother finish.

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Cherryville Chuck

· #4 · Nov 13, 2018

We love seeing reviews. It's part of our living vicariously with other members wallets. You'll find that the planer opens up new opportunities in woodworking for you.

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Flipsaw

· #5 · Nov 13, 2018 (Edited)

Bought that same model about 3 months ago and very pleased with it. Have had very little snipe and the dust collection works well.
Definitely a nice savings over some other machine prices. Good Luck with it!
In July it cost me under $255 on Amazon, and now it is around $288.

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Herb Stoops

· #6 · Nov 13, 2018

I bought the Cu-tech 12 1/2" W/spiral carbide cutter head in June and am really happy with it. $479.+ free shipping. Smooooth and quiet.

Herb

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Knothead47

· #7 · Nov 13, 2018

My suggestion is the first thing you make using the planer is to make something for the wife. I took a pen turning class and the wife claimed the pen.

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sreilly

· #8 · Nov 13, 2018

Herb Stoops said:
I bought the Cu-tech 12 1/2" W/spiral carbide cutter head in June and am really happy with it. $479.+ free shipping. Smooooth and quiet.

Herb

I've had my Cutech for a while and need to change the cutters soon. Just a heads up if you need the Cutech carbide cutters for their spiral cutter head they will be on special with free shipping Nov 21 0r 22. My informant wasn't sure of the date. I now have the HSS cutters. Note on their spiral cutters, they only have 2 usable sides vs the other brands that usually have 4.

Mine does a very good job of dust collection when not using the 2.5" adapter but straight with 4". Depth of cut is also very accurate. I do have snipe but that's my fault and I need to extend the infeed/outfeed tables to eliminate that. I have built a cart for the planer so now I'm thinking of making some raised platforms to extend the tables. Need to think about this a bit more. Seems I saw where someone had used a long flat board to use as the flat surface going the entire length extending both tables but that also takes some of the depth capability away, not that I'm likely to use all of it anyway, but I would also think it wouldn't be as smooth causing some friction vs the metal tables. Now I'm just babbling with those voices in my head......

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mjadams61

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 13, 2018

Yea I am not new to thickness planers. I used alot larger ones in the jobs where I work with wood and I do understand what causes snipes so I learn to try to avoid them but also work with wood a little longer than what I need to cut the snipes out.

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Herb Stoops

· #10 · Nov 13, 2018

sreilly said:
I've had my Cutech for a while and need to change the cutters soon. Just a heads up if you need the Cutech carbide cutters for their spiral cutter head they will be on special with free shipping Nov 21 0r 22. My informant wasn't sure of the date. I now have the HSS cutters. Note on their spiral cutters, they only have 2 usable sides vs the other brands that usually have 4.

You will like the Carbide inserts, they are sharp and give close to a smooth as glass finish, I do get some tiny ridges on mine that 220g on the ROS takes out in a minute,also turns surface to a satin instead of shiny. When I ran the first boards through,I thought I didn't have the depth set deep enough, they didn't slow down or grunt,just zipped right through and less noise than my old Dewalt or Delta. Carbide really makes a difference.

Thanks for the heads up on the cutter inserts being on sale, I don't need any, I bought an extra set when I bought the machine, but others might like that.

I have had the Dewalt 735, a real screamer,but good machine, a Delta 12 1/2" benchtop, feed rollers got too smooth to feed, was noisy, a 15" Delta 3hp induction motor,(Grizzly makes them now) , Great machine, quiet,lots of snipe, And I have got to say I like this little Cu-tech the best of all.

I didn't get any snipe on this planer if I lifted the board feeding into the planer, and also feeding out , just a tiny bit as in the first and last 12"of cut.

Herb

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Steve Pack

· #11 · Nov 15, 2018

wife's are hard to convince, I tell mine I saves money because it was on sale. Thas the story I get from her.

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