Bob Feeser
11-09-2011, 8:37 PM
Well I pulled the trigger last night in the wee hours for a SHOP FOX W1742 15-Inch Planer with Cast Iron In and Out Feed. I have been using an older 12 1/2" Craftsman Contractor Grade planer I bought new back then for $700. Anyhow I decided to get back into some wood production as a part time side business, and needed something that would plane wider stock than that, and do it in a lot less time than having to take 1/32" off at a time. I drooled over the PM15 for a lot of years, but was shocked when I saw WoodCrafts Shop Fox; it was number one rated at Amazon based on the reviews, and sales figures of the 15" and larger machines. I know there are larger and more expensive machines out there but this thing is pretty amazing for the money.
You have to read the reviews on Amazon to see what they are saying. http://www.amazon.com/SHOP-W1742-15-Inch-Planer-Cast/dp/B001R23T9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320887926&sr=8-1
It has a 4" dust port. I am so tired of having to stop in the middle of a planing and have to clean out the 2" dust chute on my Craftsman.
It doesn't have the helix head. It has flat blades but I have the Tormek system with the planer and jointer blade attachment so I can resharpen them until there isn't any metal left.
3hp motor 220volt single phase 20 amp so no special lines to run.
Everything on it is FULLY adjustable so you can fine tune it.
The price point is nuts for a planer at this level.
It weighs in the 700 plus pound shipping weight.
So I read the reviews on Amazon and decided it was a good way to go. I am interested in any input from someone who has experience with them. I'm using it in my basement shop which is about 700 sq ft.
You have to read the reviews on Amazon to see what they are saying. http://www.amazon.com/SHOP-W1742-15-Inch-Planer-Cast/dp/B001R23T9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320887926&sr=8-1
It has a 4" dust port. I am so tired of having to stop in the middle of a planing and have to clean out the 2" dust chute on my Craftsman.
It doesn't have the helix head. It has flat blades but I have the Tormek system with the planer and jointer blade attachment so I can resharpen them until there isn't any metal left.
3hp motor 220volt single phase 20 amp so no special lines to run.
Everything on it is FULLY adjustable so you can fine tune it.
The price point is nuts for a planer at this level.
It weighs in the 700 plus pound shipping weight.
So I read the reviews on Amazon and decided it was a good way to go. I am interested in any input from someone who has experience with them. I'm using it in my basement shop which is about 700 sq ft.