Jim C Martin
03-25-2015, 9:34 PM
Hello All:
I’m writing for advice about some planer upgrade options.
I have a Makita 2040 which I am thinking about upgrading to a Byrd cutter head. I really like the Makita’s poly feed rollers that allow a very small finish cut with no marks like you might get from serrated rollers. I don’t love the noise of the 6500 rpm universal motor so much. I have thought about replacing the motor with a good induction motor which will be a bit of a project but nothing I can’t handle. The Byrd head will be about $1100. Changing out the motor might be two or three hundred by the time I’ve got the motor and pulley etc.
But…
There is a used Powermatic 209 for sale near me for a screaming good price and the guy will deliver. Byrd cutter heads for those are only $875. Its possible to turn down the feed rollers and have them poly coated so that I could still have my near zero cut option. My guess is that I could have the Powermatic with Byrd head and poly rollers for ~$2k. One thing I noticed when I looked at reviews on the Powermatic is that most reviews are highly positive but several people have posted fairly negative reviews.
Selling price on a Makita 2040 is a crap shoot but I wouldn’t count on getting more than $400-500.
Just in the process of writing this I may have convinced myself that the Powermatic option might be the way to go.
What would you guys advise?
Of course, I could just keep using my Makita as it sits which is a really nice but loud planer.
Cheers,
Jim
PS For those of you who read LJ forum, please excuse the duplication.
I’m writing for advice about some planer upgrade options.
I have a Makita 2040 which I am thinking about upgrading to a Byrd cutter head. I really like the Makita’s poly feed rollers that allow a very small finish cut with no marks like you might get from serrated rollers. I don’t love the noise of the 6500 rpm universal motor so much. I have thought about replacing the motor with a good induction motor which will be a bit of a project but nothing I can’t handle. The Byrd head will be about $1100. Changing out the motor might be two or three hundred by the time I’ve got the motor and pulley etc.
But…
There is a used Powermatic 209 for sale near me for a screaming good price and the guy will deliver. Byrd cutter heads for those are only $875. Its possible to turn down the feed rollers and have them poly coated so that I could still have my near zero cut option. My guess is that I could have the Powermatic with Byrd head and poly rollers for ~$2k. One thing I noticed when I looked at reviews on the Powermatic is that most reviews are highly positive but several people have posted fairly negative reviews.
Selling price on a Makita 2040 is a crap shoot but I wouldn’t count on getting more than $400-500.
Just in the process of writing this I may have convinced myself that the Powermatic option might be the way to go.
What would you guys advise?
Of course, I could just keep using my Makita as it sits which is a really nice but loud planer.
Cheers,
Jim
PS For those of you who read LJ forum, please excuse the duplication.