Steve Kang
06-05-2018, 8:52 PM
Hi Everyone,
Looking to get your thoughts on a few machines for a basement workshop. I'm planning on purchasing a jointer and planer or a jointer planer combination unit. Space is not a primary consideration as I feel I have enough room for separates.
So far the contenders are:
King Industrial 8" Spiral Jointer
King Industrial 20" Spiral planer (3hp)
or
Laguna 8" Sheartec jointer
Laguna 15" planer Sheartec (5hp)
or
Hammer A3-41 16" Silent Cutter
Here's what i'm struggling with... The King machines will give me the most bang for the buck. Cost wise they're the cheapest and the planer has the most capacity. However the planer might be a little underpowered (3hp) and at 20" i'd probably be buying more planer than I need (I could also go with the 15" unit).
The laguna machines look like they're a step up. The sheartec heads have more carbide teeth and are a larger diameter when compared with the Kings. The planer has more power and overall the fit and finish appears to be better (?). Though I'm not sure if there are any other true quality differences between the two brands.
As for the A3-41, I've read nothing but good things. 16" is a really good sweet spot for jointer/planer capacity and the machine appears to be very well built. I don't like that the planer bed is lower than a 4-post machine, the ergonomics don't seem great. With a 4-post you have rollers on the top of the unit whereas with the A3-41 I'd be walking boards back and forth.
What would you choose if you were in my position?
Looking to get your thoughts on a few machines for a basement workshop. I'm planning on purchasing a jointer and planer or a jointer planer combination unit. Space is not a primary consideration as I feel I have enough room for separates.
So far the contenders are:
King Industrial 8" Spiral Jointer
King Industrial 20" Spiral planer (3hp)
or
Laguna 8" Sheartec jointer
Laguna 15" planer Sheartec (5hp)
or
Hammer A3-41 16" Silent Cutter
Here's what i'm struggling with... The King machines will give me the most bang for the buck. Cost wise they're the cheapest and the planer has the most capacity. However the planer might be a little underpowered (3hp) and at 20" i'd probably be buying more planer than I need (I could also go with the 15" unit).
The laguna machines look like they're a step up. The sheartec heads have more carbide teeth and are a larger diameter when compared with the Kings. The planer has more power and overall the fit and finish appears to be better (?). Though I'm not sure if there are any other true quality differences between the two brands.
As for the A3-41, I've read nothing but good things. 16" is a really good sweet spot for jointer/planer capacity and the machine appears to be very well built. I don't like that the planer bed is lower than a 4-post machine, the ergonomics don't seem great. With a 4-post you have rollers on the top of the unit whereas with the A3-41 I'd be walking boards back and forth.
What would you choose if you were in my position?