Considering replacing my planer - opinions?

[Jon Endres]

I have a Ridgid TP1300 'lunchbox' planer, which has served me well for 10+ years. I have extra blades and I am pretty meticulous about clean lumber, so it still cuts well. I have an opportunity to pick up a Jet JWP-15 planer, the generic 15" planer that a dozen different companies have sold and continue to sell. This is the model with the single-sided knives, not the newer one with 'quick-change' knives like my Ridgid has. I am a little concerned that this might not be a great investment, although the Jet planer is in good shape, clean and functional. I've read that it is unusually loud for a planer, it has a tendency to snipe badly, and the cut quality is not the best. On the other hand, it is wider than my current model, nice and heavy, and I can retrofit a Shelix head. Parts are also readily available - not so much so for the Ridgid. Finally, the price appears to be reasonable, less than half of what a new one sells for. If you were in this situation what would be your thoughts?

[Carl Beckett]

I had a Jet 15" 4 post planer (straight knives) for years and ran the heck out of it. I liked it a lot and would not hesitate to get another one.

[William A Johnston]

I'd definitely recommend a shelix head. With adding the head and the cost of the machine is there a significant savings over buying the same model new? I wouldn't own another planer without a shelix head due to noise and qaulity of cut. If it's a significant savings it sounds like a fun project.

[Jon Endres]

Yes. The Shelix head is $800-ish and it will still be less than half of a new JWP-15HH. I've been saving for the Powermatic version, but aside from the cast iron extension tables and the color, I don't see much difference. The Shelix may have to wait a year or two though.

[Michael Costa]

I just bought the Dewalt 735 and love it although I have nothing to compare it to.

[Mike Cutler]

I've owned that planer for some 20 years. It's a rock solid little bugger. It is loud, I'll give you that, but the snipe issue is resolved in the setup. Surface quality is a function of the knife care. It's not a Byrd head, so you have to pay attention to grain direction, but it can give a very nice surface if the blades are maintained.
Jet 15" stationary, versus a bench top planer? I'd take the Jet.

[William A Johnston]

From my understanding a lot of those machines do come out of the same factory. They all will be built with some different specifications and higher standards of finish. I have a grizzly G1033 and have been pleased with it. Although I use it for a hobby. You can decrease a slot of snipe by infeed and out feed table shimming. I would say the planer would be a substantial upgrade to what your using.

The DeWalt 735 is a fine planer. Loud but I had one till I purchased the grizzly. I do like the disposal blades on it and they are set and go. You don't have to use a planer pal to set them.

[Matt Day]

As Mike says, you’ve only got one complaint right, the noise level. I don’t have extension wings on my 15HH and don’t get snipe and the cut quality is great especially with sharp knives. You just have to set it up properly, like any machine.

It’s a great little planer.

[Mike Kees]

If you can buy the Jet and then upgrade to a byrd head for half the price of new ,yes I would definitely do that. Half price of what though ? Have you checked Grizzly prices ? Personally I have a Delta Dc380,it is made in China and has worked fine for the last ten years or so. I would not worry about brand on a 15'' four post planer,they are all pretty much the same.Good luck,Mike.

[Andrew Seemann]

I have the Grizzly (G0453) version of the Jet planer. I could not go back to a lunchbox style planer anymore; I'm too spoiled on the Grizzly 15". I have the standard straight knives, not quick change. The planed surface is nice, and sands out easily.

After adjustment, snipe is minimal, much less than either the Powermatic or Delta lunchbox styles that I used to have. It is loud, but so are those little universal motor planers too. You need ear protection with either.

You can try running it with the standard knives and see how you like it. I have thought about upgrading my head, but have never really been able to justify it so far.

One thing to note is that good chip collection is important. If you have the collection hood on and you can't keep up, you will jam the head with chips, which is not pleasant to clean out.

If I was in your situation, I probably would snap it up, or look at the equivalent Grizzly model if you wanted to go new.

[Bill Dufour]

Why does the noise matter? It should only matter if you run it outside where neighbors complain. Any planer requires ear protection for everyone in the shop. For those planers the real question is how easy will it be to add dust collection.
Bil lD.

[Art Mann]

I bought a Jet JP12-HH, which is a jointer/planer combo machine. I got it primarily because it provides a 12 inch jointer but I sold my TP1300 because I thought it would be redundant. I now regret that decision. I would like to have both. The Jet is much more powerful and the segmented spiral head does better with highly figured wood. On the other hand, the Ridgid with a digital readout is more accurate than the Jet. It also provides a little nicer finish on wood without figure. I could shave off .010 using the Ridgid but the Jet needs a deeper cut depth to remove marks from the infeed roller. I am happy with the Jet but I wish I had kept the TP1300 too.

[Matt Day]

How much are you getting the planer for? A new Grizzly with spiral head is $1900, a spiral head is $800, so you’re getting it for under $300? That’s a no brained.

Agreed about he comment about the noise, you’ll need heating protection with any planer.

[John Sincerbeaux]

Ive owned a Dewalt lunchbox planer ans a Jet 20” straight blade planer and all I can say, is it is very very easy to outgrow both those planers.

[Matt Day]

Ive owned a Dewalt lunchbox planer ans a Jet 20” straight blade planer and all I can say, is it is very very easy to outgrow both those planers.

Could you explain that please? Straight knife v spiral?

[scott lipscomb]

Ive had one of those (a jet, 4 post, 15" planer with straight knives) that I bought new in 1999 and I have run 7 or 8 sets if knives in it in that time. Its got carbide blades on it now. It has never let me down and feeds chips to the dust collector nicely. Its a great machine. That said, I just bought an older minimax fs35 to save a little space in the crowded shop. That jet will probably get stored somewhere as I doubt that I would get what I think its worth if I were to try and sell it.

[Yonak Hawkins]

I've owned that planer for some 20 years. It's a rock solid little bugger. It is loud, I'll give you that, but the snipe issue is resolved in the setup. Surface quality is a function of the knife care. It's not a Byrd head, so you have to pay attention to grain direction, but it can give a very nice surface if the blades are maintained.
Jet 15" stationary, versus a bench top planer? I'd take the Jet.

Me too and +1. I only sold mine when I found a bigger planer.

[John Sincerbeaux]

Could you explain that please? Straight knife v spiral?

Not sure what you want me to explain? Both planers were straight knife. Both planers were on the low end of planers in terms of performance, finish quality, precision, sound levels, dust collection, ease of use, and pleasure to use. I am not trying to sound snooty, they are what they are and are certainly suitable for many woodworkers and their budgets.

[Mike Kees]

John may I ask what you have for a planer now ?

[John Sincerbeaux]

I have a Martin T45 with Xplane head.

[Jon Endres]

How much are you getting the planer for? A new Grizzly with spiral head is $1900, a spiral head is $800, so you’re getting it for under $300?

Actually around $550. The Jet with Shelix head is $2900, which is where I'm making the comparison.

The noise actually isn't an issue for me at all, just something I've read other's comments about (i.e. louder than expected).

[Mike Kees]

To the OP. After reading your last post with asking price of planer,I would definitely buy it. The only thing I thought of after my first post was,does this Jet have the motor on top or underneath the cutterhead ?My planer (Delta DC 380 ) has the motor on top. It makes it more interesting changing knives,not impossible just slightly more challenging. At the price you would pay for that planer including the helical head upgrade it is a pretty good deal. Especially when the purchases can be split if the budget requires it. This would be a big upgrade performance wise as well. Mike.

[Julie Moriarty]

I have a Ridgid TP1300 'lunchbox' planer, which has served me well for 10+ years. I have extra blades and I am pretty meticulous about clean lumber, so it still cuts well. I have an opportunity to pick up a Jet JWP-15 planer, the generic 15" planer that a dozen different companies have sold and continue to sell. This is the model with the single-sided knives, not the newer one with 'quick-change' knives like my Ridgid has. I am a little concerned that this might not be a great investment, although the Jet planer is in good shape, clean and functional. I've read that it is unusually loud for a planer, it has a tendency to snipe badly, and the cut quality is not the best. On the other hand, it is wider than my current model, nice and heavy, and I can retrofit a Shelix head. Parts are also readily available - not so much so for the Ridgid. Finally, the price appears to be reasonable, less than half of what a new one sells for. If you were in this situation what would be your thoughts?

I had a Delta 22-540 lunchbox planer that I used for about 20 years. I was content most of that time but then it became a little long in the tooth and even replacing parts wasn't lasting long. So I bought a Dewalt 735X. The noise was bone-rattling loud! Before every use I'd put in ear plugs and then don noise-cancelling headphones. It was still loud. It got so I dreaded using the 735. Though my neighbors commented on the noise, none complained but it bothered me they could hear it with their doors and windows closed.

A particularly difficult wood brought the 735 to its knees. I had to send it to Dewalt for repair. They lost it and sent me a new one. I took advantage of the added value of factory boxed planer and sold it. Then bit the bullet and bought a Hammer A3-31 with Silent Power cutterhead. I could hear myself think again! It's crazy quiet!

As to the one-sided straight knives on the JWP-15, you may not be happy after having the quick change knives. I had a 6" jointer with "manual set" knives and hated how long it took to get the knives set right. But I can often have the patience of a four-year old.

The tendency to snipe badly would be another concern for me. I conquered that with the Delta by building a mobile cart that had additional length infeed and outfeed tables. The outfeed side was about 36" long and really helped in eliminating any snipe. I also used adjustable height rollers with longer boards.

In the end I guess it depends on how much you're willing to tackle and how much time and money it will take to get the planer to work to your satisfaction.

[Jon Endres]

Well, after reading comments here and elsewhere, and mulling it over for a while, I decided to let the Jet go and hold off until I can come up with a bit more cash. I am limited by the 13" width of my current planer and have had several occasions to need a few more inches. Adding 2" may not be enough. I think I am leaning toward either the Grizzly G0454Z (the 20" model with spiral cutterhead) or a new Woodmaster (also something I used to own and subsequently sold). I realize that either one is a huge $$$ increase from what I was considering, but I want something I will be happy with for the next 20 years or more.

[John Sincerbeaux]

Great decision Jon.

[Jim Andrew]

I had a Woodmaster, and the Grizzly planer planes considerably faster. The variable speed is nice, but can't keep up with the Grizzly. And you don't need a Byrd shelyx, the Grizzly cutterhead works great. The cast iron of the Grizzly seems to absorb the load easier than the sheet metal of the Woodmaster, and seems quieter as well, although I did not have both running at once, just an observation from running each separately in the same shop.