What is acceptable

[Corey Pionk]

Ok with my scratched table saw top I decided to check out my other newly aquired machines that I have not yet had a chance to thouroughly look at. So I checked my Yorkcraft 20" planer and came across this scratch. Now I feel I'm being bombarded with scratched machines. Now would this scratch be acceptable to anyone, it bothers me but not to the extent of the table saw since I only paid 1200 bucks for the planer. This scratch looks like someone took 80 grit sandpaper to it that doesn't really show in the picture. So I guess i will be calling to Wilkes again tommorrow and asking them what they can do. So what should I do about this one leave it alone or get the table replaced or the machine. I would accept a new table but I dont know how hard it would be to replace.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/Trigger3271/Planer002.jpg

[Bart Leetch]

Give it 20 years & that scratch won't even show. After all its a machine to work with not a piece of fine Bone China.

A few scratches in my 52 year old Unisaw. some do not show up to well in the picture.

[Chris Rosenberger]

I have bought many machines over the years & almost everyone had some type of scratch in the tables. They never bothered me because I looked at the table as what they are, work surfaces. With that being said & not being able to see as I used to. I can not tell from the picture how bad your scratch is. From what I can see,I do not think I would make a big issue out of it. It is not worth trearing the planer apart over.

[Corey Pionk]

I have bought many machines over the years & almost everyone had some type of scratch in the tables. They never bothered me because I looked at the table as what they are, work surfaces. With that being said & not being able to see as I used to. I can not tell from the picture how bad your scratch is. From what I can see,I do not think I would make a big issue out of it. It is not worth trearing the planer apart over.

I'm thinking the same thing I just don't want to take the planer apart. The scratch actually looks like it has been filled in with something beacause I can run my nail across it and it feels smooth and I checked it with a straight edge and its perfectly flat.

[Mark Carlson]

I'm ok with a couple of scratches so long as there cosmetic. A filled scratch sounds like a big one. I couldn't really see the scratch clearly in the picture. A non flat table is another story.

~mark

[Kevin Herber]

Corey - When I got my new Unisaw the top had a lot of machine marks, no scratches per se but it sure was not comparable to a PM. I spent a few hours with 320 - 400 - 600 - 800 - 1200 wet/Dry and LOTS of WD40. I'll put it up against any PM or other shiny surface out there. In a few years it will probably look like Bart's so I'm not sure I accomplished anything, but I feel better. If the table is flat I would not worry about the scratches.

-- Kevin

[Ian Barley]

I'm a crude kinda guy and have a simple rule of thumb. Does it get in the way of the machine doing what its meant to. Yes - get it dealt with. No - So what.

Its a machine to do work in my view, if it does the work its fine.

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

One of the reasons I like to buy good used equipment, some else has paid to scratch it :D

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

One of the reasons I like to buy good used equipment, some else has paid to scratch it :D

I Declare that a SIG LINE !!

[tod evans]

corey, i`m with ian here, if it doesn`t effect use of the tool, rock-on. in the case of your table saw where the scratch is across the feed direction it`s unacceptable and could damage a work piece or worse cause an accident....02 tod

[Steve Clardy]

I use my tools. I don't polish them.
If they are scratched, which they are, doesn't bother me. I ocasionally scratch one myself.