Delta planer TP305

[David Gunn]

Does anyone own this planer? I am considering ordering one. They have them marked down on Amazon with free shipping.

Edit, TP305, 12-1/2 inch 15 amp Delta planer.

http://www.amazon.com/Delta-ShopMaster-TP305-Benchtop-120-Volt/dp/B0007DFWR6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7978446-0029526?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1173040154&sr=8-1

[scott spencer]

Without a cutterhead lock it's likely to snipe more than a machine that has one, but at that price point, most don't include one. Too bad you missed the TP400LS for $270 a few weeks ago.

[David Gunn]

Thanks for the reply Scott. I wish I could get more responses. I was wanting to order one soon, before the price or free shipping went away.

[Noah Katz]

Check Amazon and epinions for reviews.

[Tullie Templet]

I recently bought the TP400LS and it seems to be really good. I read reviews about the tp305 and was skeptical with alot of the reviews calling it the "snipemaster". I went to the local blue store and looked at it in person and was not impressed. It just looked cheap to me. I waited until I found a good deal on the 400LS and bought it. The first two times I used it I forgot to lock the cutter head an did not get any snipe without the lock. The reviews for the 400LS were more appealing. This is my first planer so i am in no way an expert, I just wanted to let you know I was in your shoes recently and this is what I found. Hopes this helps.

[peter slamp]

Without a cutterhead lock it's likely to snipe more than a machine that has one, but at that price point, most don't include one. Too bad you missed the TP400LS for $270 a few weeks ago.
It's at the same price now with free shipping. Unfortunately it says 4-6 weeks to expected delivery. I ordered one anyways.

Oh well, sorry to the OP. I must have got the last one with free shipping. I just went back to get you a link and now no free shipping, wow that was fast.

[Noah Katz]

Seems there's several unhappy campers among the reviewers,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00006K00S/sr=1-1/qid=1173085153/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-1620480-2088154?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi&qid=1173085153&sr=1-1

[Tullie Templet]

That review is for the 400LS. 10 out of 14 gave 4 stars or better and the others say it is not good for heavy use only for the hobbiest. At $270 dollars (that is what I paid) what else would you expect. In one of the reviews it says to buy the grizzly or the yorkcraft 15" for $750-$800 dollars, thats alot of money for a hobbiest. On review even says that all planer with disposable blades should be avoided so you can't hold that against this machine in particular. I probably wouldn't pay $370 for this machine, I think that is a bit pricy, but at $270 for a HOBBIEST it is a decent planer. You have to use common sense a realise what these machines are intended for.

[Curt Harms]

I have a friend who has one, didn't have the budget for the 400. Yes, it snipes. There are things You can do to alleviate it, but probably not totally eliminate it. People have put 12" melamine shelving stock as a sub-table with a cleat to keep the melamine from feeding through and say that helps. I had a 22-540 that is similar to the TP305. I tried adjustable infeed & outfeed rollers which helped. keeping up-pressure on the stock when first entering and when exiting the machine helped, but the real fix was a 22-580:) . That leaves a great surface and NO snipe.

HTH

Curt

[peter slamp]

Uh oh! I definitely fit into the 'hobby' camp. I hope I didn't make a mistake.

[Curt Harms]

Uh oh! I definitely fit into the 'hobby' camp. I hope I didn't make a mistake.

Get it, work with it, try some of the tricks mentioned above. I remember magazine articles about sleds that were really supposed to help. The surface the TP305 leaves is as good or better than the 15"ers, it just doesn't get there as quick:) . Another thing that may help is when You get close to the final thickness, make very small depth changes, 1/4 of a turn of the depth adjustment or so. I found that sometimes helped with the snipe. If nothing else, allow 2-3 inches on each end to be cut off. There've been many a fine project built with stock prepared with the 22-540/TP305, you'll add to the list:D

Curt