Planer Opinion Needed

[John Economou]

I am looking for my first planer. There is a site having a sale through tomorrow and I have narrowed it down to a couple of models. One is a 15" that comes with a free guide:

http://www.tools-plus.com/powermatic-1120003.html

The other one is a 20" for $100 more:

http://www.tools-plus.com/powermatic-1791296.html

For a newer woodworker, which one would make more sense? The 15" has casters which would help on my shop floor although once in place, I won't likely need to move it. The free guide that comes with the 15" sells for $185 on Amazon but honestly, I don't know if I need it or would use it. Since I don't know much about planer features I was kind of comparing which one would be the better value. Can I get your opinion?
I hadn't heard of this company till tonight but from what I read, they have a good repuation. They sell other brands of planers as well but I got a PM2000 last month that I really like so I thought I would stick with what works.

[Rob Will]

John,

I like the 20" planer and it fits better with your PM2000.
The 15" you listed is a planer / molder.
BTW: Powermatic is now selling both 15" and 20" versions of the planer with a BYRD cutterhead factory installed. (PM 209HH)

Rob

[John Economou]

John,

BTW: Powermatic is now selling both 15" and 20" versions of the planer with a BYRD cutterhead factory installed. (PM 209HH)

Rob

I didn't know that! I read several cases where that cutterhead was mentioned. In most cases it was people recommending that they trade out the stock head with the BYRD. That is great news. Thanks.

[Rob Will]

I run a PM 225 with a BYRD head that the previous owner installed. I like the setup and would do it again.....but get ready, the cutterhead upgrade ain't cheap. On the bright side, it is much less than what it would cost to change it later. My 225 is so quiet you can stand beside it and talk while it is running a board. Knot holes and figured grain get planed with little or no tear-out.

Rob

[Scott Rollins]

Yor first planer is going to be a $1500 planer??? Why not a lunch box planer like Ridgid or Dewalt? The finish is amazing on both ( I have had both the DW735 and the Ridgid TP1300 and took the Dewalt back to the BORG). I myself would rather take $1500 and buy the Ridgid TP 1300 then buy a Performax 22-44 sander for large work. Just my 2cents.

[Tim Wagner]

20" would be my choice.

[Bob Genovesi]

I started with a 12 inch Delta then went to the 15 inch jet now I'm thinking about the 20 inch model.

If you can afford the 20 you'll save a ton of money by avoiding all the steps I took.

[Jack Camillo]

Bob took the words right out of my mouth. If you can afford it, go for it. Why upgrade later? You could have the 20in for the next 10 years or longer.

[Mike Cutler]

Yor first planer is going to be a $1500 planer??? Why not a lunch box planer like Ridgid or Dewalt? The finish is amazing on both ( I have had both the DW735 and the Ridgid TP1300 and took the Dewalt back to the BORG). I myself would rather take $1500 and buy the Ridgid TP 1300 then buy a Performax 22-44 sander for large work. Just my 2cents.

Scott

The tradeoff is longevity, and stability.

John
Go for the 20" . You won't regret it.
I've never read a post where someone regretted getting a larger capacity machine. ;)

[Rob Will]

My 24" PM 225 is 17 years old but I've only had it for 2 years. the first owner was a school in Texas.

My pevious tool lineup consisted only of a Craftsman TS, a Craftman RAS and a Craftsman 12" bandsaw. The Powermatic planer is my very first planer. After that, I gave away the Craftsman TS and got a used (13 yrs.) PM74A TS. Then came an American 24" jointer and a Moak 36" bandsaw. The jointer is over 80 years old and the bandsaw is 38 years old.

If you enjoy tools and have the space, go for all the cast iron you can get through the door. Plan on having it for a lifetime.

Rob

[Bryan Rocker]

If those very nice planers are in your price range the 20" would be the way to go. I don't have one yet and I have been watching for a good used one to come along. Having said that always follow the first rule, more power, bigger machine is ALWAYS better :D

[Ken Genovese]

I have a Rigid 13" plane that has served me well. I am looking into a larger model. I'll be interested in your choice.

[Jack Ganssle]

Then came an American 24" jointer

Rob,

You have GOT to post a pic of that monster!

Jack

[Rob Will]

Rob,

You have GOT to post a pic of that monster!

Jack

I don't want to hijack John's thread but yes this is my first jointer.
For the most part, this accumulation of old iron is facilitated by having 3 phase power. Were it not for that, I would probably be looking at all the same stuff John is. Can get that in single phase.

Here's the jointer:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=432122#post432122

Rob

[Steve Rowe]

John,
Assuming you have limited use for the molding function, given the choice between the two I would opt for the 20". The 15" planer looks very similar to a Belsaw planer/molder I had years ago. It was a 12", 5hp model and worked well but had a lot of sheet metal that tended to rattle during operation.
Steve

[Jim Eller]

I had the Powermatic 15HH but had some lack of power issues with it.

I sent it back and got the 209HH. Glad I did. Works like a charm.

Jim

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi, if you feel you will have a use for a 20 inch planer, buy it.

I have a 15 inch stationary planer, which is far larger than I need because I only plane material as wide as my jointer. (I don't plane any glued up panels for example).

Your choice of a stationary planer is a good idea in my opinion, mine is quieter, faster, and has greater capacity to hog off a relatively deep first cut than the lunchbox it replaced.

As many people say, bigger is better, however that's only if you have a use for a planer that big.

regards, Rod.

[Ron Brese]

If I were in this price range for a planer I would take a look at the Woodmaster planers. They are still American made and the customer service you get from them is first rate. They also have an infinite feed rate control, which works very nicely on figured woods, where as with the planers you are looking at you probably have a choice of two feed rates. I have owned two Woodmaster planers and the 18" one I bought back in the late 80's is still be used today and runs perfectly, I only sold it to upgrade to the 25". The 25" I got is actually only a couple of years newer than the 18" and I have since upgraded it with an insert head. It still runs great. Let me qualify this statement by saying that I have no connection with Woodmaster other than being a satisfied customer.

Ron

[John Thompson]

I debated over 15" and 20" as most that are in the position do. I almost purchased the Steel City 15"... but I stumbled across the last Yorkcraft 20" and Bridgewood industrial floor morticer Curt Wilke had at Wilke Machinery before he dropped importing them.

The 20" Yorkie is idenical to the Grizzly 20" and I made the right decision at $1047. I ran an 18" bed foot-board through after glue-up last week. A 15" would have required planing and then glue-up. And of course there are times I could use one even larger than 20".

So... IMO best to purchase the largest you can if the budget and floor space permits. If you don't.... you will probably wish you did latter when you have it up for re-sale and replacing with a larger.

Sarge..

[John Economou]

Thanks for all of the excellent replies. I did pull the trigger on the 20". As I said earlier, I am new to woodworking but I hear a lot of stories about people buying small and then regretting having to buy bigger later. For me there is a fine line between what I can afford and the quality of tools. I really want to have good excellent equipment to start with, even if it takes me a longer to buy everything I need. I am still in the market for a band saw and a drill press but those will have to wait a bit.