RV

"Rob V"

25/08/2003 12:54 PM

Shop fox vs powermatic 20" planer

Ok -- I have have the ooprtunity to get either one of these for 1200.00
bux.(Both brand new )
The difference is the SF is the 5hp model. From previous posts I have
read - they are pretty much the same machine.

Is the SH motor really a 5 HP??? (Or is it that much better than the PM?)

Normally - the choice would be a no brainer - same price - get the bigger
motor - but Im not that familer w/ the SF brand. I do have a 8" PM jointer
that I am very happy w/.

Any thoughs would be appreciated.

Thanks
-Rob


This topic has 6 replies

Gs

"George"

in reply to "Rob V" on 25/08/2003 12:54 PM

26/08/2003 12:12 PM

Ever run that fun and games "what's my horsepower" lab in seventh grade?
Remember what your horsepower was?

How did they _ever_ saw wood before there was Norm?

"Morgans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I must use my TS and BS in a much more demanding manner. Ripping some
nice
> wet pressure treated 2 X 8, , a 5 HP motor is barely acceptable, to me.
> Any less, and I get impatient.
>
> On the BS, resaving a 8" tall piece of oak will take all the HP you can
get.
> I have 3 HP, and still kick out the thermals on the motor occasionally.
>
> So while some may think that more HP is unnecessary, I will take all I can
> get! :-)
>

CM

Chris Merrill

in reply to "Rob V" on 25/08/2003 12:54 PM

25/08/2003 5:48 PM

Morgans wrote:
> "Sweet Sawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>On a TS or BS, router etc you can get too much horse power to be really
>>useful, on a planner I don't believe it is possible to get to much hp.
>
> Bull!!! Tell me how too much HP can be a problem.

Which post are you reading? He/she did not say that too
much HP is a "problem".

The meaning that I got was that you can buy more than you need
and/or will use ("more than is really useful", to paraphrase).

I tend to agree...my 1.5hp TS serves me well...5hp would
be wasted money (for me).

--
************************************
Chris Merrill
[email protected]
(remove the ZZZ to contact me)
************************************

SS

"Sweet Sawdust"

in reply to "Rob V" on 25/08/2003 12:54 PM

25/08/2003 8:29 AM

On a TS or BS, router etc you can get too much horse power to be really
useful, on a planner I don't believe it is possible to get to much hp.
Shopfox tools are upgraded Grizzly tools with better fit and finish and
higher cost. I Like Grizzly so I would go with the Shopfox over the PM for
the same money. I would also look at the Grizzly for the cost.
"Rob V" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ok -- I have have the ooprtunity to get either one of these for 1200.00
> bux.(Both brand new )
> The difference is the SF is the 5hp model. From previous posts I have
> read - they are pretty much the same machine.
>
> Is the SH motor really a 5 HP??? (Or is it that much better than the
PM?)
>
> Normally - the choice would be a no brainer - same price - get the bigger
> motor - but Im not that familer w/ the SF brand. I do have a 8" PM
jointer
> that I am very happy w/.
>
> Any thoughs would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> -Rob
>
>

Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Rob V" on 25/08/2003 12:54 PM

25/08/2003 10:27 AM


"Sweet Sawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On a TS or BS, router etc you can get too much horse power to be really
> useful, on a planner I don't believe it is possible to get to much hp.
>

Bull!!! Tell me how too much HP can be a problem.
--
Jim in NC

Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Rob V" on 25/08/2003 12:54 PM

25/08/2003 10:02 PM


"Chris Merrill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Morgans wrote:
> > "Sweet Sawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>On a TS or BS, router etc you can get too much horse power to be really
> >>useful, on a planner I don't believe it is possible to get to much hp.
> >
> > Bull!!! Tell me how too much HP can be a problem.
>
> Which post are you reading? He/she did not say that too
> much HP is a "problem".
>
> The meaning that I got was that you can buy more than you need
> and/or will use ("more than is really useful", to paraphrase).
>
> I tend to agree...my 1.5hp TS serves me well...5hp would
> be wasted money (for me).
>
> --
> ************************************
> Chris Merrill
> [email protected]
> (remove the ZZZ to contact me)
> ************************************
>
Point taken about the use of the words.

I must use my TS and BS in a much more demanding manner. Ripping some nice
wet pressure treated 2 X 8, , a 5 HP motor is barely acceptable, to me.
Any less, and I get impatient.

On the BS, resaving a 8" tall piece of oak will take all the HP you can get.
I have 3 HP, and still kick out the thermals on the motor occasionally.

So while some may think that more HP is unnecessary, I will take all I can
get! :-)

Jim (some call me Tim) the toolman Taylor (I mean Morgan)

SS

"Sweet Sawdust"

in reply to "Rob V" on 25/08/2003 12:54 PM

26/08/2003 9:03 AM

OK I will:
I have two routers one a 1/4 hp trim router and one 3 hp plunge router. I
am going to rout 200 small blocks of wood (11" x6" x 6") using a 3/8" round
over bit and no router table. The small router weighs under a pound and can
be used with either hand, the plunge router weighs in at about 5 pounds
(guess) and takes both hands to hold. Both will do the job equally well,
why would I haul around 4 3/4 pounds of weight and more bulk for no
increased performance (maybe I just like to wear myself out). more is not
always better. You can under power tools and cause a problem no doubt, and
some tools such as a planner need all they can get, but you can overpower
tools also, my 3hp TS cuts just as well as a friends 5hp saw, costs less and
uses less power a 1 1/2 hp TS works as well as my 3hp for another friend but
would bog on me at times, you match the tools hp to your needs.
"Morgans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Sweet Sawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > On a TS or BS, router etc you can get too much horse power to be really
> > useful, on a planner I don't believe it is possible to get to much hp.
> >
>
> Bull!!! Tell me how too much HP can be a problem.
> --
> Jim in NC
>
>


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