Gee, I have a shop full of 12-20 inch walnut, local cut. I'm sure not
ripping it just to plane.
16" jointer, 18" planer.
--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"George" <george@least> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:YbCLd.41617$eT5.20558@attbi_s51...
>> In a woodworking shop where the largest piece made is a dresser or desk,
>> is there any significant advantage to an 18" planer over a 12"?
>>
>> Please remove the spambusting 7, so my address is calbert at mchsi dot
>> com
>>
>> Thanks
>
> Not a lot of domestic wood in dimension over 10" any more, and, as Ed
> said,
> after glueup it can be sanded.
>
>
"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:YbCLd.41617$eT5.20558@attbi_s51...
> In a woodworking shop where the largest piece made is a dresser or desk,
> is there any significant advantage to an 18" planer over a 12"?
>
> Please remove the spambusting 7, so my address is calbert at mchsi dot com
>
> Thanks
Not a lot of domestic wood in dimension over 10" any more, and, as Ed said,
after glueup it can be sanded.
I don't own a big planer but here is what I understand:
Advantages:
1.Wider capacity (duh)
2. Speed/power, You can take a bigger bite and dimmension stock more
quickly... it's also a tad more quiet.
Tradeoffs:
1. Initial cost
2. Not the same level of finish quality (or so I hear)
3. How do you move that sucker?
The > lunchbox planers are really a production tool. The tradeoff of finish
quality is not really a big deal for a pro cabinet shop as they are likely
to have a big drum sander to finish that off anyway.
18 vs 12 is a convenience, but it's still not going to let you plane a
full-width desktop to I don't see it as anything more than a modest
improvement. It does not eliminate a step in making all but 12-18" panels.
I came to the conclusion that there is no point in *me* as a hobiest, to
move beyong the lunchbox.
YMMV.
Steve
"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:YbCLd.41617$eT5.20558@attbi_s51...
> In a woodworking shop where the largest piece made is a dresser or desk,
> is there any significant advantage to an 18" planer over a 12"?
>
> Please remove the spambusting 7, so my address is calbert at mchsi dot com
>
> Thanks
"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:YbCLd.41617$eT5.20558@attbi_s51...
> In a woodworking shop where the largest piece made is a dresser or desk,
> is there any significant advantage to an 18" planer over a 12"?
I just measured the side panel of the dresser next to me. It is 17" wide.
Since it won't fit through a 12" planer easily, the 18" may have some
advantage. Of course, if you have a 48" wide belt sander, it does not
matter.