How far will a cheap planer take me?

[TexasTimbers]

I see your point now Dodgy Loner. We were just not on the same page.
Because even though I had never owned a fast planer, until I did, the whole time before that when I had slow ones, I still knew they were slow because it was taking a whole lot longer than I figured it should.

[Warren]

I've put better than 1500 bf of ERC thru a Dewalt 734 12" planer in the past few months.  Finish is good.  But verrrryyyy slow.  With 10" to 12" wide cedar, maxed out at 1/32" removal per pass.    If you are doing a one time project to build the house and then never expect to do wood working again, cheap might be O.K.  But if you have intentions of doing future woodworking projects, I think you might be better served with a faster, more durable unit.  I am poking around to find one with a wider cut and more HP for regular use.

[Cedarman]

My first planer is a 20" Northwood that I bought in 93 for about 3300 bucks.  It has seen major use, but is still a good machine.  Last job was 600  6x6x8 cants S2S. Would take 1/16" of of 3  6" boards at the same time at 20 some feet per minute.

Warren has first right of refusal on this machine.

My new machine bought in 98 is a Northteck 26" for about 7 grand, 6 years later I upgraded it with a helical head for another 3 grand.  It will take 5/16 off at 15" wide continuously.  We hog junk cedar into shavings for a specialty product.  Have run 100s of thousands of feet through it.

There are good used machines out there.  Buy the heaviest machine you can afford to buy.  Used planers hold their resale value if taken care of.

[Faron]

Ron White might tell you a cheap planer will take you all the way to the scene of the crash.   Sorry, I resisted the impulse as long as I could.  I think Cedarman is right, buy as you can manage.

[scgargoyle]

Maybe I'll keep my eyes open for a big old-timer. As a toolmaker. I could easily resurface and rebuild a planer, so as long as the 'iron' is good, I could get 'er going.

[DanG]

Another alternative for you would be one of the old Belsaw planers.  They seem to be in good supply.  I recently bought one for $200, and ordered new feed rollers and knives for it yesterday.  The order came to $141 including shipping, so I'll have about the same money in it as I do in that wimpy little Ryobi.

Oh yeah, to answer the original question in the title of this thread; The cheap planer will take you all the way to the realization that you need something better.

[scgargoyle]

Being a toolmaker, I should know better that a wimpy little tool is not gonna make me happy! Thanks for the heads-up on the Belsaw.

[solidwoods]

Flooring will require:
Planer, 12"ers are fine.
Jointer- you have to straighten the edge.
Table saw- rip to width
Miter or Radial arm saw- chop out defects (compound miter saw to angle the ends if you are not coping the flooring ends.
Shaper- 2 passes 1-T  1-G
Powerfeeder for the shaper (you may not think so ,, but I'ma tell'in Ya you'll need one )
Dust collector-your choice here, but its nice for mountains of shavings

The above will allow you to machine to a reasonable degree of accuracy (have to have that)

OR-
Take it to a shop with a 4 side moulder, my rate is: your lumber random  size .70sq' through the moulder.

So depends on which way you go.. 1 way may be cheaper, the other leaves woodworking tools that can continue to make $.
jim

[Cedarman]

We use our WM in place of the rip saw and jointer to prep the wood for the moulder.  Gets uniform widths and a nice straight edge.  Boards with too much side bend are whacked in half first.