Sorry Foam-EZ, but I can’t afford to keep paying 60 dollars to use the shaping room, and I’m ready to buy my own electric planer. I can’t afford those fancy 1960’s modified clark foam planers or anything like that, but something like http://www.harborfreight.com/3-1-4-quarter-inch-electric-planer-91062.html would be perfect pricewise, it has adjustable depth and seems like it would be ok. Can I have someone’s opinion on this planer or any recomendations for another planer?
P.S. Would 2 quarts of UV Pu Resin be enough to cover a 6’0 x 19" x 3" board?
While I use a Skil 100 now, I started out with a cheap Ryobi and now also have an un-modified Hitachi that I got off eBay for $45…Funny thing is I payed only $20 for the pristeen Skil 100.
Also just got my hands on a real nice Porter Cable 653 for $60. This one needs the cord rewired and will be one I will be playing with.
Planers are out there. Just have to keep your eyes out and pounce when you find a deal.
$60 for the complete shaping room, including the planer, vs buying a cheap planer and setting up you sidelights 4 x $75 each plus wiring, vs buying the cheap planer, working without a good shaping bay, and having the board come out bad.
It is your money to spend, but if I had a shaping bay close by, for only $60, I would use it. That is unless you plan on doing lots of boards.
Oh, and for your original question, lots of guys use the harbor freight planer. I have the Dewalt for working the deck nose area, and either a Rockwell 653 or a Virutex for long smooth runs.
I wouldn’t pay a dime for someone else’s shaping room no matter how fancy. I got friends. I’ll shape in my backyard and glass in the garage -and i have, since 1968.
This is after all, backyard board making. Anyone who thinks he/she has to have a lighted room and top end planer is a fool or a pro. If the former you’re really spoiled or deluding yourself; if the latter something’s outa whack that you haven’t got your shirt together sufficiently to afford such.
Planers come in all shapes and sizes. Use what you got and make it work. The quality of the board you make depends on your skill, not how bitchen a room or tool you use.
I don’t feel sorry for you at all. Just another baby who thinks everything should be given to you. If you can’t afford to buy your own tools your unworthy of board building. Put some effort out and some cash and you’ll appreciate my advice down the line. Buy the best you can and buy it once. Do the best job you can and man up.
Will it work, yes. They are a bit rinky-dink and far from ideal though. I'm not sure what kind of planer setup Foam-EZ has in their box - hopefully it's something decent. If you've been using a “real” surfboard planer, be advised the depth adjustment on this thing is going to be WAY different and your technique will suffer. I have a similar model HF (it’s orange/grey though) which functions ok for set-depth work and other knock around type stuff, but it rarely gets used. I'm using my clark hitachi 99% of the time, all of the time. Think I got the HF for like $19.99 and I used a coupon for an additional 10% off. Keep that in mind if you decide to pull the trigger. Also, be sure to remove the positive-stop depth adjustment click ball thing (you'll see).
Overall I can't really recommend it because this is a bad investment - you will inevitably want to get better planer in the end. “Real” planers hold their value fairly well also. Check craigslist for used hitachis. However, I'm unaware of any other comparable planers at that price point, so do what you have to do.
The Harbor freight planer sucks flat out. its not going to do much for you, the adjustment sucks. Scour the classifieds like Mako said. My Hitachi Modified Clarks were both around 100 bucks. My skils 80 and 190. Look on Ebay for stuff spelled wrong. Thats how I got the 80 dollar Skil. listed at 79.99 and got no bids. Works perfect.
Theres a quote, ill probably butcher it but the gist is “The best tool is the one you only have to buy once”
Also 2 quarts you would have to be almost perfect on your glassing. None on the floor.
Im surprised theres not any monthly rate places around here like in SD and Santa Cruz
Paying to rent shaping space isn’t awesome, but try living in an area where that’s not even availaible–and at the same time live in an apartment where you can’t shape a damn thing. There are surfers in places like NYC who would kill to have your options.
I agree with ghettorat. The cheap route can get you by for now, but if you have a deep seeded desire to be a great craftsman, you’ll open your eyes. Customize your tool kit and make great products. There’s a quality problem in nearly every industry and it comes down to cheapness, the lack of care, and instant gratification.
Case in point: while people drool over $10 planers at Harbor Freight, I’m restoring & accessorizing iconic machines:
I wasn’t asking for pitty, or for anything to be given to me. Well except for advice, which you didn’t actually give. I’m gonna buy my own tools I just wasn’t sure if I should buy them now or hold off and keep using a shaping room.
It’s about the motor, amps. machine life, durability, servicablility and ultimately: customization.** It depends on how many boards you’re making. If it’s a couple shorties, you don’t even need a planer. bigger projects, frequently mowing down a lot of foam? -yep, a planer is key. **A good one if you’re gonna get one. You can-force rocker foam to a stringer w/some clamps; there’s tricks to save foam and save money if you’re low on funds. Don’t necessarily need a planer period.
I’m biased, in-favor of hardcore well-made tools. That is my advice. If you make 1-2 boards a year, a shaperoom to rent is not bad to have accest to that. A buddy’s garage is a different animal. He better be cool, also a shaper and want to make room for your setup. Right?
I shaped a few surfboards without powertools just to prove I could do it. With 60 dollars you can buy a spoke shave, a block plane, a surform (cheese grater) and some sand paper. Make your own sanding blocks, shaping stands ect........
I'm sure your dad has some old tools you can use....and everyone has a friend that wants a board...so get people to pitch in.........and right about the time you think surfboard building is expensive.....look into dirt bikes or boating.
Craigs list is your friend. So is this crazy sight called Swaylocks. Pick up an old unmodified hitachi on CL I have seen them selling for around $40 and less. Next look up how to modify a Hitachi to be more like the Clark Hitachi.
Yes, but the prototypes are hand built. Until I have access to an ABS 3D printer, I’m selling them coupled with the planers I rebuild. Keeping an eye out for another 7.5amp 100…
You know who is making them: Fiberglass Hawaii; they developed a direct up unit from a glass molding I think. I was talking with Grant there.
My fav from the set I prototyped is the offset stubby. I think ABS or some cast aluminum would be killer for these units. Need to cozy up to a fabricator and get some made. If you can’t get one from Fiberglass Hawaii PM me, I throw something together.
no disrepect to Nico_Seal throwing up rarified planer shots, I just take a hard stance on a couple things, bro.
was thinking about that FoamEZ rental fee again: if I moved back to Southern California and didn’t have a solid setup, I would definitely plunk down the $60 for the box rental. Main reason why is because shaping and glassing is dirty nasty work, and why would I want to pin that on some landlord or a buddy’s garage?
Extracting & controlling dust is huge. I look at that as big criteria when I build hulls. Assess your new shape digs: I ask myself if I can contain the entirety of the mess. If not, I don’t shape.
The one thing that is worth $10 is a tyvek suit. Even on tight budget, that’s a must for me. Who cares about planers; grab some 40 grit and 2x4 and make a magic board.
The other nice thing about SoCal is having access to shape robots. If I was making a few boards every now and again, I’d save my money and draw my shapes, put it toward the home-grown operation and get a perfectly milled shape instead of sending my money toward a Chinese junk planer. I love hand-shaping, but hey, another option and likely better results if the primary objective is generating your own shapes.
