They are big and beasty, I love mine. Ive seen recent ones sell on ebay for 300 non clark modded and a Clark modded for 450, However ive seen them sell as cheap as 50 bucks as well.
That’s pretty much all I use, having a great one that was a gift from Balsa years back. Again, pretty much all I shape is balsa with a very occasional something else. A heavy beast, but with sharp blades it’ll be a pleasure on longer cuts and stringers, no worries there!
I got mine on eBay about 5 yrs ago for $75 and it was practically new. I had to look for 2 yr before I found a 110v version. Then I had “Jeff” at US Blanks do all the Clark mods with pieces he had laying around. It is a beast; heavy and a bit awkward compared to the P20SB. But, man it can mow foam. I use it for skinning and foiling my longboards. I got the idea from Jim Phillip’s video and then watched Ricky Carrol win two shape-offs using one.
Hi Tomas,
Just picked up a 9/10 condition F30A on eBay for $90. Its gnarly! What were the mods Jeff did for you to make it more shaper friendly?
Short Answer: All of them
Long Answer: While at Clark Foam, Jeff Holtby was instrumental in the developement of the Clark Hitachi Planer, beginning with the F30A, and continuing with the smaller P20SB version that replaced the F30A. His name was given to me by my friend, Steve Boehne (Infinity Surfboards). In early 2006, Steve was giving me a couple of shaping tips, and when he grabbed my planer (a stock Hitachi), to demonstrate his point, he quickly discovered it was not a Clark. He impatiently suggested that I call Jeff to get a “real” planer. I bought my first used Clark Hitachi P20SB from Jeff (a Clark “demo” unit) a couple of months later, and Jeff’'s Shaper’s Edge supplied my sharpened blades.
Later in 2006, Jeff became one of the founders of US Blanks, but I still knew him as the “Clark Planer Guru”. Three years later, immediately after obtaining my F30A, I contacted Jeff with the hopes that he might be able to convert my F30 to a “real” Clark planer. Sure enough, Jeff had enough F30 parts “lying around” to convert my F30. One morning I gave it to Ernie the USB delvery truck driver, and about a week or so later, I picked up my completely modified Clark Hitachi F30A at KKL. Full mods included: !/4 turn full-cut front shoe, rubber kob, sealed bearings, 20’ cord, vacuum hose port, special grind blades and machine work on foot plates. Here’s a photo http://www.swaylocks.com/swaylopedia/image/clark-hitachi-f30ap20sb
Wow. I have a P20SB and had no idea the F30A could be modified in that fashion. To me, the F30 looks like it could plane an Oak tree with no problem. I hope I can take advantage of those mods as well one day. If worse comes to worse, I’ll use it for removing crust from longboards and making mincemeat out of burley stringers as Jeffrey mentions. What’s cool is the planer came with an additional 2sets of brand new blades and is in like new condition.
Thanks Brothers!
On with my addition.