Just posted to “Resources”>>“Tools” Virutex Woodworking Tools and Machinery- offers a heavy duty planer that might bridge the gap between the Hitachi and the near-extinct Skil 100 and other discontinued heavy duty planers. Cost is about $355.00 at the first online site I could find that stocked them. Tom
While the update to “Resources” is processed- here is the link: http://www.virutex.es/virutex/English/MCE24EI.htm>>> Just posted to “Resources”>>“Tools”>>> Virutex Woodworking Tools and Machinery- offers a heavy duty planer that > might bridge the gap between the Hitachi and the near-extinct Skil 100 and > other discontinued heavy duty planers. Cost is about $355.00 at the first > online site I could find that stocked them.>>> Tom
Thanks for the URL Tom. Although I would love to have that tits condition Skil 100(and I am not sure if I want it just because it is so rare) I am sure glad there are som eoptions out there. I have been waiting for a rumored planer but haven’t heard anything yet.
it looks like a fine tool, but like the designers wanted to give woodworkers and finish carpenters a longer than usual base plate. does this look a little long for shaping to anyone else?
While the update to “Resources” is processed- The link is up. It’s under Materials & Supplies > tools Thanks for the post. S
it looks like a fine tool, but like the designers wanted to give > woodworkers and finish carpenters a longer than usual base plate. does > this look a little long for shaping to anyone else? Even if cut down to the handle, it would be too long I think. Perhaps it would still be good for bottom planing long boards?
Tom, are you 1casurf? Are you going to buy that spanking new Skil 100? I can’t believe the price that thing has reached!!! $2650. You can almost by a shaping machine for that price. Just kidding, but still!!!
Not me, that’s a collector’s piece I suppose. I don’t collect stuff, boards, tools, nothing. If it doesn’t get used it doesn’t stay around my place. Don’t lose sleep over a Skil 100, why bother? A tool is only as good as the person using it. There are some guys who log in on this site that could whittle a better board with a rusty sureform blade than anything I’ve ever turned out of my shop. Just find a tool that feels good to you and one you can keep sharp and tuned up and you’re set. At this point speed is not part of why I like to carve my own boards. The 6’5" R I just used for my son’s new board had me feeling like I cheated, that’s a close toerance blank. TS>>> Tom, are you 1casurf? Are you going to buy that spanking new Skil 100? I > can’t believe the price that thing has reached!!! $2650. You can almost > by a shaping machine for that price. Just kidding, but still!!!
Not me, that’s a collector’s piece I suppose. I don’t collect stuff, > boards, tools, nothing. If it doesn’t get used it doesn’t stay around my > place. Don’t lose sleep over a Skil 100, why bother? A tool is only as > good as the person using it. There are some guys who log in on this site > that could whittle a better board with a rusty sureform blade than > anything I’ve ever turned out of my shop. Just find a tool that feels good > to you and one you can keep sharp and tuned up and you’re set. At this > point speed is not part of why I like to carve my own boards. The > 6’5" R I just used for my son’s new board had me feeling like I > cheated, that’s a close toerance blank.>>> TS That is a good one Tom. I remember carving out a short board out of a …almost a square block (compared to the close tolerance blanks). Sometimes I feel like I’ve cheat after shaping a close t. blank too. However, just as you said about not keeping old unused stuff around…the close tolerance blanks are user friendly and will stick around. Only problem I found is that is you want to try a really wide innovative fish or anything that will go beyond the limits of close t. blanks, then you are s.o.l.
i went back for another look, and stepped back to the page where all the planers are and saw they have a curved power planer, where the base plate adjusts to almost any curve. i remember my dad had a hand powered one for his cabinet work…i didn’t know electric ones existed. anyone ever use one for shaping? or see any use for it? link is below. http://www.virutex.es/virutex/English/MCE96HI.htm
$135.00 a built-in trap shoot for your vac hose that can be bipassed for left hand use.Has a depth control knob like a SB-20,BUT handles more like a skill…plus YOU CAN BUY IT @ HOME DEPOT!(my 3cents)Herb.
i went back for another look, and stepped back to the page where all the > planers are and saw they have a curved power planer, where the base plate > adjusts to almost any curve. i remember my dad had a hand powered one for > his cabinet work…i didn’t know electric ones existed. anyone ever use > one for shaping? or see any use for it? link is below. This type of plane is called compass plane or radius plane. The small Japanese, wooden plane has a fixed arc for cutting nose rocker on the decks. Basham’s has them, an outside curve would be much harder to design as the lines go from nearly dead flat to tight curves. http://www.JimtheGenius@aol.com
Jim: I’m finding that my limited selection of hand planes (1 old medium size stanley and a cheap midget type 2 inch one) might need to be upgraded. Are the small razor-type planers a decent option or is a steel blade that can be resharpened preferred? On sharpening any planer blade (power or hand) what do you find most success with for sharpening. I don’t own a honing guide but it seems that it is the least expensive option to getting a decent edge. Am learning the hard way that “if it ain’t sharp, it ain’t worth using”. Thanks for your comments. Tom > This type of plane is called compass plane or radius plane. The small > Japanese, wooden plane has a fixed arc for cutting nose rocker on the > decks. Basham’s has them, an outside curve would be much harder to design > as the lines go from nearly dead flat to tight curves.
$135.00 a built-in trap shoot for your vac hose that can be bipassed for > left hand use.Has a depth control knob like a SB-20,BUT handles more like > a skill…plus YOU CAN BUY IT @ HOME DEPOT!(my 3cents)Herb. I have a Bosch…it works great considering the sticker price.
I have a Bosch…it works great considering the sticker price…Ya buddy! I believe in time that this planer will catch on,and be a valid option for the home board builders.Herb.PRAY FOR SURF WE NEED IT!!!
Jim:>>> I’m finding that my limited selection of hand planes (1 old medium size > stanley and a cheap midget type 2 inch one) might need to be upgraded. Are > the small razor-type planers a decent option or is a steel blade that can > be resharpened preferred? On sharpening any planer blade (power or hand) > what do you find most success with for sharpening. I don’t own a honing > guide but it seems that it is the least expensive option to getting a > decent edge. Am learning the hard way that “if it ain’t sharp, it > ain’t worth using”. Thanks for your comments.>>> Tom …MY RULE IS IF: you can’t shave the hair off your arms in one pass completely clean, it’s dull. I am a Doc holiday of knives(being that the fastest gunslinger alive)treasured his knives more then his guns,I became a knive collector ,and with that knowledge I also use it to my advantage in sharping tools.John by profession was a D.D.S./ barber.Herb.
So what’s the skinny on sharp tools in your shop? Hand honing w/or without a guide, a killer commercial sharpening setup? Planer blades on both my hand planer(s) and the knives on my electric planer. Spill the beans amigo. I borrowed a friends planer and made a few passes with it while skinning and foiling a 9’1" Y. Very quickly I realized my used pawnshop planer was VERY DULL. TS
So what’s the skinny on sharp tools in your shop? Hand honing w/or without > a guide, a killer commercial sharpening setup? Planer blades on both my > hand planer(s) and the knives on my electric planer. Spill the beans > amigo. I borrowed a friends planer and made a few passes with it while > skinning and foiling a 9’1" Y. Very quickly I realized my used > pawnshop planer was VERY DULL.>>> TS Over the years, I have tried a lot of different sharpening systems, but for extreme portability and high performance simplicity, I have learned to appreciate a (modified) set of military “Lansky” sharpening tools (about $35) that work quite well and are very efficient in maintaining my knives, various other blades, scissors, etc. Along with a good honing oil, I always keep an aerosal can of WD-40 around to lubricate and help keep the different stones blown clean of metal build-up, too.
Herb - Modified Hitachi vs. Bosch??
Thank you Dale, the Lansky system looks like it will fit my budget. Decided it was time I learned a little more about the science of sharpening. Hope this will benefit others, a good primer can be found here on the principles of sharpening anything: http://www.knifeart.com/sharfaqbyjoe.html>>> Over the years, I have tried a lot of different sharpening systems, but > for extreme portability and high performance simplicity, I have learned to > appreciate a (modified) set of military “Lansky” sharpening > tools (about $35) that work quite well and are very efficient in > maintaining my knives, various other blades, scissors, etc. Along with a > good honing oil, I always keep an aerosal can of WD-40 around to lubricate > and help keep the different stones blown clean of metal build-up, too.