Rockwell and Porter-Cable Versa planes model 653...

Archive 1999-2004
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I was wondering if there is still any interest in these beasts for shaping? I have a Rockwell in very good shape and a Porter-Cable in new condition, both are 10 amp monsters, with the majority of boards being machine shaped, are these even considered for production mowing anymore?

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I have one that gets used for boat carpentry work. Nice tool. Prefer it to the old man’s legacy Skil 100 for that sort of thing. Though the spiral cutters are kind of a pain to sharpen. doc…

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AKA- If you are interested in selling that Rockwell, let me know. They are big machines, but I love em! Carl

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Darn Carl, I didn’t think anyone here was interested in it so I listed it on ebay, I thought that $100 was fair for something that would last forever so that’s what I put it up for. I should have waited a bit longer, sorry…

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From my bid-watch list to Swaylocks - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2364269553&category=42283 A couple of years ago I paid well over $450 for a Rockwell 653, slightly newer in gray paint, though admittedly it also came with the sharpening jig and looked like it had been used once as a demonstration model. Spiral cutters still available from Porter-Cable. A boatbuilding buddy of mine picked up three of 'em and stashed them away. Still has two, unused. They discontinued making them only a couple of years ago at which time the list price was around $400 doc… http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2364269553&category=42283

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I saw one of those old Rockwells in a pawn shop last month,they were asking $165.00 dollars for it,they will go lower most of the time.If you like I can go see if its still around.Maybe post their contact info or something like that.I will check it out tomorrow. R. Brucker

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Hey doc, thanks for putting that up for me. I still have this one also, maybe a little more similar to yours with the gray paint. Its one of the last Porter-Cable 653’s.

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Screwed that up, forget that last pic, sorry…

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Yep, that could be its kid brother. Nice tool, feels better in my paws than the Skil I started out with. I have yet to figure out the sharpening jig, though this discussion got me ambitious enough to request a manual from Porter-Cable. Best regards from here amidst the snow doc…