I’m considering manufacturing an updated copy of the Skil 100 with an aluminum body. This is nothing like the Clark/Hitachi product, but has the true ergonomics and reliability like the Skil(and made in CA). Because it is only of interest to shapers and not the general woodworking market, the cost will be high due to the low volume; about $1500. Despite the cost, I’ve received positive response from several well known shapers around Dana Point/San Clemente. I’d like to get input from Swaylocks readers. Thanks all
Realizing this would not be an exact replica, what “updates” would be made in order to justify the added cost from a purchaser’s viewpoint? Would it weigh about the same as the Skil 100? Perhaps variable speed? Cordless?
One thing makes the Skil 100 so good is the weight, if you make it from alum it really wouldnt be any better than a Hitachi, too light.
What with investment casting, cad-cam and all, that’s really not an unreasonable price. When you consider that this is pretty much the major tool in the shaper’s quiver. When I think about what kind of $ I have tied up in the tools I need to do boat work out of the back of a pickup truck ( on the order of $6000 US ) and what I have sitting in my workshop for woodwork alone, that’s downright cheap. I have, once or twice, considered asking Skil to see if they have the original dies and such to make the beast and go from there. Questions: Would this be ‘close enough’ that you’d have parts interchangability with the original Skil 100? Lot of guys out there with a Skil that has a busted casting or something that’d happily buy one to refit. What kind of numbers are you talking about in this production run? What modifications? Given that there’s a number of woodworkers too ( like boat guys sick of plastic planers ) would it be a move to work in some stuff that’d increase your production run and lower your per-item cost? Thanks doc…
We thought of this a few years ago.The numbers didn’t add up.But if you can mill them yourself you may be on to something.You could also have the parts cast in Taiwan and do the final machining yourself.There was a problem legaly with an aluminum motor housing.The grip may have to be plastic for safety rules.Look at the Bosch planer and make a skil nose for it,they are good planers.As the guys say weight is one of the Skil assets.
there are already 2 planers that resemble the skil in the same way, the longshoe, the weight etc, one is the Ryobi L series and one is made by a company that starts with V which name escapes me right now, both retail for under 400.00
yeah what he said
As far as I know the tooling for the Skil was destroyed.Ted at Fiberglass Hawaii bought two of the large Virutex door planes for testing and they determined that the front shoe was too large for shaping…its almost half the length of the planers base.We had a contact in a Taiwan foundry who said they could copy anything cast in aluminum if they had an original machine to clone.The motor was going to be a problem.As for parts I think that Infinity Surfboards had a guy who was CNC milling new front shoes.I like the idea and I hope it works out.Be aware that they are on Ebay almost weekly.The average price seems to be around 650 dollars depending this an that.The safety issues on a new machine were also tricky,we were told that a Skil 100 in its original form would not pass current elctrical safety specs.There are lots of hungry lawyers skulking about.I am a tool freak so if you do it count me in…make the motor around 12AMPS plus and offer it in 220 volt as an option.Better yet just make a cordless model…now you have something. R. Brucker
I haven’t heard of anyone using these to shape surfboards. For those (like Roger) who like a little more power and weight, here are a couple that might work. http://www.timberwolftools.com/tools/kind/planers.html
Thanks everyone for your responses; I’m going for it. The updates are minor: 3.25 wide reversible blades (std. type), slightly smaller motor diameter,almost same weight as Skil, all CNC machined alum parts, gold anodized, motor exhaust chip extraction (L or R) with optional vac adapter, sealed bearings. The front depth adjustment is like the Skil after you bend the lever. Yes, the Bosch is a good planer but it has the same Hitachi problem with the housing hitting on one side in deep cuts. Safety wise, it will comply with all the IEC 601/UL reg’s but I’m not going to register it right now (costs $25K for each, and another $25K for a CE mark). A plastic handle isn’t needed if the grounding scheme is done right. I will be doing trials with some key shapers in March, who will be endorsing it. When everything is ready for commercial access, I’ll post a pic and contact info here in advance of the regular advertising. Also Bosch/Skil is aware of this effort and is glad get you guys off their back.
Pete I am stoked.I hope you do OK.Sounds like you took it farther than we did.While you are at it why not design a better grit drum,one that will acrually exhaust the dust without having to use a vac systemm.I once thought of a cutting head that consisted of a stacking system of blades.My thoughts were something similiar to the carbide dado sets for table saws on a smaller scale.It would be cross between a planer head and a grit drum…maybe the best of both worlds.One other thought is that this tool may be good for the boat guys and the carpenters.The long skil base is good and bad depending upon what you need it for,maybe you could design the base with tail inserts so you can change the overall length.This was a suggestion from a boat builder buddy who thinks he could sell a bunch of them if they were right…even at $1500.00 a pop.Check out a Magazine called “Wooden Boat” and you will see some folks with deep pockets. R. Brucker
Oh wow… I want one of each. Those and that neat little portable bandsaw… doc…
What, no mother-of-pearl handles??
Pete Just found this old Thread. Did you ever get this planer off the ground? Or are you making any of them now?