A new toy...a planer

[Rivari]

The tax refund hit recently and I am wanting a new toy, more specifically a planer. I have little info to go on as to which model/type will best serve me so I am asking for your input. Thanks folks.

[Neal Moore]

Rivari....Don't know if you're looking for a joiner planer or just a surface planer. I've been looking at the 13" DeWalt in Woodcraft catalog and drooling!! It's around $500 but if the planer is anything like my DeWalt scroll saw I expect it's a good value. I've been paying a local wood shop to do my planing but I'd love to have one of my own.

[CanadianScroller]

I have a 12" Delta planer, made for Canadian Tire under the Mastercraft name.
I love it, it has served me well. Although the blades are disposable they can be turned over end for end to get double the milage.
I havent had much problem with snipe and the planer has enough horsepower to remove a fair amount of material without bogging down.
One thing I do have to comment on is the noise level of any planer. I live in a townhouse and I warn my neighbours before I fire it up. No sense waking the dead!

As far as the width of cut, I have yet to get a board wider than 12 inches to cut. I know there is always gluing boards together to increase the width but I have had no need so far.
I also have a thickness sander which I use for thinner material. This has no width limit. Either tool is a good choice.

[Sykox]

I'll be darned if I can find the magazine but one of the woodworking mags recently had a pretty nice review on several of the popular portable planers. I think I gave the mag to my father as he was in the market. As I recall most of the ones they reviewed were nice but for value and quality the Delta scored really well. The Rigid, Home Depot, scored really well also, which is what my Dad picked up. He's very pleased with it.

I have no clue. I've done enought research. I'd like to get one some day, if I could afford it. The RBI looks really nice. But I doubt that'll ever fit a budget for me.

[Rivari]

Thanks for the input; I did have my sights on the Dewalt (I forget the model) but I will check the competition out as well before making a choice.

[PiALaModem]

Stick with the big boys. Your impulse to go with DeWalt is good. I'd avoid Ridgid because they can't spell "rigid" and if they can't even spell their own name how could they make a decent tool? Just kidding. I'd avoid both Ridgid and Ryobi because they are exclusive to Home Depot and Home Depot refuses to carry parts or cover any service or act like any kind of responsible retailer. Just try to get planer knives for a Rdgid (sic) or Ryobi planer, or even basic needs like sandpaper for a Ryobi detail sander...you can't.

DeWalt, Delta, Jet. I am willing to listen to a case for other manufacturers, but they have to provide parts and service in a reasonable way.