I'm working on a remodel and have a bunch of cherry and other random boards to plane. I originally planned to use my Makita 2040, which I got for $200, but after replacing the urethane rollers for $400, I'm now considering upgrading to a helical/carbide cutting head that costs around $1,200, making my total investment about $1,800. My Makita is a 120V machine with a 15" width.
However, I'm also thinking about selling the Makita and purchasing a Grizzly planer instead. It's a heavier 240V model on sale for about $2,200 (plus tax). While it has had mostly good reviews, one user reported that all three belts disintegrated after just 15 hours, which raises some concerns about its durability. Since I likely won't use a planer very often, I'm torn between continuing with the Makita or going for the Grizzly, even if it may not be the superior machine. What do you all think?
1 Answer
If you're not dealing with tricky grain, I’d say it’s hard to justify dropping cash on a new planer for just this one project. The Makita has a rep for being a solid bench-top machine if it’s the one I’m thinking of. Just keep those blades sharp and sort out dust collection to avoid a massive mess. One perk of the Makita is that it’s relatively quiet compared to other bench tops!
You make a good point! I think the Makita can definitely serve well for a home shop if maintained properly. Plus, it's built like a tank, which is already a big plus!