P/T or P+T for kitchen project and house DIY?

[EdK]

Hi everyone,
I've been looking at increasing the rate that I work on the house renovation project and am thinking that some kind of planer /- thicknesser would be a good idea.

I've got the following projects to start/complete:

1 - kitchen from scratch (nothing currently)
2 - garden bench in oak (simple square joinery without a back just to practice joints etc - more or less completed by hand tools alone)
3 - shelving around the house
4 - bedroom built in cupboards
5 - woodworking bench for hand tool working

I've got alot of scrap wood for free (piles in every room...) most of it is 2m long and about 50mm square and a mix of maple / walnut / oak and some random unidentifiable wood with Republic of Congo printed on the side).

Anyway, I've been using hand tools mostly cos I work at night after the day job but it's taking a long time and I have alot to do...

I think that I need power tools with an induction motor or ones that run quietly.
I need tools that I can move - I don't have permanent space for them and will be working in a bedroom temporarily.

I was looking at a combination tool but also reading around it seems you get a better set up if you get a pair of tools (planer and thicknesser).

I'm not scared of using hand planes so was wondering if a good compromise would be to get the cheapest Axminster p/t MB9020 (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod801599/)
The width might be a bit limiting at 200mm but it should increase my rate of work for the majority of the kitchen and possibly shelving projects?

It seems like a cheap way of getting some power tool help for a temporary period and then I'll probably go back to hand tools and slow projects for enjoyment.

Having said that I guess I could get something portable but more sturdy for use after the mandatory house projects:
Axminster AW106PT2 (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod650093/)

Then I was thinking about getting separates:

Axminster CT1502 : http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod370404/
Axminster MB1933 : http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod820796/

I love making stuff but all the time is on the house at the moment, but one day I'll get all the DIY done and then have time to make fun stuff...

Anyway, what would you buy?
Thanks,
Ed

 

[Peter T]

A bit of a conflict! You need portable tools but also quiet tools.

I've had both portable separates and a planer/thicknesser. The separates were portable and very noisy, the p/t is large, heavy and quiet, although when cutting wood the noise from all machines was similar.

So, you have a difficult decision. I think it would be a problem to get a p/t up into a bedroom but, on the other hand the noise from the separates would drive the neighbours crazy!

Good luck,

 

[Pond]

Hi Ed,

I made a solid oak kitchen from scratch with just an MB9020, router table and TS200 table saw. It was my first project and all did the job admirably.

The MB9020 is excellent for the money, but it is EXTREMELY noisy, which was a problem for me with neighbours.

For hobby use, I don't see the point in two machines, ie planer and thicknesser. The small machines, even the MB9020 do both quite well.

Andy

 

[EdK]

Thanks Perter T and Pond,
So how noisy is noisy for the MB9020?
I was running a mitre saw and a router yesterday (mitre saw Dewalt DW712 / Dewalt router DW625E) and although noisy I think that the noise level is acceptable for DIY (I asked my girlfriend to see how noisy it was downstairs/outside - seemed ok).

Is the MB9020 alot louder?
I think I would be running it for longer too as I have alot of long but thinnish sections of wood that need planing/thicknessing.

The price is good and I think that if I had a roller at each end it would get through the pile of wood pretty quickly.

Has anyone made any noise reduction boxes for them or is it not possible? There must be some way of reducing the noise?

Having said that, I'm not too fussed on budget so was also looking at the Axminster AWEPT 106 (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod580438/)

It's £390 and 70kg so might be ok in terms of moving it around???

(Damn - just looked and the MB9020 is no longer appearing on the Axminster site).

Is there anything else that I should be considering?

I looked at the DeWalt D27300 as it's 53kg and portable. It's alot more at £807 (http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... /DEWD27300)
but as mentioned the price isn't much of an issue as all the money goes on the house anyway at the moment!
But I'm just wondering if it's worth it when compared to the AWEPT 106?

Also for extraction I was going to go for this: http://www.axminster.co.uk/numatic-numa ... rod782719/
I need something better than a Axminster brand Henry for router and mitre saw dust collection and I think a P/T will kick out the chips...

So still looking for a quiet light machine - reckon the weight has to come in at 70kg or less and the noise level at the most as much as the current tools I run at home.

Thanks for any advice.
Ed

 

[Pond]

Ed,

If noise is an issue don't get an MB9020, seriously!!
They are cheap because they are cheaply made; ie have a brush motor, rather than induction, making it more noisy.

I have a big double garage as a workshop (50m2) and I couldn't run my p/t without ear defenders!

I am taking delivery of an Axminster AW106PT2 p/t next week. Will see how quiet that is!
I think all planers are quite noisy, if for no other reason than smashing whizzing metal blades into timber at 100 times a second tends to create a bit of a din!

Again with extractors, some are noisier than others. Axy give db ratings of all the stuff they sell.

I have a DW712 chopsaw. The MB9020 is a LOT noisier!!!

HTH

 

[Peter T]

As already stated, brush motor = screaming loud, induction motor = quiet hum.

Again, as stated, as soon as the wood starts going through, the noise ramps up. Having said that, I could still hear the motor noise on my DW733 thicknesser even when processing wood. On my PT106, I can't!

Good luck,

 

[EdK]

Thanks - been thinking and now looking at these three:

Metabo HC260C ( £458 + £29 p/p) : http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... /METHC260C

Record PT260X ( £583 + £29 p/p) : http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... /RPWPT260X

Axminster AWEPT106 ( £390 ) : http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod580438/

Any opinions on pros/cons of each of them?
Looks like the Metabo and Record have cast iron tables but the Ax has aluminium tables.

Not sure which would be quieter but all about 70kg to 90kg.

Thanks for any advice !
Ed

 

[Pond]

If they all have induction motors, then the noise should be about the same.

I don't quite understand why the noise of the machine is the 'deal breaker'. Planing wood on a p/t is gonna be pretty noisy whichever machine you do it on!
If it helps most Axminster machines are very good value for money and their customer service record is fantastic. I would ring them and ask their advice!

P

 

[neilyweely]

Think you'll find all 3 of the macines you have listed are in essence the same. Someone may correct me, but I think they all come from the same factory. If you look closely they all look the same at the business end. The guard is a weird lever activated rise and fall affair, dust chute is the same, switch, etc etc......
I have one, mine is a Draper. As I said it is the same as my friends EB/Metabo. Mine cost a song from the local auction. I have yet to use it in anger, but it seems to be a big step up from the Makita thicknesser noise wise anyway, and the Makita is constantly referred to as the quietest in its stable.
So, I would reccommend it, based on limited experience. I guess you should go for the axminster, based on price. As I said, unless someone knows something I don't. As if...... :lol:

HTH

Neil

 

[Dibs-h]

Whilst the induction machines will be quieter than a brushed version - they still aren't quiet. Having a steel cutter block wizzing round at some RPM and then taking slices out of a piece of timber, can't make for a quite machine. I wouldn't want my neighbor running one in his bedroom - in his shed, it wouldn't bother me.

Dibs

 

[EdK]

I've been going round in circles (not helped by festive celebrations/enebriations)...

I think that the quietest I've heard is the water powered P/T in this film (Ben's Mill : http://www.folkstreams.net/film,187 ) Great film for anyone who hasn't seen it.

Anyway, been reading about helical cutters like the Shelix one by Byrd but I guess it's slightly insane financially to fit one to a hobby class machine!

Having said that, the videos I've seen online indicate a substanital reduction in noise which is appealing and would probably mean I could work later in the day with it (neighbours not complaining).

Still looking at the '260' type P/T's (AWEPT106 / PT260X / HC260C).

Was going for the Ax one as the price came down to £280 ex-VAT but they wanted £156 for shipping. I dithered and it's back up to something like £450 again (plus £156 p&p).

Will have a look if they have the Metabo/Record locally after Christmas - in fact these two might be a better machine with the cast iron thicknesser beds (but not the planer bed).

Anyway - thanks for all the advice.
Ed

 

[Shrubby]

Machinery manufacturers have to list the noise output - shy away from any that are cagey about the noise. I would look at running costs - are the blades an industry standard available from any saw doctor.
The best solution might be to soundproof the workroom, this can be simple and effective
Ben's mill is superb, Scott Landis covered it in his workshop book with detailed drawings
Matt