Planer Thicknesser Choices

[heimlaga]

Why with the cheaper planars like the Record is the fence always so much shorter than the bed??

Martin, who probably vie with Altendorf to be the best of the best, say if you know what you're doing then a shortish fence is all you really need.

http://scosarg.com/martin-t54-surface-planer

Think about it, by the time you're laying a face side of a component flat against the planer fence you've already ensured that face is dead flat, so a fairly short fence is ample. Machine planing follows the same routine as hand planing, you make a true face first, and then you make a true edge referenced from the true face.

I agree with custard. There is no need for a long fence if the first face that goes against it is flat.
My Stenberg combination is 2,4 metres long mesured over the surfacer tables but the fence is only 90 centimetres. It is long enough.

 

[transatlantic]

Why with the cheaper planars like the Record is the fence always so much shorter than the bed??

Martin, who probably vie with Altendorf to be the best of the best, say if you know what you're doing then a shortish fence is all you really need.

http://scosarg.com/martin-t54-surface-planer

Think about it, by the time you're laying a face side of a component flat against the planer fence you've already ensured that face is dead flat, so a fairly short fence is ample. Machine planing follows the same routine as hand planing, you make a true face first, and then you make a true edge referenced from the true face.

Fair enough