I took delivery of my long-awaited Scheppach HMS-260ci Planer/Thicknesser last week, and finally got time (and space) to get it operational on Saturday.
First off, the machine was supplied fully assembled by Homewood, who carried it up the steps to my house, and to the workshop at the borrom of the garden. Dave (from Homewood) and his son, must both be 6' tall, and they really struggled with the wieght of this machine. The layout of my house does not really allow use of a carriage or pallet truck. I prefer my machines to be fully assembled, which (as discussed elsewhere) doens't give you as much of an insight on fine-tuning it for later, but it does allow you to use it after a "perfect" setup, and you then have a good reference point for just how good it should be. Also, having limited workshop time, it's another job I don't have time for! The final caveat is that I trust Dave to set it up as well (or better) than I could do myself. In other circumstances (distributors), given the speed and blades, I'd want the reassurance of doing this myself.
First off, I removed the gaurds and gave the castings a coat of lubricating wax. The thicknesser bed was covered in a sheet of anti-rust paper. I peeled this off, and first degreased, then waxed the cast thicknesser bed.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The cast tables seemed to be finished to a good standard, and had slight "scallops" to reduce surface friction.
click on image for larger view[/code]
I'm checking the fence for squareness. Their is a small allen-screw to fine tune this. The fence seemed very solid and "chunky" and has been overhauled since the previous model. The aluminium extrusion seemed well built, and the metal plates on the angle adjuster were solid and easy to adjust.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Checking the other end! It's still spot on!
click on image for larger view[/code]
WIth it all adjusted for squareness, I stuck on the "angle" sticker, to match precisely the settings I had just setup. Despite this, I prefer to use a square just to check.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The machine is supplied with an extractor port - to allow fitting of 100mm pipe, and having already provisioned my extractor setup to provide a nearby blast gate, I connected it up. The same fitting is used when in both planing, and thicknessing mode.
click on image for larger view[/code]
To switch to thicknessing mode, you have to release the table (using a very solid handle) and then lift one ond of the table up out of the way.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Again, looking underneath, the casting seems to have plenty of metal to it.....
click on image for larger view[/code]
The hinges on the bed seem very well engineered - they were smooth, but seemed to me to be very solid
click on image for larger view[/code]
With the table bed up out the way, you flip round the deflector plate which acts as both a gaurd and a connection port for the extractor.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Here it is with extractor hose connected....
click on image for larger view[/code]
The thicknesser is adjusted through a handwheel.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Read the instructions?????? One of the things that terribly let down Scheppach is their instructions, they are awful. I'd seriously suggest having a look around for instruction manuals for similar(ish) machines on the Axminster site, as their is no extra info on the NMA website. (how bad is that - having to use opposition websites as the information/manual is so poor)..... In fairness though, NMA are tremendously helpful on the phone, and did post me through a setup "cribsheet" for my tablesaw, so it's not that the information doesn't exist - it's just lack of access to it. Definately an area for impovement though...
click on image for larger view[/code]
ON/OFF switches are easily located, and a lever engages/disengages the feed rollers should you need to stop a piece.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The second thing that lets all Scheppach products down is their crappy wheel kits. I've replaced it with a propietary one here. The Scheppach one is basically two wheels on an axle, which you have to rock/tilt the machine forward, to let the axle fall into the "wheel position" then you push it along on just the two wheels. It's difficult, and unstable to move, and the axle frequently jams. I'd suggest you throw the wheel kit away - it's worse than useless and if you damage the machine as a result of trying to use it you'd be cursing. Anyway - I bought this replacement kit from Rutlands (£50) and it's just the business. (In case you are wondering, I bought the Scheappch wheel kit for the tablesaw and it's possibly the least functional/most expensive item I've ever had in my workshop)
click on image for larger view[/code]
Now to business - whats it like to use?
Well, it's relatively quiet - I was impressed with how little noise it made. I ran some oak through it, and the motor hardly changed pitch. The finish from the planer was very good, some "scallops" - probably 'cos I didn't have an optimum manual feed rate. I ran the same piece through again, usnig the fence, and it measured exactly 90 degrees. Excellent!
I then switched to thicknesser mode, and ran it through again. What can I saw - WOW! The finish was completely smooth - absolutely not a trace of "scallops". The rubber feed rollers really must smooth out the undulations you normally get from a toothed-drive roller.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The machine retails for about £800 - £850. I'd suggest the wheel kit which is often included "free" is worthless - perhaps it's cheap way to clear their warehouse of them!
The finish is spectacular - you could get away without running a smoother on it - it's so good! ;-) The switchover from planing to thicknessing is pretty swift - helped by the hinged table. I've been racking my brains, and I don't think at any price level I've ever seen such a good finish out of a thicknesser before, and I reckon I've personally seen the finish of about 5-6 machines, of which 3 were "industrial" quality, and the others all in the £800-£2000 price bracket.
A very very happy Adam.... :lol: :lol: :lol:
First off, the machine was supplied fully assembled by Homewood, who carried it up the steps to my house, and to the workshop at the borrom of the garden. Dave (from Homewood) and his son, must both be 6' tall, and they really struggled with the wieght of this machine. The layout of my house does not really allow use of a carriage or pallet truck. I prefer my machines to be fully assembled, which (as discussed elsewhere) doens't give you as much of an insight on fine-tuning it for later, but it does allow you to use it after a "perfect" setup, and you then have a good reference point for just how good it should be. Also, having limited workshop time, it's another job I don't have time for! The final caveat is that I trust Dave to set it up as well (or better) than I could do myself. In other circumstances (distributors), given the speed and blades, I'd want the reassurance of doing this myself.
First off, I removed the gaurds and gave the castings a coat of lubricating wax. The thicknesser bed was covered in a sheet of anti-rust paper. I peeled this off, and first degreased, then waxed the cast thicknesser bed.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The cast tables seemed to be finished to a good standard, and had slight "scallops" to reduce surface friction.
click on image for larger view[/code]
I'm checking the fence for squareness. Their is a small allen-screw to fine tune this. The fence seemed very solid and "chunky" and has been overhauled since the previous model. The aluminium extrusion seemed well built, and the metal plates on the angle adjuster were solid and easy to adjust.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Checking the other end! It's still spot on!
click on image for larger view[/code]
WIth it all adjusted for squareness, I stuck on the "angle" sticker, to match precisely the settings I had just setup. Despite this, I prefer to use a square just to check.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The machine is supplied with an extractor port - to allow fitting of 100mm pipe, and having already provisioned my extractor setup to provide a nearby blast gate, I connected it up. The same fitting is used when in both planing, and thicknessing mode.
click on image for larger view[/code]
To switch to thicknessing mode, you have to release the table (using a very solid handle) and then lift one ond of the table up out of the way.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Again, looking underneath, the casting seems to have plenty of metal to it.....
click on image for larger view[/code]
The hinges on the bed seem very well engineered - they were smooth, but seemed to me to be very solid
click on image for larger view[/code]
With the table bed up out the way, you flip round the deflector plate which acts as both a gaurd and a connection port for the extractor.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Here it is with extractor hose connected....
click on image for larger view[/code]
The thicknesser is adjusted through a handwheel.
click on image for larger view[/code]
Read the instructions?????? One of the things that terribly let down Scheppach is their instructions, they are awful. I'd seriously suggest having a look around for instruction manuals for similar(ish) machines on the Axminster site, as their is no extra info on the NMA website. (how bad is that - having to use opposition websites as the information/manual is so poor)..... In fairness though, NMA are tremendously helpful on the phone, and did post me through a setup "cribsheet" for my tablesaw, so it's not that the information doesn't exist - it's just lack of access to it. Definately an area for impovement though...
click on image for larger view[/code]
ON/OFF switches are easily located, and a lever engages/disengages the feed rollers should you need to stop a piece.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The second thing that lets all Scheppach products down is their crappy wheel kits. I've replaced it with a propietary one here. The Scheppach one is basically two wheels on an axle, which you have to rock/tilt the machine forward, to let the axle fall into the "wheel position" then you push it along on just the two wheels. It's difficult, and unstable to move, and the axle frequently jams. I'd suggest you throw the wheel kit away - it's worse than useless and if you damage the machine as a result of trying to use it you'd be cursing. Anyway - I bought this replacement kit from Rutlands (£50) and it's just the business. (In case you are wondering, I bought the Scheappch wheel kit for the tablesaw and it's possibly the least functional/most expensive item I've ever had in my workshop)
click on image for larger view[/code]
Now to business - whats it like to use?
Well, it's relatively quiet - I was impressed with how little noise it made. I ran some oak through it, and the motor hardly changed pitch. The finish from the planer was very good, some "scallops" - probably 'cos I didn't have an optimum manual feed rate. I ran the same piece through again, usnig the fence, and it measured exactly 90 degrees. Excellent!
I then switched to thicknesser mode, and ran it through again. What can I saw - WOW! The finish was completely smooth - absolutely not a trace of "scallops". The rubber feed rollers really must smooth out the undulations you normally get from a toothed-drive roller.
click on image for larger view[/code]
The machine retails for about £800 - £850. I'd suggest the wheel kit which is often included "free" is worthless - perhaps it's cheap way to clear their warehouse of them!
The finish is spectacular - you could get away without running a smoother on it - it's so good! ;-) The switchover from planing to thicknessing is pretty swift - helped by the hinged table. I've been racking my brains, and I don't think at any price level I've ever seen such a good finish out of a thicknesser before, and I reckon I've personally seen the finish of about 5-6 machines, of which 3 were "industrial" quality, and the others all in the £800-£2000 price bracket.
A very very happy Adam.... :lol: :lol: :lol: