Selecting a 15” Planner, Fixed vs. Moveable Bed *LINK*

Hi,

I am reviewing some selection criteria I have for purchasing a 15-inch planner. I have chosen the brand but they have two models in this category, either one will do.

The planner is a General International, with a 3 Hp motor. The colour was right for my shop (this would make the shop a 6 General Shop). I currently have an old Delta 13-inch model with a 2 Hp motor, although it’s been a solid performer I feel that the 15inch machine will be more in keeping me running in my shop.

Every thing being equal, feed speeds, motors, cutters etc. One model (model 30-125, 539 lbs.) has a bed that moves up and down with a stable head position that stays fixed, the motor is enclosed in the base. The second model (model 30-115, 428 lbs.) has a stable bed position with a head that moves up and down with the motor on top. I am not sure which design will be the best choice.

What would you choose?

Thanks,

Take care,
Jim



General Web Site

Jim, I have on old 15" off shore that has been a real work horse for me but it's bed move up and down, cutting head is fixed. Problem for me is planning long boards where I need the assistance of extra outfeed rollers, need to always adjust for height. If I had to buy another would buy with fixed bed

[Ron in Richmond Hill]

Congratulations on running an all green shop.
Interesting point Mike makes about the beds always being at the same height. Had not considered that before. When I think through all the large planers I've seen, I believe they all have a moveable bed. Certainly that's the case with General's two made in Canada workhorses - the 130 and 330. Any feedback from General?

[Bill MacDonald]

Jim. I bought the King 15" a few years ago. I chose the fixed bed for exactly the same reasons Mike mentioned. I just makes life a whole lot easier having fixed infeed and outfeed heights. Bill

[Stephen Leadbeater]

Even with my little 12.5" delta the bed not moving makes setting up in and outfeed tables much easier.

All the best

Stephen Leadbeater

[Tony Augruso]

I purchased G. I. model with the fixed bed. Main reason was that if you need infeed or outfeed supports and you have a moving bed then you have to adjust the supports with each pass. Major time consumer. A fixed bed is the way to go in a one man shop.

Tony

Hey Jim, I think the theory is that the fixed cutter would have less chance of racking and vibration affecting the quality of cut. Personally I have not found noticeable difference and the convenience of fixed bed would the way I would choose.
Cheers,
Jeff

I have the fixed head , moveable bed 15 in. model. The main advantage to this type is the accessability and ease of changing knives. Also, this fixed head model has two rollers on top to feed boards from outfeed to infeed. I also use these rollers to stack 2-3 boards sometimes.

Otherwise, the fixed bed has its advantages also.

It comes down to prefernece I guess.

Norman

[Pete in Milton]

Fixed bed unless you like adjusting infeed and outfeed rolers.

Hi Jim

I've had the 30-115 for about a year now. I've run maybe 600 bd/ft through it so far, no issues, it's a solid machine. I think the weight on the website is wrong as well, my manual says 540lbs. The other weight may have been with rollers infeed/outfeed as opposed to cast.



For the difference in price between the 2 GI 15" planers, I didn't think it's was worth spending an extra $600.

Mike

Jim

One other point I remembered, isn't your service in your garage only 40A??? You might have problems running that planer and your 5hp cyclone at the same time, that planer draws 18A. Maybe a bit more than your Table Saw.

Mike

Hi Jim.
I have a 15" Tradesmaster with the moveable cutterhead. Its over 20 years old and was well used when I purchased it.

It works well and I like the idea of not having to adjust the height of my mobile outfeed rollers.

I'm sure the GI will be a good machine.

Regards,
John

Thanks Guys,

The fixed bed makes sense....just needed to hear some thoughts on both models.

Thanks again everyone.

take care,
Jim

is that when I wnet through this a few years ago, I was told by two different General (!) dealers that the moveable bed version had a poor performance and durability record. Take that commentary it for the little it's worth, but I ended up buying a Delta, and its excellent folding roller tables are worth the price of admission all by themselves. (You could always paint it...)

Cheers, Garrett

[Gus in Maple]

I 2nd the Delta choice, although you are not supporting a Canadian company the Delta has some great features. Mainly the folding infeed and outfeed tables. Which for me was the main reason I bought this unit, great for saving space and 2nd it comes with a mobile base. Another great feature for me.
Anyways good luck with your purchase.
Gus

Another possibility if you have the space is the GI 20" planer. That extra width is handy from time to time, and of course, by varying where you feed the board, you get extra life from the blades between sharpening.

The 20" model has been around a long time and seems to be trouble free.

The tables are long enough that I rarely need extra support.

Sure it costs more, but you only need to buy this planer once.

Unless there's been some recent change, General sells a 3 knife model rather than the 4 knife model everyone else sells. They insist that it's not possible to build a well balanced 4 knife model.

The planer requires 18 amps and the 2HP dust collector 9 amps. You would need a 30 amp 240 volt circuit for the planer and a 15 amp 240 volt circuit for the dust collector.

Hi Jim,
I'm going through the exercise of choosing a planer too. The fixed vs. movable bed is a non-issue for me . I don't recall using outfeed rollers much if ever. Machines this size would rarely need them imo.

I've looked at the Generals you mention and also the equivalent King models. The castings are identical, there is no doubt in my mind that they are made in the same factory. Apparent differences are the color and price. King runs 400 to 600 less depending on the model. Are the Generals better machines, I don't know but I'm skeptical.

I kinda leaning towards a King and spiral head upgrade from Sunhill. Cost is close to the straight knife General. My jointer has spiral knives, I *really* like them for a number of reasons.

Regards


Sunhill Spirals

How is King service in your area?

I've been toying with the idea of a 15" planer too. Almost pulled the trigger last fall when I saw the Delta X5 15" planer on a crazy price of $1099.

I'm not sure what Delta's future service record will be once the parts inventory issues have been dealt with (they're moving stuff around because of the B&D buyout). But if Delta's service is still as great as it was in the past, then a Delta will find its way in my shop if I can find that price point again.

Cheers,

Allan

Hi Allan

I've already experinced the new Delta.

I bought a Delta ShopMaster compressor from HD about a month ago, when I unpacked it, the plastic shroud was broken. I didn't want to take it back because it was the last one. I called Delta for a replacement, their response was, why didn't you take it back, I exlpained, they took my phone#, I haven't heard back from them.

But I will try again. I think you'll see a change in Delta's service, I've got a shop full of Delta and Porter Cable tools, I was disappointed. General will end up overtaking Delta on the service end.

Mike

Hi Allan,
Sorry, no idea how King service is. There is a "local" (2.5 hours away) dealer FWIW. lol

I'm still mad at Delta from back in the Rockwell Delta days. I expect they will sell me a pile of machines shortly after I start running big panel raisers in a router. The current machines seem ok but I have not operated any of them.

Good luck in your quest, it's been a tough one for me.

Cheers