AW #131.pdf - Karatunov.net

We tested fifteen portable planers, falling into four price
ranges. All the models in the $200 to $300 range worked
well, but lacked some of the features that improve quality of
cut and ease of set-up. Ifyou're planning on spending $300
to $400, our pick is the Ridgid R4330. It packs in a lot of fea-
tures at a great price. For a hundred bucks more, the Steel
Max
Height
Three-Knife Cutterhead X
Forrr Liftino Screws X
fwGSoeed Feed Rate X
DeDth{f-Cut lndicator X
Deoth Stoos
lndexed Knrves
1 Hotatron ot Herghl
Crank Foualsl/16-in.
ower
X
ono Tables (over 33") X
City 40200 is a real steal. It has all the best features excePt a
blower which you can live without. The top price category
(over $500) has two standout planers: the Craftsman 21759
and the DeWalt DW735. Missing from our test are Hitachi,
Metabo and Shop Fox all of whom are coming out with new
models that were not available for this test.
ovER $5()()
CRAFTSMAN 21759, $53O DEWALT
This is the first benchtop
planer with digital
readout, but it also has
a standard analog
scale. lts beds are
longer than all other
olaners we tested.
Feature Yes No
This planer has a
very low profile.
Changing the knives
is particularly easy.
Folding infeed and
outfeed tables are
available as an
accessory ($60).
Bed Length
with
Extension
Tables
Number
of Lifting
Screws
Headlock
Depthof-Cut
lndicator
Depth
Stops
One-
Tum
Removes Dust
Hood
DW735. $550
Feature Yes No
Three-Kni{e Cutterhead
Four Lrftrno Screws
Two-Soeed Feed Rate
)eoth-of -Cut Indrcator
)epth Sloos
lnaJexeal K
I Hotatron 01 He gnl
^renlz
trn,,elc1/1A,in
)wet
LonoTables (over 33 )*
*
accessorV
Port
Diameter
6-114"
6-114',
6-112',
b
o
23-1t2"
39"
3s',
33"
37-314'**
2
4
L
2
4
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y***
Y
Y
N
Y {6{ixed}
Y (adi.)
Y (4-fixed)
Y (6-fixedl
/1 6"
1/16"
r/1 6'.
u16'.
1/1 6"
Y
Y
Y
Y
2-114"
4',&2-114',
4',&2-U4',
4"
4" &2-114',
6-U8"
6'
6-1/4"
t)
6-114',
6'
27"
37"
30'
34'
34'
14"+
2
2
2
I
4
2
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y(6{ixed}
Y (adi.)
Y (8{ixed)
Y (8{ixed}
N
2mm
1/16',
2mm
t/16"
1/r 6"
l/1 6'
N
Y*
Y+
Y
Y
Yt
NA
4
4',
4',&2-114',
4',&2-1t4"
6-1/8' 34-112', 4 N Y Y (8-fixed) r/16" Y 4
6' 23" 2 N N N 2mm Y +
h 37" I Y Y Y (6-fixed)) 1/1 6' Y 4"
o 37" z Y Y Y (6-fixedl r/16" Y
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