Safe T-Planer

[Rocky McDougall]

I just got my Safe-T-Planer yesterday and started "Testing" on wood scraps. It is a neat tool.
I'm sure many of you use them.
Any tips or cautions?
I guess limit the cuts to about 1/8".
How often does it need resharpening?

[Jazzdogg]

I'm curious about these; in 35-years of woodworking, I've never seen a Safe-T-Planer in use. Do they fill a special niche because they do certain things better than other tools, are they a small affordable tool that's used in shops that aren't equipped with thickness planers and finishing sanders, or what?

[Rocky McDougall]

The Safe-T-Planer is a small disc cutter that you can put in you drill press and plane down wood thickness. I got mine from StewMac for about $60 delivered. It is probably more versitile in a small shop than a full size planer.
Here is a video from Ramirez Basses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YWgXeVaSJw

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by Rocky McDougall

It is probably more versitile in a small shop than a full size planer.

I bought one not too long ago.

+1000 Also excellent for fingerboards and non-tapered necks.

I'm gonna try some of the uses, that the documentation shows too. Take the time and make a good removable fence for it......
you'll thank yourself, helps it start on a piece of wood easier.

But after saying that, it definitely won't make me give up my 12" planer, but it's a good alternative, just in case the planer just won't do.

[Rocky McDougall]

With the proper jig, I don't know why you couldn't contour the back of a neck????

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by Rocky McDougall

With the proper jig, I don't know why you couldn't contour the back of a neck????

Now that is an interesting thought. Except maybe as long as the neck thickness is not tapered, I guess that would be the challenge or changing height a few times, but that would leave steps on the surface though...... Non tapered? That sounds do-able......

[scottyd]

I've used mine quite a bit, haven't had to sharpen it yet. I use mine for smaller material that a planer or jointer is too big for.

[Jazzdogg]

Interesting - thanks for the replies. How well do they handle tearout in highly-figured wood?

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

Now that is an interesting thought. Except maybe as long as the neck thickness is not tapered, I guess that would be the challenge or changing height a few times, but that would leave steps on the surface though...... Non tapered? That sounds do-able......

I use it for tapered necks all the time. Just put a shim under one end.

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

I use it for tapered necks all the time. Just put a shim under one end.

And see? ....This is why my thought of this has not reached your thought level.....well played sir, well played.

[bassmanhamilton]

I've been considering getting one of these. I have a 15" planer with straight knives and it gives me problems with highly figured wood. This seems like the cutter head rotation would lend itself to less tearout. Any experience one way or another?

[Georynn]

I've used it tons of times, and had very little tear out, especially if you go slowly and try not to do too much in one pass...

[Osborne Instr]

Its really funny to me that its called a Safe-t-planer when its the most dangerous tool on earth. They should change the name to yourgoingtoloseafinger-t-planer.

But i have used one quite a bit when i was teaching at a school, i found it not very practical for any application other than not having a thickness planer.

I also had problems with chip out, and the main thing is you better have a really stiff perfectly flat base on your drill press or its gonna be way uneven.

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by Osborne Instr

Its really funny to me that its called a Safe-t-planer when its the most dangerous tool on earth. They should change the name to yourgoingtoloseafinger-t-planer.

Yep. That one and a Dremel.

[bimmer]

I've been a professional woodworker for 25 years, and that is the one tool I can think of that I'd flat out refuse to use. A good, almost foolproof in fact, way of making a tool dangerous is to use it in ways it was never intended to be used. Like turning a drill press into an overhead shaping machine for instance.There's just no way of sewing back on what that could remove. My .02.

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by bimmer

I've been a professional woodworker for 25 years, and that is the one tool I can think of that I'd flat out refuse to use. A good, almost foolproof in fact, way of making a tool dangerous is to use it in ways it was never intended to be used. Like turning a drill press into an overhead shaping machine for instance.There's just no way of sewing back on what that could remove. My .02.

I partially agree. When I first got one I tried it on a drill press and it seemed way to dangerous. I love in on my gearhead mill though.

[scottyd]

Last I looked all of the tools in my shop are dangerous, being carefull with any power tool is a must!

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by scottyd

Last I looked all of the tools in my shop are dangerous, being carefull with any power tool is a must!

+1000, EVERY tool has it's own danger. We all take that risk, without signing a waiver. This isn't gym class, right?

[Osborne Instr]

I have noticed that the blades dull very fast. When they do go bad it doesnt work well imo.

[vbasscustom]

neatest little tool ever. i use mine all the time on fingerboards. usually only on harder woods that i dont want to have dull up my planer blades.