What width of board will this plane???

There is actually 13" between the guides, but I don't think I'd try putting anything bigger than 12 1/2" through it. The board could pinch if it gets cocked in there. Remember that you need to take into account the width of the board you want to plane (whether wide or narrow) and also the density of the wood as you lower the cutter heads after each pass. If I'm planing something such as Douglas fir, I turn the crank down 1/2 a turn. If I'm doing something like maple, I'll only turn the crank down a 1/4 or even a1/6 of a turn, especially if it's a wide board, too. When you put your board through for the first pass, if you have a 3/4" board for instance, you may want to set the depth gauge a little bit higher...it won't hurt anything if it's too high, but if there's any sort of crown or twist to your board, it will keep the machine from bogging down. Same goes when you're lowering the depth gauge, if you're not sure, err on the side of caution. The material that your planer spits out should be paper thin, about a 1/4" wide, and 2 or more inches long. If it's just a bunch of little chips, say 1/4" x 1/2", you're probably planing against the grain. Flip the board over the narrow way, and send it through again. Once you've been doing it for a while, you'll be able to tell from the sound of the machine if you're going against the grain or trying to take too much off at once. Oh, one other thing, I have found that it you can't find 13" replacement blades, 12-1/2" ones will work, you just have to be careful to keep your board 1/4" to 1/2" away from the edge guide.

For the people that have sniping issues, have you figured anything out? I made a planer bed but still get sniping....

I also made a planer board with no benefit. The only way I have found to minimize the snipe is the raise the infeed higher than the level of the plane. This creates more downward pressure on the board as it feeds through and prevents some rocking.

If I had to choose between a jointer and a planer which should I choose?

The two tools kind of go together; you flatten one side of a board on a jointer, then get it so that it is all the same thickness with a planer. That said, you can use a planer to make a board flatter, but it won't be perfect. Start by running the board through on it's most stable side, making sure to go with the grain and just take a minimal amount off of that side, say a 1/16th or less so that you just get the high points. Flip the board and do the same thing on the other side, again a minimal amount, until you've got both sides fully planed. If your board is bowed, take most of your cuts on the high side, and it will lessen the tension that's causing the bow; again, it won't be perfect, but it should be better.

Brand	Delta
Material	Cast Iron
Color	Black
Product Dimensions	23.63"L x 21.63"W x 20.13"H
Item Weight	58 Pounds
Style	Disposable
Power Source	AC
Base Material	Cast Iron
Cutting Depth	0.09 Inches
Included Components	Planer, Wrenches
Cutting Width	13 Inches
Amperage	15 Amps
UPC	847962005069
Manufacturer	Delta Power Tools
Global Trade Identification Number	00847962005069
Part Number	22-555
Item Weight	58 pounds
Item model number	22-555
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Item Package Quantity	1
Number of Handles	2
Batteries Included?	No
Batteries Required?	No
Warranty Description	5 Year Limited Warranty

Delta - 13 in. Portable Thickness Planer

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Common Questions