Harbor Freight Wood Planer

ed101 · 02-22-2009, 04:38 PM

Does anyone have experience with the Central Machinert Model 97040 15" planer. The manual says the minimum it planes to is 1 1/2", which seems strange. Thanks

Mark · 02-24-2009, 01:03 AM

Not familiar with that model 97040, I did look through the manual, and it does state pretty plainly 1-1/2" minimum planing thickness. That seems kind of silly.

Taggart · 02-28-2009, 07:50 AM

My only experience with a planer was in wood shop back in high school, but I agree that a minimum thickness of 1 1/2 inches would seem to limit the projects that you could use that particular planer for.

Larry Norton · 04-03-2009, 07:47 AM

Ed, there's an old adage, "Buy a cheap tool, buy it twice, buy a good one and it will last a long time".

Although I have no Grizzly tools, from everything I've heard, they are very good for the price. My wife and I went to their Pa. store and was very impressed.

There's also Ridgid (Home Depot), and one the better side, Delta and the Dewalt 735, which is the one I've had since it came out probably 3 years.

golfdad · 12-24-2009, 07:03 AM

Lots of Grizzly tools here...great stuff

Larry Norton · 04-22-2010, 05:51 PM

My bad. I misred that it was Grizzly instead of Harbor Freight. Sorry for any confusion.

robdelman · 07-09-2010, 08:08 PM

Grizzly makes great stuff, at a great price. Harbor Freight (central machinery, chicago) is almost universally junk. Tolerances are off, and the parts are cheap - but you get what you pay for.

02-22-2009, 04:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
ed101 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	Harbor Freight Wood Planer Does anyone have experience with the Central Machinert Model 97040 15" planer. The manual says the minimum it planes to is 1 1/2", which seems strange. Thanks

02-24-2009, 01:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mark Hi I'm Mark Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 8	Not familiar with that model 97040, I did look through the manual, and it does state pretty plainly 1-1/2" minimum planing thickness. That seems kind of silly. __________________ To make a fine adjustment, I just use a smaller hammer

07-09-2010, 08:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
robdelman Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 7	Grizzly makes great stuff, at a great price. Harbor Freight (central machinery, chicago) is almost universally junk. Tolerances are off, and the parts are cheap - but you get what you pay for. __________________ 14,000 Woodworking Plans for Peanuts!

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02-28-2009, 07:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Taggart Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 154	My only experience with a planer was in wood shop back in high school, but I agree that a minimum thickness of 1 1/2 inches would seem to limit the projects that you could use that particular planer for.

04-03-2009, 07:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
Larry Norton Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14	Ed, there's an old adage, "Buy a cheap tool, buy it twice, buy a good one and it will last a long time". Although I have no Grizzly tools, from everything I've heard, they are very good for the price. My wife and I went to their Pa. store and was very impressed. There's also Ridgid (Home Depot), and one the better side, Delta and the Dewalt 735, which is the one I've had since it came out probably 3 years.

12-24-2009, 07:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
golfdad Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Clayton,NC Posts: 3	Lots of Grizzly tools here...great stuff

04-22-2010, 05:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Larry Norton Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14	My bad. I misred that it was Grizzly instead of Harbor Freight. Sorry for any confusion.