Can I cut metal or other non-wood materials with your planers? Although our planers can physically cut many different types of materials, they are designed only to cut natural woods. Cutting materials not intended to be cut on a woodworking planer can lead to serious injury for the operator or bystanders, shorten the machine's lifespan, and void the warranty.
Can I still use my planer without connecting it to a dust collector? Yes, but we don't recommend it. Without using a dust collector, dust will quickly accumulate inside and around your machine, requiring more cleaning later. Besides being messy, fine dust can be harmful to your respiratory system. A better option is to connect your machine to a properly designed dust collection system that at least provides the recommended minimum CFM for your machine's dust port.
How do I know which size of motor I'll need for my planer? The answer primarily depends on three factors: (1) your average stock width, (2) your typical wood type or variety, and (3) your anticipated cutting frequency or overall demands placed on the planer. First, it is important to note that with a slow enough feed rate, any of our planers can cut a piece of hardwood up to that machine's maximum cutting width. However, using too slow a feed rate can result in ripples and chipping in your workpiece, and using a feed rate so aggressive that it causes the motor to bog down will quickly raise the motor's internal temperature to a point of thermal breakdown. Once a motor reaches this state, continued operation without sufficient cool-down time between cuts will cause the motor to overheat, leading to winding insulation failure and motor failure. A larger motor, however, could easily perform the same work without reaching thermal breakdown. Therefore, your goal should be to select a motor size that can handle the majority of your regular cutting tasks without bogging down. In practical terms, a 1.5 HP motor used with an aggressive feed rate can repeatedly cut 6" wide hardwoods without bogging down. A 3 HP motor, on the other hand, can repeatedly cut the same stock at the same feed rate at approximately twice that width without bogging down.
I see some machines advertised for 110V, some for 115V, and some for 120V. Aren't these all the same? And if so, why don't you just pick one and use it consistently on all machines throughout your catalog and website? The answer to the first part of your question is both yes and no. Yes, generally speaking, all machines advertised with any of these voltages will operate on the same nominal power supply, and as a consumer, you usually don't need to be concerned. No, because the official nominal voltage recognized in different countries actually does vary slightly. For example, in the USA, the nominal voltage is officially 120V; however, in Taiwan, it might be 110V, and in China, it might be 115V. These differences primarily concern the power companies in these countries, which are typically required to guarantee that the power supply service to consumers is within plus or minus 5% of the nominal voltage. Similarly, motor manufacturers typically must guarantee that their motors will operate within plus or minus 10% of the voltage indicated on the nameplate. Therefore, our policy is to show the actual voltage indicated on the motor's nameplate. This provides our customers with the most accurate information, preventing discrepancies between our catalog and the machine's labeling upon arrival.
What is the difference between the G0505 12-1/2" Portable Planer and the G0790 13" Benchtop Planer? The G0790 is equipped with 1/8" thick knives. The G0505 is equipped with 1/16" thick knives, which is standard for portable planers. However, it's worth noting that the linked page for the G0505 indicates the knives are 23/32" x 1/8".