Official Luthiers Forum!

For those of you who are hobby builders only building a few guitars a year like me, I think the Wagner Safe-t planer has to be one of the best tools. I finally ordered one after watching Robbie's DVD and now am totally sold on it as the tool for all my thicknessing. I just finished 4 tops, 4 side sets, and 1 back set in under 2 hours! It used to take me hours to do 1 set by hand. The Safe-t planer got my sides within .1 mm, then I just finished up with the Gilbert sanding disk to remove the few burn marks (mostly on my figured maple). If you're looking for an economical way to thickness material and aren't quite ready for a drum sander yet, the Safe-t planer is the way to go.

Cheers!

John

Yep,I agree 100% with you John.I use mine a lot and really like it.I have a Gilbert too and thats also a great tool.The amount of work i do doesn't warrant a Drum sander so I'm sticking with me Wagner for now!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Hear, hear!! I agree. I wasn't all that impressed until I got my DP table properly aligned and touched up the cutters, but now, I wouldn't be without it. I think it's the most valuable tool I have.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

It is definitely a very valuable and useful tool. If I don't have a drum sander handy I just thickness close to the final thickness with my Safe-t planer and then use a cabinet scraper to smooth things out. Works like a charm.

Just what I've been saying! I sold my 16-32 because I preferred the Wagner. Get the table level, keep the cutters sharp and it works like magic.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

The way you guys are talking about this tool makes me want to get rid of my drum sander and go for one of these! i'd have more shop space!

Hesh,

Although I don't have my cyclone yet, I do have a great shop vac and I only use the Safe-t planer in the garage. What do you recommend as a hood when using the Safe-t planer with a drill press? I'm still not sure what the best method for collecting dust is at the drill press.

Cheers!

John

Hesh, IIRC, you own a small DP RIGHT? how wide of a table were you able to add on your DP to thin plates, let's say? I have a very small Delta DP, would it work good to thin top plate with a safe-t-planer?

Serge

I have recently been trying to mentally tackle the dust collection issue with the DP/Wagner as well. Seems like the upside down plastic sink is a pretty elaborate way of doing dust collection, even if a cool way to create a "hood". It makes me wonder how much power you'd need from a dust collector to be efficient using such a set up. Does anyone know of a link that shows this "hood" or how to make one?

I agree with everyone, I love my Safety Planner!

We had a post a few weeks back about the Safety Planner and someone posted a pretty cool idea on handling the dust. To explain, he sanded or cut away about a 2-3" gap in an arc on the bottom of the guide fence just beside the planner itself. This would allow the dust to flow under the fence. On the backside of the drill press he had one of the low profile wide mouth dust intakes hosed into his system. This made alot of sense, because accumulation is greatest in the cut in the fence around the planner. With this gap on the bottom and good suction just behind it pulls the dust right off the cutters.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Thanks Mike,
I'll go back and try to find that in the archives. That sounds like a better solution than the upside down sink.
Darren

Is there any problems with kickback or pulling the wood out of your grip with this little device. I have seen this sold in catalogs but I always thought that it can not do what they say cause of it size. What is the best speed to set your drill press to? How long do the cutter heads last before needing replacement?

[QUOTE=Buttzilla] Is there any problems with kickback or pulling the wood out of your grip with this little device. I have seen this sold in catalogs but I always thought that it can not do what they say cause of it size. What is the best speed to set your drill press to? How long do the cutter heads last before needing replacement?[/QUOTE]

Hey Butt (if that IS your real name) ,

Stewmac has some great info on setup, speed etc of the Wagner:Here

I hate it when i read a post that forces me to go spend more money.   

Buttzilla is a nickname. I tried to change my sign-on here but you can't so I guess i'm stuck with it. Thanks for the info guys

I too love the saf-t-planer, but have some trouble getting it sharp, it doesn't help that the sharpening wheel is out of round. How can I fix that? I may have screwed up the cutter enough that it is time for new ones, but they do need touch up right away. Any sharpening tips or jigs people use. And yes you can get lost in all the chips it throws. I have to figure out how to contain them also. What is a Gilbert sanding disk???
Mike

[QUOTE=mikev] What is a Gilbert sanding disk???
Mike[/QUOTE]

LMI sells one. I'm not sure if it's a Gilbert, but it says it compliments the Safety Planer...
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=R out%2FShape%2FDrill&NameProdHeader=Drill+Press+Sanding+Disc

I've also got the Wagner SP, and I plan in putting to use this weekend for the 1st time. I followed the Stew-Mac guidelines on how to make a secure & level platform & a ball-bearing retainer guide for it. We shall see...

RB

[QUOTE=Buttzilla] Buttzilla is a nickname. I tried to change my sign-on here but you can't so I guess i'm stuck with it. Thanks for the info guys[/QUOTE]
I had to have this pointed out to me, too--at the top of each page there's a grouping of icons (Active Topics; Memberlist, etc.), click on "Settings" and proceed from there! Easy!