RYOBI 12.5-inch Corded Benchtop Thickness Planer ($299)

Do I need this? Serious question for potential DIYs

cbr600 wrote: ↑ Do I need this? Serious question for potential DIYs

It depends on what type of DIYs you are interested in? If you just build things like shelves occasionally or do some general maintenance and repairs ( i.e outdoor deck repair), no you don't need a planer or a jointer.
However, if you want to get into woodworking and start building things like a tabletop, chairs or other furniture's, then yes, you will need at least a planer to make rough cut lumber into squared-up and flat smooth pieces (commonly known as s4s grade). S4S grade wood are available for sale at a much higher cost. I think you can recoup the cost of a planer from just one big project.

When I click on link showing $449

Ryobi fanboy here but I still feel like it's worth spending the $129+tx more to get the Ridgid with LSA.

Maverick45 wrote: ↑ Ryobi fanboy here but I still feel like it's worth spending the $129+tx more to get the Ridgid with LSA.

Ex-TTI employee here… Benchtop corded it’s probably not unless you are running a production shop. Very few warranty claims on the benchtop corded stuff. Of course you could be the unlucky one, but 45% more is a lot.

Edited to say benchtop corded. 10 million warranty claims on things like corded grinders as they were frequently bought by oil field guys.

Jerico wrote: ↑ Ex-TTI employee here… Benchtop corded it’s probably not unless you are running a production shop. Very few warranty claims on the benchtop corded stuff. Of course you could be the unlucky one, but 45% more is a lot.

Edited to say benchtop corded. 10 million warranty claims on things like corded grinders as they were frequently bought by oil field guys.

To add to this, I have a Ryobi, got my Dad a Ridgid. Both 10+ years old, both work flawlessly (once adjusted which is a pain on any lunchbox planer)

Jerico wrote: ↑ Ex-TTI employee here… Benchtop corded it’s probably not unless you are running a production shop. Very few warranty claims on the benchtop corded stuff. Of course you could be the unlucky one, but 45% more is a lot.

Edited to say benchtop corded. 10 million warranty claims on things like corded grinders as they were frequently bought by oil field guys.

Yowza. 10 million is crazy.

The Dewalt DW735 (which is often considered one of the best bench top planers) is down to $659 at Home Depot (regularly $779). You can get an additional 10% off if you price match at Lowe's.

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Yowza. 10 million is crazy.

I saw pictures of a pickup truck full of scrap angle grinders 60 days old being dropped off. Not for the first time.

From woodgears:

"Overall, the DW735 is definitely the better planer, but it isn't necessarily better in every way. The cheap planer, if you can catch it on sale, costs less than half as much as the DeWalt. But it depends on your perspective. If you aren't familiar with planers and are afraid to mess with them, spending more on the DeWalt is the wiser choice. But if you prefer to sharpen the knives (either yourself by or sending them for sharpening), you can save a lot of money on the planer and the knives by going with a cheap planer. However, other cheap planers also use disposable knives — a feature you may or may not prefer. "

DeWalt DW735 thickness planer vs. a cheap one (review)