Looking for advice on purchasing a wood planer?

Question

i have been looking at wood planers at lowes, and courious about the delta brand. i like the dewalt but for the money if delta is any count i would purchase it. anyone familiar with the delta wood working tools,any help would b greatly appreciated jay r.

Answer 1

Pick up a copy of Fine Woodworking magazine and look for an add for the "Belsaw" planer. I think it's the best value.

Sadly, the once proud and mighty Delta line has been bought up by the heinous Black and Decker Co. Black and Decker also own Dewalt, so you're buying a machine from the same company, really.

Delta machinery has been well-regarded and well-respected for many years. I'm not sure how well the quality will hold up now that they've been bought out by Black and Decker. I have a couple of Delta machines and they are okay. Over the years, I've worked with most all of the Delta line of woodworking machinery, they are, in general good. The older ones are much better than anything from the last 15 years or so. Delta machines are not as great as they used to be and we can expect them to get worse now that they've been bought out by Black and Decker.

Answer 2

As a "professional" I choose DeWalt.  Delta was a good product more then 10 years ago, but has been on the decline since.  Both are Black & Decker owned, but  DeWalt is better made.

What most people don't know is that Lowe's has a understanding and deal with DeWalt; the deal is that DeWalt only markets and provides the professional grade line of DeWalt products to their stores; so at Lowe's you are getting DeWalts top of the line.  On the other hand, Home Depot sells DeWalts homeowner line.  They may look the same, until you breakdown the same/similar tools from each store and see the difference for yourself, i.e., nylon gears opposed to steel etc. etc.

Mike Lonergan

TradesProfessional, Inc.

Answer 3

I have been the manager of tools and hardware for just about thirty years now,and Delta Power Tools have been a part of most of them. They are excellent tools. I rarely if ever got any bad tools back from the customers as being defective. In that amount of years, with little defective ones returned, I would say they are made to last, and  satisfied the customers with their performance. You won't go wrong, I've never heard any complaints. I also have a few Delta Power Tools at home. Byee

Answer 4

Delta makes great tools.I have several Delta tools and I am very satisfied with them.  Buy the best tool that you can afford

Answer 5

If you're looking at Lowes, I'm assuming you're looking at a 12"-15" jobsite planer [$300-$500], not a large stationary one [$3000.00+].  

If you are looking for the best finished product, look into a Hitachi.  Delta, Dewalt, and similar others in the same cost window will give sub-standard results.  I returned 3 Deltas until I finally bought a Hitachi.  The Delta would leave a barely noticeable [until you stain or paint] "washboard" finish, and I would have to run the wood through a drum sander to smooth it out [built-ins and cabinet doors mostly].

I tried out some other brands and they did the same thing.  The Hitachi costs about twice as much, I paid around $750 for mine, but you won't have to buy a drum sander, so your finished product is actually cheaper.

My Delta's were not defective at all, just not that great at doing it's job. Kinda like using a chainsaw for cutting crown moulding.  I would still consider Delta for their larger stationary power tools, but their homeowner stuff is pretty crappy.

Answer 6

Delta had the best tools in the world once, and are still very very good........I have a delta jointer and wood planer and 10'' unisaw........and many more delta toys.....you will never be sorry. go for it.