Editorial Review

Delta calls its 22-580 a finishing planer, but it's really two planers in one. A dimensioning speed of 60 cpi allows you to shave rough wood to its desired thickness quickly and accurately, with virtually no snipe. Then, with a single pass at the quicker finishing speed of 90 cpi, your wood comes out ultrasmooth and ready to go. The razor-sharp, double-sided M2 steel knives are powered by a 15 amp, 120-volt, single-phase motor. Bells and whistles like a blade zero indicator (which lets you set the cutterhead to the exact thickness of your wood), patented cutterhead lock (which eliminates snipe), and easy blade-change system add to the value, as do the oversize infeed and outfeed tables, which make it easier to glide your wood through the machine. Overall, this is one solid piece of machinery. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Fastest and safest blade change system on the market
• 2-Speed feed rate system for rough and finishing stock removal
• Patented cutterhead lock virtually eliminates snipe
• Full range depth stop for any thickness from 1/8" to 6-12"
• Blade zero indicator to set the cutterhead the exact thickness of material

Reviews (76)

Not Real Happy with it or Delta
I purchased my Delta 2 speed finishing planer last Oct or Nov, I could check on which but it is not that important. At first I was thrilled. The unit made short work of rough lumber. The depth stop was outstanding. Snipe? I really didn't notice any. I have only done a couple of projects with it but those I've done entailed planing 4/4 cherry and oak to 3/4" and on some of the cherry 1/2".
I was working on the cherry project when I noticed the depth stop didn't. It set just fine but I could lower the head without so much as a slowdown. I also noticed sometimes boards would feed a few feet in (these are 4' lengths) then sieze up. I also started to notice the dreaded snipe.
I called Delta technical support and the woman I spoke to said open up the side with the stop and adjust the nut. She didn't say where to adjust it to so I tried up and down to no avail. She also said the siezing was caused by perhaps dirty feed rollers and if I put the speed control in the middle (neutral) the rollers would rotate freely. NOT SO, to clean the entire surface requires random runs to position the rollers to different stop points.
I finally took it in to the local Porter Cable/Delta repair facility. When I picked it up the repair guy was noticably condenscending. Perhaps I didn't bother to read the instructions? Did I even have the instructions? Could I read? He accused me of breaking it (causing the stop to not work). He came just shy of saying the snipe was due to the flimsy little feed tables on infeed and outfeed and to fix it I need to build a good perfectly level feed table for both sides.
Hmmm, ok but have you checked the price? This thing cost more than my Jet (or Delta) table saw. For that money I don't expect to be buying flimsy. At any rate, the Jet Planer is way beyond my budget so I am stuck with the Delta. If the two were close I'd give this puppy only one star, sell it and get the Jet.
By the way, I have yet to determine if the 2 speeds really do anything. The pitch sounds the same, the feed rate appears the same, and the finish looks the same. If anything, the slow speed finish might actually be smoother. It is close either way.

Feeding problems galore
Bought the planer mid-summer 2004.Before the end of the year the planer began requiring "help" to keep the boards moving.Periodically it would just hang, burning the board.A quick nudge was needed to continue feeding.

Normal maintenance includes cleaning the rollers.The manual says to use a scotch pad and soapy water.I also adjusted the outfeed roller per the manual.This would fix the problem for a while, but it would slowly go back to its old ways.Eventually it gets so bad it requires a constant pushing or pulling to get the boards to feed continuously.Dangerous, frustrating, and leads to poor results.The finish when it works is amazing, but I have found the machine to be a poor substitute for a heavier duty unit.I am only a hobbyist, building boxes and some small furniture.

great planer but ....
I have been making cabinets for the last five years and in that short amount of time I have used three different planers. This is the best one I've ever used. First off what really impressed me was that there was not that much assembly required (unlike most of delta's products). Second the finishing speed on the planer nearly eliminated the need for sanding (a big plus in my book). Lastly the blades seemed to hold up well. The first time out of the box I put it to work on a set of hard maple face frames and doors. Only at the end of my planing opporation did the boards start to show signs of planer marks (by that time I had put over 300 board foot of material through that planner). The planer marks were small and were easily taken care of with a cabinet scraper. Though out the entire process I only found one case of snip in a board and after that I have not detected any more cases of snip. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the dust chute was not included rendering the planer usless with out it. Luckily I had read some of the reviews before I bought this planer so I knew I had to kick down the extra mony for the dust chute to start planing right out of the box. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Bench-Top Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)    6. (Portable)   

Features

• Sturdy blow-molded design
• 4" diamater connection built into the unit
• Can be positioned for connection to be either on the right or left side of machine
• Works only with the Delta 22-580 13" planer

Reviews (4)

no more clean up, planer doesn't clog anymore
It fits and does the job just fine. With this thing hooked up and the dust collection running, I can plane a bunch a stack of wood and not have to sweep, clean, and cough my lungs up when I'm done. It saves me a ton of time and keeps the garage much cleaner.

I was worried that the thin intake on it would get clogged since the planer alone tend to, but it does not. The suction from the dust collector keeps things running smoother than if the planer was doing the job alone.

The only reason I give it a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is that it must be disconnected to close up the planer. So when it's time to move the machine away to put the minivan back in the garage you've got to twiddle with some thumbscrews for a minute. Not sure how a better design could have eliminated this step, but making it go quicker with a latch or something would have been nicer.

Absolutely essential accessory for Delta 22-580 planer
Do not even try operating the Delta 22-580 planer without using this dust chute with a good dust collector attached to it. You'll create the biggest mess you can imagine and also end up with wood chips embedded in the wood you're trying to plane. It's really a shame that Delta doesn't include this accessory with its planer because it really is a vital requirement. I have been very pleased with its performance and would highly recommend it.

One of the best
This really works!I am always suspicious of the so called dust connectors. Most of them fail to collect the sawdust and leave a mess. But this is very effective at least 90 to 95% will be pulled into the dust collector. ... Read more

Features

• Five year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 3HP single phase motor
• 3-knife cutterhead, serrated infeed roller, polyurethane outfeed roller
• Anti-kickback fingers, cast iron table with adjustable bed rollers
• Knife setting gage, dust chute and deluxe stand

Reviews (3)

set at the factory,,,,,,,
this is a fine machineonce it is calibratedcorrectly,,,,owners manual is good but lacks some info,,,I had to shim the main cutter shaft .020 ,,,,, which all other ajustments work from... this should have been done at the factory...now I canplane rough lumber to cabinet specifications,,,,works well after set up is correct..
Mike

Great Machine
After using a portable planer for about 8 years, I decided to invest a bigger machine.This planer is identical to the DC-380 exept for a different paint job. And it is heavy!I am one of the lucky ones to have a hoist to help unload it. If you don't, have 2 or 3 helpers to unload and set it up.It took me almost two days to get it up and running.I first determined that it was too low for me, so I solved that problem by putting large wooden blocks between the bottom of the stand and the moble base. By the way, that moble base is an absolute must if you plan to move it at all.Then I discovered that the cord was too short, so I put a longer cord on with a twist lock plug.Most of my machines have twist lock plugs,anyway. When it is assembled you must be sure the infeed, cutter, and outfeed rollers are adjusted properly.There is a gage block that you must make, and the manual shows you how.The dust chute has an outlet of 5", so a trip to the local hardware store to get a 5" to 4" reducer and some duct tape, because is was not a good fit.It is essential to hook it up to a dust collecter, or you will be hip deep in chips very fast.After all was said and done, I am pleased with its peformance.The serrated infeed roller keeps the wood moving through at a steady pace, and it has two speeds, but I stick with the slow speed to get the best finish.The roller extensions eliminate snipe, once they are adjusted.If you get rough cut lumber, this is a worthwhile investment.

Good planer, trouble with dust collection.
I purchased this planer 6 weeks ago.The "dust hood" that is sold by Toolcrib for this turned out to be ( not mentioned in the catalog) to be 5".I have tried working with both Toolcrib and Delta to find a way to connect this to my 4" dust collector but, after receiving 2 more dust hoods and 2 adapters that were purported to work, I still do not have a solution.I've not had a chance to plane much wood on it yet, but it looks well made (although in China).Anyone that has found a solution let me know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Stationary Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)   

Editorial Review

Why buy a planer? Well, it lets you reduce the thickness of your workpieces to exactly what you want them to be. It creates a flawlessly flat second surface, essential in good woodworking. Why buy this planer? Here's our list of why we like it: It has a fantastic 12-inch wide by 6-inch deep capacity to tackle large jobs. The patented cutterhead system raises and lowers on four large, precision-ground columns. Depth of cut can be adjusted in a wink with a top-mounted handle. A patented cutterhead lock stabilizes the cutterhead for total rigidity and superior snipe control. Double-edged--meaning reversible--high-speed steel knives double your cutting life. Adjustable infeed and outfeed tables and a stainless-steel base provide a smooth surface for moving stock, and the tables fold in for storage in minimal space. The prices on these planers have come down quite a bit in the past few years, and this one, with its quality and many features, is a great buy. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 15-amp motor for maximum power
• Feed rate adjusts under load for optimum planning
• 12-by-6-inch capacity to tackle large planning tasks
• Adjustable, folding extension tables for easy storage
• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories

Reviews (10)

Cheap, easy, lowCPI, snipe, uTables, uLife Blades
I was looking cheap, just to clean up some rough-hewn boards.The bottom-end Lowes had was the TP-305 (12.5" vs TP-300 12.0", otherwise EXACTLY the same) for $199, so I got that.

Into and Basics
First off, the TP-305 is single speed.Fine for my purposes.As someone else said, if you're doing "fine woodworking", you'll sand with high-grit before calling it done.

Everything is metal, and the handle on top doubles as a foam covered transfer roller.It's very solid and stable, you know, for a "portable".

The belt drive is about 3/4", versus about 2" for the Hitachi and DeWalt.Conversely, the belt on the Delta is fiber reinforced black rubber, like a fan belt, rather than being clear, plain rubber.

There is supposedly a chain-drive for gear reduction, but I haven't dismantled it yet to lubricate them.

Setup
Second, it was a snap to prepare.I pulled it out of the box.It's maybe 75 or 80 pounds.OK if you lift right, or 2-person lift otherwise.It included the planer assembly, a dust chute with 2 fasteners, a hex wrench which fits in a slot on top, a magnetic blade tool, and a crank handle with hex-head fastener.

I put it on top of a table.No LRF support, and there was a little flashing on the bottom, so don't unpack this onto a nice table.Something like this should be bolted down.The deck holes are 1/4", one on each corner.I used some washers and deck screws and that was more than enough to keep it stable.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
You NEED earplugs.Yes, it is "quiet" compared to some shopplaners/jointers, it's still loud.Earmuffs should be OK, but I opted for spongy/expanding 33db earplugs.No problem there, but I was definitely deaf to the world.

Also, goggles are a must.These two things are silly and simple, but just in case you didn't know.This might not be so important if they ever get immunology and organ cloning down, but since you're limited to one set of eyes right now, best protect them from flying debris.

If you want to reach, adjust, oil, or perform ANY maintenance, unplug your machine."I thought I was safe but something fell and flipped the switch" wouldn't quite cut it with your friends.

ALWAYS operate with the dust chute in place.The motor blows air into it and it sends the chips out the back.Without it, A) You'll be covered in vertically launched curls, and more importantly B) The top of the cutter head will be exposed, which is very not safe.

Keep distractions and horseplay away from this machine.This is not a toy, it's an 8000 RPM spinning blade of doom.No playing.Period.OK?JUNIOR!?!?!Are you LISTENING TO ME!NO PLAYING.Ok.Good.Serious machine.

SNIPER, NO SNIPING!
As a portable planer goes, the fold-out tables are fairly small.I tried using Skill brand roller stands on each side to help hold the workpiece, but this planer loves to snipe on ingress.

Tilt your board down into the planer about 5 degrees, and don't cut deep and you'll limit it.Even so, every board has a 2-3" spot that's maybe 1/32" thinner than the rest of the length.

Egress snipe is alleviated by lifting ever so slightly on the workpiece for the final stretch.If you don't get it, you'll hear the motor change speed as it chews into the end.It's really just the design of the rollers.I think you'd probably get snipe even if you made your own full-length table flush with the input.

With 12" boards, snipe was not very noticeable, whereas with 4" boards, it was always very noticeable.

Blade Lifespan
The blades that came with it do well, but it's only 2 blades. It goes through them fairly quickly.Newer wood is fine.I made several passes on both sides of rough hewn cedar.All was well. I sent through some 12" rough cedar with 25 year crusty paint, and it wasn't really happy with that.

It's 2mm per turn and on 12" stock with fresh blades you can do that.When you get to 1/3 turn and it still drops the RPMs significantly, you're past the life of the blades.

I got to this point after removing 3/16ths from each side of 40 feet of 4" wide cedar, and about 1/8th from each side of a 6' long 12" piece of paint encrusted cedar.It seems that the wider board heats the blades more, especially the old, rubbery paint, and once they heat up, the edge fades MUCH more rapidly.

Signs your planer blades are dull
The machine emits dust and not curls.
The machine leaves roller rubber on the workpiece.
The wood peels along the grain in very thin strip.
The motor slows down, but there is no output.
The rollers stop feeding.
The workpiece becomes polished, even glassy.
The workpiece is noticeably warm to the touch.
Running the workpiece through a second time at the same setting till slows the motor.

Blade Replacements
I'm thinking I'll see if I can design the same at http://www.emachineshop.com out of something harder under heat, but you know, since I don't REALLY have the skill for that, I picked up a couple sets of spare blades when I got the planer.The spares were $26/set and made of "High Speed Steel".I don't know the specific grade, but truly, they went south REALLY quickly on the wider, painted boards.

Blade Swap procedures
The swap is fairly easy, though they are initially installed with an impact wrench.Breaking the screws the first time gave off sparks on three.Freaky.Anyway, you access the six screws by:
A) Unplug the machine.Yes, UNPLUG IT.Switches have been known to fail in this universe.Don't risk it.
B) remove the two thumbscrews on the top.
C) Remove the dust chute
D) Turn the head with "the tool" such that you an access one side of the head. Adjust the machine height, or rotate the head such that the tool clears the handle/rollerbar.
E) Loosten the screws such that the black plate ALMOST comes loose.Test one screw for proper sizing.I think this is about a 16th of an inch.
F) Use the little split magnet tool to scoop under the blade, lift up off of the retaining pins, and pull out.
WARNING The blade may be hot if it's recently been used, especially if it's really dull.
G) spin the blade.
WARNING The sharp side of the blade is SHARP!I know this seems like an idiot thing to say, but if you aren't careful, I will mock you for your bloodletting experience.Yes, I'm secretly watching you.
H) Slid in, align such that it drops down properly (ie, the retaining pins are in the holes).
I) Tighten the screws, starting with the ends and working your way in.In generaly, thumb-tighten all of them, then torque them down afterward to make sure alignment is good.
J) Repeat for the other side of the head. (ie. always swap/replace BOTH blades at the same time).

Miscellaneous
Check your belt shroud, a burgundy curve of plastic on the top right of the machine.Mine had too much flashing in the channels and didn't seat properly.I didn't notice until it had been carved/sanded away severely.

The deck plate is polished steel.You can see the cutter head and rollers clearly in it.It's really cool, and might come in handy should something jam or clog.REMEMBER NOT TO TOUCH THE HEAD WITH YOUR FINGERS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE CUT.

Yes, I used first and second person in a review.

Despite the warning that this is not a toy, etc., it's VERY fun, or at least satisfying, to see what a machine like this can do.

SUMMARY
This is cheap. Snipe will happen.Rollers, an assistant, or a full-sized and aligned table are greatly helpful.Blades dull quickly on older wood with old rubbery paint.

All things being equal and relevant to the task at hand....
...this is an excellent piece of equipment for the small shop or any woodworker on a tight or limited budget. Well packed, minimal assembly, easy-to-follow instructions. The handles are a bit spartan and initially awkward to grab but once you lift this planer up a few times and move it about, they get easier to grab and hold on to. As for actual operation, I planed one side of a fairly rough length of 12" Douglas Fir plank into a nice, flat, and smooth surface using just 5 passes. I took my time and used a light touch on the depth of cut adjustment with each pass so as not to bog down the rollers and cutters. Everything worked very well, first time out of the box. Smooth, steady movement of the stock under the rollers and through the planer, relatively low operating and cutting noise, negligible vibration and very good chip deflection out the rear. You won't believe how much "chip" comes out of this planer and, unless you have a collector attached to it, onto the shop floor. But that's another reason why I have a shop vacuum. Looks like the factory did a reasonably good job of adjusting the cutting blades too. Of course, you wouldn't opt for a compact low-priced unit like this one if your budget is bigger or if your usage is regular or heavy. Pros will no doubt pooh-pooh this unit as sub-par but, for the money, this is a remarkably efficient and well-made portable planer with a decent capacity. Just remind yourself that you shouldn't use a Volkswagen Beetle to pull out tree stumps or a Derby thoroughbred to pull a beerwagon.

12" Delta Planer
This planer is decent for the money. I bought it at Lowe's for $199 and it has served me fairly well.

It's getting harder to find the knives for the planer locally so I now need to order them from the Internet, which is fine though if you need a replacement set it's nice to know that you can go and get the blades locally.

The planer doesn't have a height lock so the vibration from the machine will make change the height after planing several boards. Snipe is minimal if everything is in aligned correctly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Bench-Top Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)    6. (Portable)   

Editorial Review

Delta has done it again. The TP400LS 12-1/2-inch planer is a solid addition to the company's already stellar lineup of planing tools, and it is ideally suited for the home woodworking enthusiast looking for a good planer at an affordable price. Like other Delta planers, this Shopmaster model is designed to provide smooth results, superior snipe control (thanks to the four-post cutterhead support system and headlock), and fast, safe, and accurate blade changes. Powered by a 15 amp, 120-volt single-phase motor, the planer generates an operating speed of 8,000 rpm. As materials pass into the unit, two double-sided, reversible knives deliver a blazing 51 cpi to smooth rough surfaces and provide an attractive finished result. The double-sided steel knives come factory-indexed and fit directly on machined posts in the cutterhead, so there's no fiddling with knife-setting fixtures or tricky gauges. Plus, a magnetized blade-removing tool makes it a snap to get the blades out. Delta has also extended the infeed and outfeed tables on this unit to 28-1/2 inches to better support stock and included a sturdy stand to give you the option of making this a freestanding unit. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Complete with a stand and extra set of reversible knives
• 15-amp motor for maximum power
• Advanced cutter head lock for superior snipe control
• Easy knife changing for perfect alignment each time
• Longer chrome in-feed and out-feed tables

Reviews (10)

Hindsight is 20/20
If I had prior experience with this piece of equipment, I would not have purchased it and instead would have considered and saved for either a Grizzly or Yorkcraft 15" induction motor powered planer. I have run masses of wood through this planer since I purchased it over a year ago and have a lot to say about it. I am going to (unfairly) review it as a permanent fixture in a woodworking shop, as this is the experience I have with it and I believe most folks purchase this unit for this purpose, even though I know it is intended by the manufacturer to be a portable, on-the-job unit.
Before purchasing this planer, consider the following:

Price:
The price of this unit is reasonable compared to similar manufacturer's products, but for an extra couple hundred bucks (or more), you could do substantially better.

Usage:
Are you going to use it occasionally, or will you need to plane more than 50 or 60 board feet of lumber a week? When I say 50 or 60 board feet, I mean 50 or 60 surface feet that comes in contact with the planer blades; i.e. 20 bft. of lumber run through the planer 3 times would equal 60 bft. planed. I would recommend no more stress than that on this machine if you want to use it for the long haul. I would also not recommend planing anything over 7 or 8 inches wide or longer than 10 feet - you will have power and/or stability problems.

Performance:
I'm not sure what the horsepower rating on this universal motor is, but it bogs down noticeably on regular cuts with any stock over 7 or 8 inches wide. The sharper the blades, of course, the less of a problem this is. With anything wider, I would recommend very, very shallow passes.
I have an issue with the belt drive that operates the cutter head. The nut that holds the flange keeps coming loose and I have to tighten it occasionally. There is no good way to lock the cutterhead to get good torque on the nut. Torquing too hard (which is not very difficult to do) results in the cutter head safety device suddenly disengaging. This loosening of the flange nut has shredded the belt (I have a new one waiting in the wings - a $16 replacement) and causes a grinding sound like the unit is going to fly apart at any time.
The other issue I have had with it is the cutter head locking mechanism that is intended to prevent snipe. The cutter head is raised or lowered by a threaded rod that has a handle that extends to the top of the unit. Spin it one way to raise, the other to lower. The cutter head lock tightens down to prevent the cutter head from moving up or down and minimize snipe somehow. I'm not sure exactly how this works. The other thing it does, incidentally, is keep the cutter head from vibrating the threaded rod and causing the cutter head to rise as the threaded raise/lower rod spins loose. I began to notice that after planing say, 8 or 9 boards, the thickness of the last board as it came out of the planer was greater than the thickness of the first board that went through. After checking it out, I noticed that even with the cutter head lock cranked down as hard as I could get it, I could still somewhat raise or lower the cutter head with the raise/lower handle. I disassembled the cutter head lock and saw that there are flat bars that run up and down that the lock clamps onto (2 on each side of the unit). I took some 100 grit sandpaper and roughed up the bars. Now I can't raise or lower the head with the lock cranked down - good.
The finish this planer leaves on the wood is respectable. With sharp blades, it is difficult to detect milling marks. There is some snipe, sometimes less, sometimes more. Supporting the end of the board level with the infeed and outfeed table minimizes snipe noticeably.
One other thing you should know about this planer, especially if you purchase the optional dust collection hood (anyone in their right mind would use a planer or jointer without dust collection must have made a hobby out of sweeping and breathing dust), is that this unit is LOUD. I mean VERY LOUD. Do not operate this machine without hearing protection. It is twice as loud as running the flat side of a board over a jointer. For some reason, it is significantly louder with the dust collector running.

Construction:
I am not very impressed with the construction of this machine. For the money, it's not bad. The main frame of the unit appears to be cast iron, but everything else is, unfortunately, either plastic or stamped steel, which includes the infeed and outfeed tables, the bearing surface that the lumber slides across, legs, handles, and other latches and mechanisms. This should be expected for this price point, but not suited for anyone more active than the weekend hobbyist.
The infeed and outfeed tables are short and feel (and look) rather flimsy. They do little to support anything over 3 feet in length. I use a portable roller stand on the outfeed side for long stock and support the end of the board on the infeed side by hand. The unit itself is quite light in comparison to the other machines in the shop, and I think that this is by design, as this unit is intended to be ported from job site to job site. As a result, the stand it came with is kind of unsteady as there is not enough weight to anchor all four feet to the ground. I have shimmed up one of the feet to prevent it from rocking. Vibration would seem to interfere with the cut quality, but I have not seen any evidence of this. The surface the machine leaves, as I said earlier, very good.

Other points:
Blade changing is easy. Undo some screws, pop out and replace or spin blade around (both sides are sharpened), pop back in, tighten, and go. No adjustments. The downside is, the blades are unsharpenable. Once both sides are dull, toss it out. I have attempted to sharpen the blades with one of those handheld deals that you slide back and forth across the blade, but this does nothing. They are not intended to be sharpened. The cost of replacements is probably what you would have to pay a sharpener for sharpenable blades, so this is not so big a deal.
The carrying handle doubles as a return roller, which means if you have to run a piece through the planer more than once, you can set it on top of the handle and roll it back ot the infeed side. Small feature, but I use it quite a bit for long stock.

Overall impression:
The machine is good for the occasional user, but if you are getting to the point where you are surfacing a great deal of rough lumber or working with heavy, long, or wide stock, you may want to consider a "real" planer, like a Yorkcraft YC15P ($800 + shipping) or Grizzly G0551 ($750 + shipping). If your budget won't allow it, look at the Dewalt 13" portable. It looks SOLID and I've heard a great many good things about this unit. I think it goes for around $500.

Quite useful
After usuing this product for just over a month, I can safely say that this was an excellent purchase. Setup was fairly simple, (The stand took the longest) and the planer was all adjusted properly. After a month of use, everything is still in excellent conditon, and its still running strong. Overall, another quality product from Delta. Highly reccomended for a small shop or the do-it-yourselfer.

Not too bad!!!
I've used this little planer for over 3 years now.I've ran dozens of different types of wood through it and really have not had a lick of trouble from the machine except that when trying to run the heavy, dense woods through, it sometimes requires a helping hand to push through.I've never had any problems with burning or snipe.Everything was aligned and adjusted out of the box, just unpack, plug in and go.If this machines dies tomorrow, I feel like I've gotten my money's worth from it.But, it's still going strong and is working as well as the day I brought it home.I would recommend it and I would buy it again after 3 years of regular use.I probably would rate this machine at 4 and a half stars, not 5 because of having to help with the infeed of heavier woods...not a big deal at all, just know about. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Bench-Top Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)    6. (Portable)   

Features

• 7-1/2 HP, 230-volt, /460-volt, 3 phase induction motor
• Capacity: 24 inches wide by 8-5/8-inch thick
• Feed rate: 20/30 feet per minute
• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories

Reviews (1)

Really good
I also found this planer for a very good price, and 24 inch capicty is useful, anda great time saver because it allows you to plane 2 or more boards at once. I just wish there were more speed rates like on the powermatics, but it is good and for the price supurb. Its a very solid tool with plenty of power and well worth is especialy for rough stock, and also saves alot of money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Stationary Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 3-horsepower, 230-volt induction motor for powerful operation
• Three-knife cutterhead with jack screw adjustment for easy knife-setting
• Spiral serrated steel infeed mechanism for a positive grip
• Stand with roller extensions included

Reviews (8)

very nice planer
I picked up this planer in August and have since used it several times preparing wood for many projects.As advertised, it is very heavy and takes a number of hours to set up.Once the machine is assembled and adjusted, it does a wonderful job planing woods.It must be used with a dust collection unit as you will soon be in a mountain of chips!The two speeds are nice - you can buzz through a pile of wood in short order and then finish the boards on the slower setting - although with sharp blades, it is difficult to improve on the finish at the faster setting.The maching and parts were nearly flawless - the only fault I have observed is that one of the screws that fastend the oil gear box leaks a small amount of oil.

My experience is that this is a very good quality machine.

Bob

Should have gotten it sooner
My trust in the Delta name has not gone unrewarded. I bought this machine to be able to use timber thats just not available at the lumber yard. How did I ever get along without it. Assembly out of the box took about three hours to get everything set correctly. Instructions are clear and accurate. All the parts where included. This is a heavy monster so get a friend (four) to help get it out of the shipping wrap and in place. The blades where set accurately out of the box. The roller extensions tables never seemed to be perfectly level with the bed but this has not been a problem. The two speed auto feed works great. I have run everything from pine to green heart. Clean, smooth and no snipe. The motor never seems to have any trouble with the cuts but I do tend to be kind and keep my cuts lean. The only trouble was the power circuit for this tool. I ran a dedicated 240 volt circuit. The book said to use a 20 amp and there is a sticker on the stand that says 15 amp. I went with the 20 but the motor trips the breaker on the second or third start. This motor is a direct start ( no capacitors) so the power on startup is high. I had to go to a 30 amp breaker.If you have the space and the money get this machine, You will not be disappointed.

The hoist was a good investment
Recently purchashed this planer, the DJ-20 jointer and Delta dust collector.Same time I picked up a fold-up engine hoist.These guys are real heavy.Assembly was easy, with the hoist & nylon straps to do the lifting.
The Planer works flawlessly after futzing with the roller table assembly/alignment.The largest I had to give it was 12" black walnut and it came out beautifully and without straining.Only Thing I don't like is that the dust collector (optional) port is like 5" so my hoses don't fit.And I think you really need dust collector with this thing, unless you don't mind being up to your knees in chips.Had to modify the dust collector (cut the crossbar out of inlet), either that or change it's name to insta-plug.
I was woried about the steel feed roller leaving marks but it doesn't unless you don't cut, then their minimal
Saw minimal snipe once but not since, go figure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Stationary Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 15-amp motor for maximum power
• Feed rate adjusts under load for optimum planing
• 12-by-6-inch capacity to tackle large planing tasks
• Adjustable, folding extension tables for easy storage

Reviews (12)

Delta 22-540 12" Portable Planer
I have owned my 540 for about 2 years and have run at least 2000bd ft through it. The unit has seen oak, cherry, maple, pine The planer performed well on all. The steel knives do dull fairly quick, but are reasonable to change if your careful.Snipe is a problem with the short outfeed tables but can be minimized using caution. This is not a high production machine and requires extra care, but at [asignificantly lower price] than its DeWalt counterpart, I feel it is an ideal addition to any personal woodworking shop.

Good but...
I have been using my 22-540 as a serious amateur cabinet and furniture maker for about seven years. I would hesitate to guess how many feet of wood have passed through the planer but it is a lot.

The Delta 22-540 performed well over the years but a few weeks ago a project came to a sudden stop when the bearings on the cutter head overheated and seized. I found that replacements are available but after a near total disassembly, I found that I could not remove the bearings from the main frame casting. Quite a disappointment.

So now I must choose a replacement. The winner is the DeWalt DW 733 even at the additional ($$$)cost over a replacement 22-540.

The Delta 22-540 does have a nasty habit of setting creep, I control this by blocking the handle or simply holding it with one hand while the lumber is running. I trust the four-post clamp of the new models will cure this problem. I didn't stay with Delta and their 13" 22-580K because of the lock handle design and the useless two-speed feature. Thank you to all of you who wrote reviews on the various planers. And, thank you to Amazon for publishing them. The final decision was easy to make when comparing the DeWalt and the Delta side by side in our local Home Center.Will the DW 733 live up to my expectations? I will let you know in about seven years.

An excellent Delta value
I have owned my 540 for about 3years and have run at least 1000bd ft through it. Although mostly cedar, the unit has seen oak, hickory, osage orange, and some kind of black african wood that was hard as steel. The planer performed well on all. The steel knives do dull fairly quick, but are reasonable to change if your careful. I contacted Delta about a year ago and they did offer carbide double edge knives, but [at a muchhigher price], I'll get by with the steel ones. Snipe is a problem with the short outfeed tables but can be minimized using caution. Some of the other reviews appear somewhat harsh, and are not entirely unfounded. This is not a high production machine and probably requires extra care, but at [asignificantly lower price] than its DeWalt counterpart, I feel it is an ideal addition to any personal woodworking shop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Bench-Top Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)    6. (Portable)   

Editorial Review

This is a reconditioned power tool. Reconditioned generally means that the tool has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the tool back to like-new condition. Some tools may contain cosmetic blemishes. Same warranty as new.

Delta has done it again. The 22-565 12-1/2-inch planer is a solid addition to the company's already stellar lineup of planing tools and is ideally suited for the home woodworking enthusiast looking for a good planer at an affordable price. Like other Delta planers, the 22-565 is designed to provide smooth results, superior snipe control (thanks to the four-post cutterhead support system and headlock), and fast, safe, and accurate blade changes. Powered by a 15 amp, 120-volt single-phase motor, the 22-565 generates an operating speed of 8,000 rpm. As materials pass into the unit, two double-sided, reversible knives deliver a blazing 51 cpi to smooth rough surfaces and provide an attractive finished result. The double-sided steel knives come factory-indexed and fit directly on machined posts in the cutterhead, so there's no fiddling with knife-setting fixtures or tricky gauges. Plus, a magnetized blade-removing tool makes it a snap to get the blades out. Delta has also extended the infeed and outfeed tables on this unit to 28-1/2 inches to better support stock. The company has included a sturdy stand to give you the option of making this a freestanding unit. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Complete with a stand
• 15 amp motor for maximum power
• Advanced cutter head lock for superior snipe control
• Easy and safe knife changing for perfect alignment each time
• Longer chrome in-feed and out-feed tables

Editorial Review

Delta has done it again. The 22-565 12-1/2-inch planer is asolid addition to the company's already stellar lineup of planingtools and is ideally suited for the home woodworking enthusiast lookingfor a good planer at an affordable price. Like other Delta planers, the22-565 is designed to provide smooth results, superior snipe control(thanks to the four-post cutterhead support system and headlock), andfast, safe, and accurate blade changes. Powered by a 15 amp, 120-voltsingle-phase motor, the 22-565 generates an operating speed of 8,000rpm. As materials pass into the unit, two double-sided, reversibleknives deliver a blazing 51 cpi to smooth rough surfaces and provide anattractive finished result. The double-sided steel knives comefactory-indexed and fit directly on machined posts in the cutterhead, sothere's no fiddling with knife-setting fixtures or tricky gauges. Plus,a magnetized blade-removing tool makes it a snap to get the blades out.Delta has also extended the infeed and outfeed tables on this unit to28-1/2 inches to better support stock. The company has also included asturdy stand to give you the option of making this a freestanding unit.--Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Complete with a stand and extra set of reversible knives
• 15 amp motor for maximum power
• Advanced cutter head lock for superior snipe control
• Easy and safe knife changing for perfect alignment each time
• Longer chrome in-feed and out-feed tables

Reviews (10)

Good planer, but get the 13" 2-speed
I have used this product extensively for about a year.I have run some pretty heavy stuff through it--8/4 maple and a fair bit of 8/4 and 6/4 teak.I am on my second set of blades and have not had any serious problems.The stand is a nice add, but it is difficult to put on wheels without spending a fortune on pre-made caster set up.I ended up building a solid wood box with casters from home depot that is much sturdier.All in all, I think for the extra 100 bucks, I would go with the 13", 2 speed.It makes the 12" width stock work much better and it looks like a slightly heavier product, which is usefull when running 8/4 or any long stock.

Piece of Junk
The stand is good.That's the best I can say.After purchasing this planer and using it maybe 3 times it stopped feeding the stock.I had to push on the boards to get them to move through the tool.Well, the local shop "fixed" it twice then I returned it.It never worked well.The blades are also [poor].They nick very easily.

Delta is NOT made in USA
I recently purchased a Delta 22-565 Planer and it is all I expected except one. I had the impression that all Delta brand tools were made in USA and their offshore tools had a different name. Well, was I surprised to see a "MADE IN TAIWAN" on the planer. Other than that it is all it is made out to be in the many reviews of this machine. I haven't used it extensively bur when I did, it performed flawlessly. Live and learn... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Stationary Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 15 amp motor for maximum power
• Cutterhead lock for superior snipe control
• Easy knife changing for perfect alignment each time
• 6-by-12-1/2-inch capacity to tackle larger planing tasks

Reviews (8)

Lemon anybody?
I have always been a big supporter of Delta tools, However, I'm afraid I cannot give this product great praise. The fact is, the only reason I am giving them 3 stars at all is for the overall end product it can produce. Now I've used four different brands of planers and never encountered the types of problems I've had with this peice of equipment! Easily enough broken down, but jeeze I've had to take this thing apart 4 times this months... I've only used it 5 times this month! with moderate 1/16th cuts. Today the belt shredded to peices for the second time in 5 months.I'm about to find a Jet 15" planer online, The more expensive machine will pay for it self compared to all the time I lose trying to fix the delta!

Hope this machine was just a lemon, but prehaps this will help someone else.

Bad start but....
When I bought this item I followed the advice of another review, that being to take the blades out and give the machine a clean. This was going along nicely until I had to remove the bolts that clamp the blade in place. The bolts were that tight that when they `cracked' sparks literally shot out.
Some bolts were that tight that I had to get a small piece of pipe to use as a lever arm. This problem was consistent for every bolt I tried. I had to give up trying when the tightness of the bolts damaged both the supplied wrench and the bolt head. I have informed Delta and am hoping they reply with an explanation.
Now after that little whinge the machine is quite good to use. The reason for not a higher rating is only due to this assembly error.

Best little non-production planer!
The 22-560 is my first protable planer and I gota say this thing takes a licking and keeps on ticking.I have ran over 4k bft of longleaf pine through this thing and aside from slight buildup of resin on the knives from time to time I have no complaints.The majority of the material I work with averages around 100 years old, and about 18 ft long, and using a simple set up of LEVEL roller tables I am able to start a board and walk away.Occassionaly I need to clean the infeed rollers as it tends to build up with resin, a charateristic of LL Pine, but I would rather stop to make this adjustment then deal with some of the problems I have read about concerning other planers.The machine has paid for itself several time over, and with maintainence I anticipate long continued use. I recommend this planer to anybody who is in the market for a portable planer regardless of the job size.I suggest if you plan on doing full scale production stuff with this little machine, give it a break after an hour or so so it can cool down. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Planers    2. Bench-Top Planers    3. (Planners)    4. (Plainers)    5. (Surface Planers)    6. (Portable)