Shop fox vs powermatic 20" planer

[Rob V]

Ok -- I have have the ooprtunity to get either one of these for 1200.00 bux.(Both brand new ) The difference is the SF is the 5hp model. From previous posts I have read - they are pretty much the same machine.

Is the SH motor really a 5 HP??? (Or is it that much better than the PM?)

Normally - the choice would be a no brainer - same price - get the bigger motor - but Im not that familer w/ the SF brand. I do have a 8" PM jointer that I am very happy w/.

Any thoughs would be appreciated.

Thanks

-Rob

[Sweet Sawdust]

[Morgans]

Bull!!! Tell me how too much HP can be a problem.

[Chris Merrill]

Which post are you reading? He/she did not say that too much HP is a "problem".

The meaning that I got was that you can buy more than you need and/or will use ("more than is really useful", to paraphrase).

I tend to agree...my 1.5hp TS serves me well...5hp would be wasted money (for me).

[Morgans]

Point taken about the use of the words.

I must use my TS and BS in a much more demanding manner. Ripping some nice wet pressure treated 2 X 8, , a 5 HP motor is barely acceptable, to me. Any less, and I get impatient.

On the BS, resaving a 8" tall piece of oak will take all the HP you can get. I have 3 HP, and still kick out the thermals on the motor occasionally.

So while some may think that more HP is unnecessary, I will take all I can get! :-)

Jim (some call me Tim) the toolman Taylor (I mean Morgan)

[George]

Ever run that fun and games "what's my horsepower" lab in seventh grade? Remember what your horsepower was?

How did they _ever_ saw wood before there was Norm?

[Sweet Sawdust]