Anyone out there w/ a 20" planer?

[Tim Carver]

We're in agreement that hobbyist woodworking has grown a ton, and that Norm has had an impact, and I'll grant that equipment started getting more affordable at about the time Norm came on the scene. I'm not sure, however, whether the growth of the hobby (and Norm's popularity) caused the availability of affordable machinery, or whether the hobby has grown because the machinery became affordable, with Norm's popularity coming as a result of the growth of the hobby. Perhaps a bit of both. Regardless, the machinery has relentessly gotten cheaper (in inflation-adjusted terms) during that period.

Well, I suppose I am. I was just saying that IMO it's not a bad thing that a hobbyist can now buy a new 20" stationary planer for a tiny fraction of his/her salary when that tool would have cost a major chunk of a years salary a few decades ago. When that Parks planer sold for $1000, $8000 per year was a really good yearly salary. A new planer today is a much more affordable proposition than it was in 1960. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me that this greater affordability for the masses has come along with some quality reduction.

Well, I'd have to either build another building or get rid of something big. Then I could start looking :-)

Tim Carver [e-mail]

[Mark Jerde]

The quality may actually be higher, due to better materials and manufacturing processes.

Analogy: Automobiles. There were "service stations" everywhere in the

1960's because autos *needed* regular service. My 1995 Firebird has 138,000 miles on it and nothing major has ever gone wrong. There's only 18,000 miles on just the 3rd set of tires.

-- Mark

[Unisaw A100]

Actually there's a good and a bad associated with BN and AN. BN the only biscuit joiner you could buy was the Elu (Norm's favorite but there's a story why/I'll tell it with a little prodding) and the Lamello. Now hands down either of these machines were top of the heap and not just onna 'count of they "were the heap" (they were). AN there became available other makers of biscuit joiners. In comparison there is no comparison as the Elu and the Lamello were/are/always will be a much better machine (insert favorite comparison here) than (insert newer, less expensive biscuit joiner here). The difference being that the Lamello did cost you/still costs you around $600ish and the others (cheaper) cost you $200ish. Is the Lamello worth $400 more? Just try and pry one from an owner's fingers and find out. Is the cheaper biscuit joiner a fair substitute? Well, umm, I, well you see, OK, I've got one, OK, there I said it!!! But I'd switch in a heart beat if I could.

So what I'm saying is, with Norm there came a higher demand for machines and with demand comes quantity and with quantity comes competition and the ekonomiks of scale and all. Doesn't mean though that the public is getting the "best deal" but at least they get a deal. There have been instances where by AN some machines and tools have become less expensive and the hobbyist has benefited. I used to pay attention to the price of new Unisaws and once upon a time I could cite the facts but I don't think the price of the Unisaw has increased in at least 20ish years. By increase I mean, back around 20 years ago the Unisaw sold for within a hunnert or two of what it sells for today. Then on the other hand I also think Delta has it as a loss leader (has kept the price down artificially low and made up for it with other cheaper/crappier machines) so maybe this is a skewed example.

OK, I'll agree.

sigh...

UA100

[Unisaw A100]

And versatile too. The blow molded motor cover from a 2004 Unisaw can be used as a sled for the kids "and" a down spout spillway.

Ya mean, it's not up on blocks in front of a double wide yet?

Wow!

UA100, who wouldn't trade his seasoned castings for anything annealed and I don't care how many degrees in metallurgy you have...

[Tim Carver]

???

Tim Carver [e-mail]

[Unisaw A100]

I thought that one might kick up your curiosity. :-)

Back in the day, before posting Off Topic was considered acceptable here on the wreck there was a poster by the name of (name deleted onna 'count of it's not mine to give out). He and I hit it off pretty good mostly because the information he posted, much of it on biscuit joiners, was always good. One day we were corresponding on something and one thing let to another when he told me about a contract he had with Colonial Saw. Colonial was (still is?) the importer for Lamello. Anyways (I know, not a word) one day he tells me that back in the beginning they (Colonial) get a call from New Yankee Workshop and they (NYW) basically requested that Colonial send them a free Lamello and in exchange for the free Lamello NYW would use it on the show. Colonial balked and the next thing you know old Jed's a millionaire, err, make that, Norm was using a Elu.

Anyway, a wee bit of wooddorking trivia you won't find on the other discussion groups. You heard it here first though and it's something to tell your grand kids.

UA100

[Tom Watson]

Yabbutt, ya know what?

The Lamello is a better bisquik joiner that the NYW is a woodorking show.

(tom - who has a Pre-Colonial , Lamello Top-Ten, with the original cutter, 'cause he knows how to use a diamond file and never does PineyWood.)

(Yeah, it did cost about five hundred bucks, but not the rumoured (opcitalt) $600.00 - in 1980 money.)

(tom - who has enjoyed watching the Pilgrim's Progress of Nahm, that very nearly paralleled his own progress from Carpenter to Cabinetmaker, but who thinks that Russ Morash can kiss his Happy Irish Ass and would like to see a show that was run according to Nahm's interests but we do still need the kind of people who will serve the market and so I guess we will have to be satisfied with what is, after all, a better situation now than it was previous.)

Ah well.

Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker (ret) Real Email is: tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet Website:

[Tim Carver]

Well, I guess there's nothing really wrong with this, but it seems kinda low class. Hopefully Norm was just following orders and didn't get involved in this himself.

Tim Carver [e-mail]

[Unisaw A100]

My thinking is/was Norm wasn't even in the same state when Morash ordered an assistant to call Colonial.

UA100