Delta 22-580 Planer? Do you have one of these?

[Seth Ellis]

I purchased this planer in pieces. Delta 13" 22-580 planer for $75. The former owner couldn't get it back together after a cleaning because he has Parkinson's. I felt bad, but he was happy to get it to a new home where it could be happily used.

I've put it back together and all the pieces are accounted for except for 3 washers and a couple of small bolts that hold the electrical chord in place. I'll have to order these from a service center. I'll be pretty nervous about turning it on for the first time because I don't want to muck it up.

I've never owned a planer before and I'd like advice on this one or just planers in general. All the parts were pretty clean and I suppose some need lubrication/grease or maintenance. I read the manual online for this planer, but I'd like to hear from owners to see what you do to your planers to keep them running well. Finally, if you have this model of planer I'd like to know just in case I have specific questions about how it goes together or is supposed to work.

Many thanks, Seth

[Bob Hammond]

Seth,

A few things:

1. Don't abuse the blades. Be careful to inspect wood for embedded bits of metal, and never plane a board that already has a finish on it. Don't try to take off the maximum amount in one pass.
2. If you have the space, set it up on a solid bench, and make extension tables for both infeed and outfeed to reduce snipe.
3. Often, feeding the stock through at a slightly skewed angle might result in a better finish.
4. Sometimes a light dampening of the stock may reduce tearout.
5. There are a number of online articles about making a sled that will carry thin stock (1/8") through the planer to make it thinner for plates. Some of them can be used to flatten stock as well, which is usually a job for a jointer.
6. If the blades get nicked in one spot but are otherwise still useable, then it may be possible to shift them side to side a little bit to compensate.
7. Don't forget about dust/chip control. They're bad for the planer and for you too. Also, they can cause problems if they fall on the infeed table and get caught between the table and stock - your wood will come out thinner than you wish.

[Bob Hammond]

Oh, and always wear hearing protection! I think a planer is the loudest tool by far. Hmm, maybe I'll take some rough measurements of the sound pressure level. There's a sound level app for my phone and theoretically it is 'calibrated' to match the characteristics of the mic. I'm skeptical, but it might give at least a relative comparison between the different tools.

[Clay Schaeffer]

Hi Seth,
A friend of mine has the older version of the Delta bench top planer. It is a great little planer - almost no snipe and a very smooth finish.
The small planers are not great for hogging off large quantities of material, but are fine for most lutherie work.
If you decide to grease the planer use white grease or lubriplate and use it sparingly - grease attracts wood chips and copious amounts of it might do more harm than good.

[Bob Hammond]

I forgot to mention that I have the older version too. Last year, Delta offered a deal: the local service center did a complete teardown, inspection, lube, reassembly, and adjustments, for ~$100 plus parts. It was a reasonable deal, and the price ended up about $135 as I recall.

[Seth Ellis]

Man, that's some good advice. I'll probably get or make some out feed/in feed rollers. I don't have a large enough space for a permanent large setup. I'll take your advice on the care. So far, great feedback and thank you very very much.

[Bob Hammond]

Seth, maybe you're aware of this already, but you might find more information about this and other topics if interest at woodgears.ca, run by Matthias Wandel.

[Darrel Friesen]

I have one of these. It's been a real workhorse. No complaints.

[Seth Ellis]

Thanks Darrel. No idiocyncracies? I'm kind of terrified that I didn't put it together correctly and that when I turn it on it will grind to a miserable end. Have you ever torn the machine down to clean or work on it?

Bob, I don't know what you are talking about. Cool site, but what does that have to do with this planer?

[Darrel Friesen]

I haven't torn it down in the 7 years I've owned it Seth. Just changed blades and cleaned the rollers. Having said that, it isn't a heavily used machine although it's seen a fair bit of maple and walnut and a few other hardwoods. Very little snipe and problem free.

[Clay Schaeffer]

When rebuilding some planers adjustment of the infeed and outfeed rollers can be critical to the smooth operation of the machine. I don't know anything about the Delta in this regard.