Customer Reviews

JET 708524 JPM-13CS 13-Inch 1-1/2-Horsepower Planer/Molder, 110/230-Volt 1-Phase

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have the open stand version of this planer. I have had one of these for about 3 years now and it has proven to be extremely dependable. I was using a Delta portable/benchtop planer before I got the Jet. I wanted a more powerful planer but it had to be light enough for me to move it around without help. This Jet planer was the perfect choice. It is easy to roll around in my shop and it is just tall enough that if I need to take it somewhere, I can just tilt it over and slide it right in the back of my truck. I am a hobyist not a pro so I don't use it every day but considering how well it is built and how quiet it runs, I don't think it would have any trouble in daily use. I would guess I have planed between 500 and 1000 board feet of oak, cherry, pine, cedar, poplar, and others. Generaly taking 15/16" lumber down to 3/4" sometimes down to 1/2". Also made a few hundred linear feet of trim for a friends house. The original knives are still in it, running fine. The molding knives for the Sears molder/planer will fit in this planer. If you need portability but want more power than the benchtop units, this is the tool to get. Being able to make molding is just kind of a nice fringe benifit for me, I would have gotten it even if it didn't do molding.

I have the closed stand model and love it. I'm a contractor and was doing a reno job for a customer and had to match existing molding that is not available any more. I made a profile of the molding and sent it out to have costom knifes made. The moldings I made were perfect and I was able to make a few extra bucks for making them. I also made 12 inch beveled cedar clap board for a different job, I had to, all the wood mills I called said they couldn't help me. You may not use the machine all the time but when you do, it's worth its weight in gold. I found if you set up supports about two feet from the infeed and outfeed rollers the snipe you get is minimal.

I purchased this machine as an upgrade in my shop from a bench type planer. Initially, I thought I would like to buy a larger planer, but have found the thirteen inch capacity to be more than sufficient for my needs. The machine planes efficiently, and thickness settings are accurate upon initial calibration. Changing thickness is easily accomplished without the effort required for many smaller planers. The machine is sufficiently heavy to support large boards during planing, and the built in retractable wheels are wonderful, allowing easy relocation of the machine in the shop and good stability for planing while they are in the raised position. The infeed and outfeed roller supports are easily adjusted and well constructed. When properly set up they virtually eliminate snipe. When coupled with a dust collection system, the built in dust hood removes virtually all the chips. I am impressed! This is an exceptional machine for the price!

I have a small full time cabinet shop, and needed a new planer, and wanted a moulder for a long time. I purchased this model and have been very happy with the performance. It is much quieter than the portable machine I had, and planes the material much faster with a better quality cut than the portable models. The first time I set up the crown moulding cutters, it took me about 1/2 hour to set up the machine and make a bed to guide the boards through, and the mouldings that came out are a better quality than those that I have purchased at my local lumber yard. I also found that the knives for the 13" Grizzley moulder are interchangable with the Jet, so finding new knives is a piece of cake. For the hobbyist or the small shop that can't afford a dedicated planer and dedicated moulder, the Jet is the answer. Great machine

I ordered this machine for two reasons. 1. To plane boards and 2. to make molding. I run a small cabinet shop and thought it would be nice to have the second ability. The planer performs its function as a planer poorly at best. There is very evident snipe on both ends of the boards that pass through. Being that this was the primary function of this machine in my shop it was very disappointing. After more than a dozen adjustments per the manufactures manual, through experimentation, and the recomendation (singular) of Jet tech support it could not be adjusted out. After further inspection it was found that the planer's table actualy had 1/32nd to a 1/16th of an inch movement vertically on the infeed end and outfeed end. I figure that is the reason for the snipe on every pass. The other major disappointment of this purchase is Jet technical support. Don't bother calling them for help. I asked about the snipe problem and they answered "yeah, all of these machines do that". When they were told about the movement in the table they had no response and had to go find an engineer to find an answer. I had no response in 3 days, and had to call them back to try to get an answer. But there was no answer except that the guy who knew about this was away from his desk and they would need to call me back. This was 2 days ago. Maybe I received a machine that was built on Friday right before quiting time? I would not recommend buying this machine to anyone at this point. If you want a planer, buy a planer. If you want a molder, buy a molder. But don't buy this planer/molder.

JPM-13CS

I purchased my JPM-13CS in October of 2000. I promptly wired it for 220v. It is still going strong. I have done several hundred feet of lumber (birch, brown maple, basswood, pine, hackberry, oak) with it so far and I am still on the original blades. It does a nice, smooth job, but max planing speed is only 20 feet per minute. I seldom get snipe, and in 3 years of use, I haven't figured out exactly why some boards do, and some don't. Narrow boards (about 4 inch or less) seem to do it more so than wide boards.
I purchased a molding set for tongue and groove, and made a few hundred feet of basswood paneling. I strongly discourage anyone from going this route to make paneling. It is a slow, tedious process, and the available T&G set does not make the V chamfer groove, so an extra step through the router to make the chamfer was needed. I learned my lesson and bought a router bit set that makes the tongue and grove with the v chamfer.
I tried using this planer without a dust collector. It got about 2 feet and jammed without the collector.
I also purchased the optional "Curved Molding" table for the planer. I have not used it yet, but the attachment is very expensive for what it is. (A sheet of 3/4" white Teflon or plastic with slotted holes, and some bearings and bolts)

I just bought this at local wood hobby store, initials WC. Their price was $800; I called on phone and asked if any coupons were out that I should be aware of, and the manager yelled at the salesman to honor a 10% coupon coming out in late July. This is the third time they have done this for me. I planed about 150 feet of american cherry and brazilian cherry. This unit works GREAT. Other than adjusting the rollers, it worked just fine with no adjustments. The 3 inches of snipe others commented on can be eliminated by properly supporting on in feed and out feed. I did have 1 or 2 runs with some snipe throughout the piece, but I just continued to run it through with nominal cuts and it was eliminated. My guess is that certain wood characteristics come together on a piece of wood to make it more prevalent, but it can be eliminated. Highly recommend this unit.

I suppose I lucked out when I searched [...] When you use this tool, deffinately lower the flange of the dust chute and close the gap between the orange plate and the knife blades. This combined with a vacuum system will virtually eliminate chips/dust. Much more pleasant to use now since I have 80% less mess to clean up! Additionally, I suggest cutting a piece of plywood 13"x48" to all but eliminate the dreaded SNIPE... This board needs to be clamped to the tool bed and thus allows for a longer support. The rollers although neat and useful in their own way don't really give enough support to take care of the snipe.

The only real improvements in my opinion would be to make a quick disconnect for the dust chute/top cover to allow for easier on/off needs. As of now you gotta unscrew a few screws but is that even a really big deal? Secondly the video should be DVD not VHS, who still watches those? Finally, JET should supply the set-up/gauge blocks for this machine. If they supplied them wouldn't that take out the possible error of making them yourself to gauge the roller to knife offset?
Just my .02 worth'

Jimmy T.

IF YOU'VE EVER CONSIDERED GRETTING A HIGHER END PLANER, THIS IS IT.
THE PLANER-MOLDER IS PROBABLY THE BEST LOW PRICED, HIGH QUALITY ITEM I'VE EVER INVESTED IN. IT SETS UP EASILY, JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND PERFORMS SUPERBLY. THE OTHER MOLDER PLANERS I LOOKED AT WERE EITHER TOO HIGH PRICED... OR INFERIOR IN QUALITY (SEARS)
JET HAS PUT A PRODUCT ON THE MARKET THAT THE AVERAGE WOODWORKER CAN AFFORD AND USE FOR A LIFETIME, YET IS STILL A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WOODWORKER WITH A SMALLER SHOP. EASY TO USE AND SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE ARE THE BEST QUALITIES OF THIS MACHINE. WHILE IT'S COMPACT SIZE MAKES IT EASY TO STORE.

IF YOU'VE EVER CONSIDERED GRETTING A HIGHER END PLANER, THIS IS IT.
THE PLANER-MOLDER IS PROBABLY THE BEST LOW PRICED, HIGH QUALITY ITEM I'VE EVER INVESTED IN. IT SETS UP EASILY, JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND PERFORMS SUPERBLY. THE OTHER MOLDER PLANERS I LOOKED AT WERE EITHER TOO HIGH PRICED OR INFERIOR IN QUALITY (SEARS)
JET HAS PUT A PRODUCT ON THE MARKET THAT THE AVERAGE WOODWORKER CAN AFFORD AND USE FOR A LIFETIME, YET IS STILL A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WOODWORKER WITH A SMALLER SHOP. EASY TO USE AND SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE ARE THE BEST QUALITIES OF THIS MACHINE. WHILE IT'S COMPACT SIZE MAKES IT EASY TO STORE.