JET 708529G / JWP-15CS 15-Inch Wood Planer with Enclosed Stand

by Jet

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

So you've found an entire block of condemned Victorian houses, and the mayor has given you exclusive rights to the flooring in exchange for--oh, let's just say--a bit of support in his re-election campaign. With that still two years off, the only problem facing you now is removing the random pits, warps, and other blemishes of this salvage-lumber gold mine. For professional tasks that mock portable planers' capabilities, Jet's 15-inch enclosed-stand model gives you smooth surfaces as long as you keep it fed. Powered by a completely enclosed, 3-horsepower induction motor, it efficiently converts 230 volts into 13,500 cuts per minute at 4,500 rpm. The positive gear drive system adjusts depth quickly, and, with its smooth-cranking hand wheel, you can slice up to 1/8 of an inch off boards as large as 15 inches wide and 6 inches thick. Infeed and outfeed tables use three industrial steel rollers each to ensure smooth transfer from the planer's nonslip serrated intake all the way through the knives. You'll appreciate features like the smaller return rollers on top for handling large planks and the magnetic safety switch that prevents the machine from automatically turning on after power outages. Set on four heavy-duty, cam-lock casters, it easily rolls into position and stays where you place it. Go on and take the offer to gut those houses this year. --Justin Paul

From the Manufacturer

The one-piece steel stand on JET's 15-inch planer has lockable casters. The hand wheel adjusts the table up or down, quickly and accurately. The cast-iron and steel construction adds stability and durability, while the 3 hp, single-phase, 230-volt motor delivers full power via a three V-belt system. Two steel work-return rollers, located atop the planer, make transferring your work easier. The steel infeed, serrated infeed, and smoother outfeed rollers allow for 1/8-inch depth of cut while helping to support your workpiece. Other features include an automatic chain tensioner on the gearbox and jackscrews on the cutterhead, with springs to make knife adjustments easy and accurate. It has a 15-inch maximum cutting width and a maximum cutting thickness of 6 inches. The 4-inch dust port angles to the side for efficient chip removal and to keep the dust hose out of the way of your work. Your planer purchase includes magnetic controls, three high-speed steel knives, extension rollers, return rollers, rigid stand with lockable coasters, 4-inch dust chute, and two-speed gearbox. It also includes an extra set of knives, a $99 value.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 576 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000223LI
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 708529G
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #787,375 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very competent machine, some minor shipping damage, July 20, 2000

By 

Ken Bean (San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JET 708529G / JWP-15CS 15-Inch Wood Planer with Enclosed Stand (Tools & Home Improvement)

Previous to getting the Jet 15" planer this year I owned the Powermatic 12" floor model planer, for which we paid quite a bit more, back in 1989. Having tried both, I can honestly say I like the Jet better.

We had some shipping damage to the Jet planer, either because the Fed-Ex boys got a little rough, or because the Jet people hadn't packed it well enough (or with Fed-Ex in mind; take your pick). One of the lifting handles on the planer had shot through an internal shipping container, ripping it open and scattering the return rollers over the bed, and bursting a can of touch-up paint that Jet includes with some of their tools.

Because of the thick rust-protectant gunk that Jet puts on their beds, the beds were unharmed. One of the knives got a small chip, and the worm gear housing got cracked. A call to Jet got the replacement parts on the way, but in the meantime I was still able to get the planer up and running. The knives were installed at the factory close enough so that I didn't bother messing with them, and I went through the other set-up adjustments without much of any problem. The bed gunk cleaned up with Naphtha and a rag; you just have to spend a while scrubbing. Tables were perfectly flat; they just needed some alignment to bring them parallel to the cutterhead.

You need to make an alignment gauge out of a block of wood to set up the machine initially. Jet does not provide you this tool, but does give you detailed instructions on how to make it. The only other thing you need that they don't provide is a feeler guage. In all you probably can get the machine uncrated, up and running in about 4-6 hours if you have help. If you don't, it will take longer (just to get it out of the crate). It already comes assembled to the base.

The planer seems to have plenty of power, and makes nice cuts with very little snipe; the snipe seems to be pretty much a function of how high you set the bed rollers. The closer you set the bed rollers to the table the less snipe you get, so if you do a lot of lumber that is already smooth on the underside, you might want to set the bed rollers within a couple thousandths of the table or even with the table. You won't be able to do that with rough lumber though. (The planer comes with the bed rollers set at .005 above the table, and that is approximately how much snipe I get.)

I noticed there was a lot of black dust coming from the belts through the belt cover vents; I had thought the belts were sufficiently tight, but tightened them a little more, which seemed to take care of the problem for the most part. I had also noticed quite a shudder when turning the machine on; after tightening the belts this too seemed to go away. There is still a little black dust from the belts (there are three), but I have learned that that belts that come with these tools aren't always that accurately cut.

One thing that really impressed me about the planer is the number of tools that Jet provides with it: a full complement of metric open-end box and allen wrenches. Unless you want to use some sockets, they give you all the tools you need to assemble and maintain the tool (except for feeler gauge and alignment block, see above). The planer comes mostly assembled, but you do have to do some minor assembly. The can of touch-up paint is a thoughtful gesture, too.

You don't need a mobile base for this planer: it already comes with quite adequate casters installed, which lock with a foot pedal. The four lifting handles are a real help when moving it around the shop. The machine has a lot of little extras and niceties, like teh return rollers on top. It really is a lot of machine for your money.

The dust hood (included) will fill quickly with wood chips if you don't have a dust collection system hooked up to it. It doesn't just completely blow them out to the side unassisted.

The machine comes prewired for 230 volts. All you have to do is screw on a 230 volt plug. (And have your shop wired for 230, if you don't already)

84 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't be happier, April 21, 2000

By 

Layne David Dicker (Beverly Hills, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JET 708529G / JWP-15CS 15-Inch Wood Planer with Enclosed Stand (Tools & Home Improvement)

I had high expectations for this machine, all of which have been met and exceeded. The machine is smooth and powerful. The fit and finish are superb. For people with larger hands the forward bed release knob is a bit difficult to access, but this is my only complaint. Set up was minimal. Planing down to 1/4" thickness is even and precise. I own many Delta machines, all of which I love and have consistently bought Delta over Jet because of what I considered to be Jet's inconsistent quality control. However, everyone I spoke with rated Jet's 15" planer over Delta's, so I took their advice. I could not imagine a better planer than the Jet machine.

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Step up to Jet 15", May 12, 2000

By 

Robert F. Leroux "Handmade-Buy" (Ogdensburg, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JET 708529G / JWP-15CS 15-Inch Wood Planer with Enclosed Stand (Tools & Home Improvement)

After having used a 12" Grizzly for ten years it was time to search for a suitable 15" planer. The JWP-15CSW from Tool Crib was the best deal considering the price of the planer is identical in any of the catalogs and .coms I searched. the difference was in the extremely low shipping charges and the customer service from amazon.com. The machine arrived well packed and ensuing set up was easy following the directions. Controls are handy and finish is excellent and at 500 lbs it is very solid. Tips for the next buyer: you will need bronze wool or some other soft abrasive to get the factory gunk off the table. Kerosene alone will not do it. The power cord is rather short and I had to go into the switch box and reinstall a longer one to reach my 220 receptacle.