Charnwood 10x8 Review. My Planer Thicknesser/Jointer Planer

[@glennburton8487]

Thanks for taking the time for this. Our community workshop has an Axminster trade AC 250. Only difference I can see is the label. From an engineering point of view I’ve no idea how they retail these machines at this low price. Very adequate for our purposes.

[@robinholland1136]

Thank you so much for this and the other video about this machine. Took delivery of mine yesterday and they will be invaluable for setting it up. I have to agree that the so-called manual is of no use at all. I love your no-fuss, informative presentation and am looking forward to spending some time going through your other videos. Subscribed!

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Glad it was helpful

[@DeclanCostello1973]

Hi there John. Good to see you back making videos again. Have a question for you on your Charnwood P/T. I've watched your review video. Are you still happy with it ? Are you sorry you didn't go larger ? I'm torn between 10" and 12" ones. Between Charnwood, Record power, Axi. And if I blow my budget the iTech or Jet !

[@BischBaschBosch]

Just been looking up this machine mate. Great review. Very helpful. All the best chap.

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Glad I could help

[@110890nick]

hi from denmark:) i love your vidioes. Im new to wood working soo evry honest words is always good:)

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Welcome along!

[@frankiekennedy2031]

Great review john , and i discovered what part no 75 is for ...checking the blade height 👍

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Glad you liked it Frankie

[@daveychainsaw961]

Really helpful video John, thanks. I'm trying to decide between something like this and the Metabo HC260. Space is limited so the metabo would fit but I'd prefer cast iron tables. One question, isn't your Charnwood W583 the 10 x 7" model? Would you still recommend it?

[@theyorkshirelad.]

when using the thicknesses do you get any snipe if so have you managed too reduce this im getting quite a lot thanks

[@reaper060670]

1500 quid is out of my price range atm John pal but maybe in a couple yrs I will buy one when my woodworking is good enough to warrant it.. For now I'm getting me one of those cheap as fook models from Titan.. It'll do for what I need it for and when I'm ready to step it up to a better model I will be looking at a better model like one of these babys.. I need some good chisels John so I was hoping u could give me some advice on the best Mortise chisels? The best set of ordinary wood chisels I can buy with let's say 200 euros as a price range for both sets?? I would very much appreciate it if anybody could help me with some good advice.. I'm prepared to go to 240/50 euros for both sets if needs be but I want to really get some great chisels for the money.. I am going to buy a set for about 670-70 euros as well for learning with but I really want both of the other sets now too.. It would be greatly appreciated if any of u good ppl on here could advise me on the best I can get for the money I want to spend.. Love the videos btw John.. Where are u from pal? Is that an Athlone or Louth accent? I cannot tell but it's a proper Irish accent bro.. Great to see a top Irish woodworker on here doing his thing.. I haven't found very many tbh. Ur the only one atm John mate but I will be looking for a few more in the future too.. Salute from DUBLIN by way of LIMERICK & Tipp

[@bruceferguson5566]

Hey John - any particular reason you bought the Charnwood given you seem to be a bit of a Record Power fan? did you consider the Record Power PT107 10" x 7" . I'm in the market for one just now and am stuck between availability and lack of reviews

[@allthegearuk]

I was also wondering this. Didn't fit with all your other green machines.

[@kieran.stafford]

Great video John. I'd happily live with this tool except for that fence. It makes me sick looking at how fiddly and ill designed it is. I wonder could you fashion or procure a better after market fence? Just found your channel this evening and binge watching. Well done, enjoying it immensely.

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic, dude. Thanks a lot! 😃 I'm going to look for one like that for me here in Brazil! 😃 Stay safe there! Live long and prosper! 🖖😊

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Thanks man!

[@_J.F_]

Thanks for a great review. I have been looking at possibly buying that machine a couple of times but always ended up feeling more in doubt than actually hooked on it. I think the fence is absurdly poor, as is the design fault along both sides of the thicknesser bed, and the few other cons that you pointed out has underlined that I probably need to look elsewhere, and probably need to up my budget too. I suppose that the problem lies in the combination of planer and thicknesser in one, saving workshop footprint and making the most of a single motor, but at the cost of good engineering and essentially practicality too. In the end it all comes down to what you can afford, and justify spending, but I think you probably get a lot more value for your money with their 12x9 machine, or the Axminster Trade series equivalent.

[@frankslittleworkshop]

Nicely done John 😁👍. I have the "Fox F22-568" version (i had to check the number...) which is just about identical. I've had exactly the same issues with the fence and the guide rail gap 🙁. I got it as a bargain as it was sniping like mad. As soon as I got it home and set it up properly it worked a treat 😁. Happy days. It's one of the best tools in my little workshop. Thanks for the vid, stay safe 😁👍

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Nice one Frank

[@tulipgraphics]

Thank you very much, i just bouth a similar planer 16" second hand. I spend a whole day cleaning it from rust, i am pretty happy with it. The gard broke down, the fence looks similar but you can slide it from the outside, so the changed that. The guy I bought it from did not give me the wrench to open the knife holders bolt. I tried a 8mm but looks to large , a 7.5 would fit better or is it in inch, do you know the exact size ?

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

I think it's a 7mm

[@Mrharleyrules]

Really informative review dude, nice one

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Glad you liked it

[@CityWoodDesigns]

hi john any recommendations on a bandsaw

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Record Power make some good saws and are a reasonable price, Axminster also do some good saws.

[@CityWoodDesigns]

@@JohnMcGrathManInShed cheers john im looking at the RP bs350 sabre will be for some re-sawing but mainly bandsaw boxes

[@mitnoxin]

Really helpful review. Thank you.

[@MUCKLEWELLS]

Hi John excellent review, it looks like an axminster version, does the in-feed roller marking the wood mean that there's a minimum amount to take off in order not to leave marks ? so can it take light cuts ? thanks, Howard

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

It can take light cuts but if it's at the set thickness and you put it through the roller marks will not be removed by the cutter

[@MUCKLEWELLS]

@@JohnMcGrathManInShed Thanks John,

[@theronmatron]

I think the break in the rails is for when you're thicknessing a really thin piece so the blades don't hit the rails. Just a guess though.

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

I think you could be 100% right there

[@theronmatron]

Nice to see a few guitars on the walls there. I've made a few acoustics and an electric before. Currently out in the garage making another now.

[@boxatricks]

Just saw the video and came on to comment but saw you had it covered. A work around would be to have a sacrificial wooden fence hot glued to the bed in this area. If the cutter hits it, then no harm done.

[@williamhector6863]

Hi John in your opinion is Record Power One is better

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

I haven't used the record power one so I couldn't say for sure.

[@philipswan1016]

That angle fence would drive me soft. Great review

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Thanks 👍

[@S7tronic]

Great review, very helpful-thanks for posting. I'm looking at picking up the Axminster Craft AC250, which looks very similar to this, most likely from the same factory.. To fix the guide rail issue, would it be an idea to self tap a length of aluminum profile rail or similar on the edges of the planer bed on either side? It might stop the leading edge of the wood snagging.

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

I was looking at something like that but its a big deal to dissemble to get the bed out. The in-feed roller is powerful so when it hits it can split the timber which is a disaster.

[@logicalChimp]

Or just a couple of wooden sticks, with a lip on one end to hook over the end of the in-feed (so they don't get dragged through).... would guide the wood, and if there was an issue (or you forget and raise the bed too high) they're made of wood so wouldn't damage the blades etc

[@heidbumbee1689]

Great Honest review! Thanks for that. I think you have actually talked me into buying a smaller / lighter / cheaper machine which should work ok within my level of use. That said you say it's not a "high end machine" but at over £1000 I would expect better. "Buy cheap buy twice" is a common mantra which is true for me but it looks like I don't have to move far out of the £300 price zone to get the results I need at my level

[@uknowulikethat4042]

nice piece of machinery, just a little jealous

[@robertcorradi8573]

Great and very helpful, no faff review.... Subscrbed .👍

[@Annaisineire]

Good man in a great shed :)

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Not a bad machine for the money.

[@elpresidente8730]

Never understood why European spec machines use that type of blade guard, the US spec rotating pork chop design seems the more foolproof design to me. Does anyone know the reason for the difference?

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

I guess the idea is the guard is always in place so you have to lift your hands over the guard no matter the size of material

[@Music-mt6ty]

♥John McGrath

[@markjarman7819]

Make a essentially a great machine and finish it with crap is a typical Chinese build. Charnwood say made in Britain but I’m not so sure about that. another great video 👍

[@mwest67]

All these tools are ridiculously expensive for machines where you say has some issues etc. Its a massive barrier to entry for people who dont want spend over 1k on one

[@TheLukemcdaniel]

I freely admit that I have trust issues, but even still, due to life experience I immediately and absolutely distrust anyone that feels the need to tell me how honest they are or how much I can trust them. The only time I've been hurt regarding that gut feeling, is when I ignored it.

[@AfricanSouthernCross]

At 5:50 I’ve seen enough and certainly see it’s a piece of rubbish !

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Its not a bad machine, it has served me well over the last few year. But it does have some flaws

[@Annaisineire]

lol...:))