Craftsman Thickness Planer: Detailed assembly, adjustment and operation review. September 2021.

Tool Review: Detailed assembly, adjustment and operational review of the Craftsman 12.5" thickness Planer.

[@kimberlythomas8366]

Thank you for this video. If you lift your wood slightly up on the first 2 inches and the last 2 inches that should eliminate the problem. I really appreciate the set up. I tend to get distracted reading the manual.

[@richardbedard1245]

I'm glad you made this video. I just bought this planer today, it's still in my van. You showed me what I'll be doing tomorrow. I have a few small projects associated with the cabin I'm building, and then it will be set up in my shop. I've wanted one of these for years.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Richard, I'm still happy with mine. May your new tool provide great service to you for many years. Mahalo, Mike

[@kylehemming966]

I used mine right out of the box. Wish I watched this first.

[@evansimons9163]

Thank you for such a quality, thorough video. I just bought one of these and would’ve never thought to check the bolts. I had the exact 2 needing a crank. I always noticing when KZbin people don’t wear safety glasses but I see here you’ve called out safety a few times and I appreciate that.

[@eddiebydalek]

Your tuneup should be essential watching for all of us new guys with planers.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Eddie, Thank you Sir. That is a kind and encouraging comment! Mahalo, Mike.

[@fernandoescobar1594]

Yeap! I think the same way!

[@fernandoescobar1594]

@@maverickmikekauai3515 Thanks to you for sharing your knowledge and experience, this is a great contribution for the owners of this planner, like me... I just bought it and I going to follow your steps, thanks again and have blessings

[@EPortillo5000]

Unboxed and tested mine today, for the snipe just pass the pieces in tandem put the next before the fist one has passed and you just have snipe at the beginning of the first and the end of the last and is really minor, a pass with the sander will erase it.

[@gym_bob]

Yea those two bladed planers are louder then the 3 bladed ones. I use to have an older Rigid with the two blades and my neighbor use to complain about the noise. Now I have a dewalt 734 and am fairly happy with it. The sniping is very common on those benchtop planers and very difficult to adjust so I just plan on using longer stock and cutting 2 inches off each end.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Gym Bob, Yup, they sure are loud! I also leave the boards 4-5 inches longer than the final dimension then trim as necessary. Mahalo, Mike

[@chrismoody1342]

I just bought this planer and have yet to use it. I think I’ll be doing all the steps you used to set it up for use. I’ve wanted one for the longest time now. In the past I hauled everything over to my brothers to run everything. His is a Bauer from Harbor Freight and I though it did quite well. So I’m hoping that being a Craftsman it will be just a bit better. I know I’ll be using mine much more frequently than he does. I got other Craftsman tools, cast iron table saw, band saw, floor drill press, 2 routers and chisel mortiser. All my mechanics tools are also Craftsman. All my Craftsman tools have performed flawlessly, some are more recent but most the big ones are 20-30 years old. I sorely miss my Sears store.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Chris, So far I'm happy with the Craftsman Planer. I believe that this Planer is sold under other brand names as well so you may want to do some research into that. It is great to hear that you have some of the older, solid Craftsman shop tools. If you can keep them running (with replacement parts and etc.) that would be great as tools with that same quality are very pricey these days. Hope the video helps with the set up! Enjoy. Mahalo, Mike

[@michaeldouthat4218]

I'm pretty sure that Lowe's took over from Sears in selling Craftsman products. Do you have a Lowe's near you?

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

@@michaeldouthat4218 No we do not have one on Kauai. Mike

[@HouseScraper]

Thank you so much for this video I have just bought this planer and could not figure out how to use it. Thank you so much for this video

[@rabcarver333]

Just setup my new Craftsman planer with the help of your video. Thanks for posting it.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Rich, Glad you found the video helpful. Mahalo for the kind words. Mike

[@PCPAyLOAD]

Plastic yard bag and a couple rubber bands makes a great dust collector for mine. And it goes right in the trash can when I'm done.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Great Idea!

[@thomasweber3402]

Thank you for the video, time, and effort. It helped me with mine.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Thomas, Glad you found the video helpful and thanks for the kind words. Mahalo, Mike

[@s_c_r_e_w_b_a_l_l]

Mike, great video and wanted to say thank you. Well done, to the point and absolutely helpful. The smaller detailed parts were of particular help such as the finer points of leveling the bed, preventative maintenance and fine adjustments. Thanks for sharing this knowledge.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Awesome, thank you!

[@eddiebydalek]

Amazing breakdown braddah, I have a Wen that is the same machine except for some of the stuff that was cheapes out on like the wrench storage. No brainer yeah. Anyway my Wen got jammed up and it’s in pieces but your video showed me some things I wasn’t sure about and I think I can get this back together.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Eddie, Thanks for the cool comments. Sorry to hear that your planer is in pieces, hope you get the issue sorted out. Mahalo, Mike

[@srairmand]

Wow. I didn't do all of that to mine. I will have to now.

[@GeorgeNadaYT]

Excellent review and tips! I'm getting one.

[@tratzum]

I get really bad snipe on both ends of the board with this thing. One thing I have issue is the screws on my table sides don't turn. I striped one. So getting the in/out feed level is a bit of a challenge.

[@kimpanattoni]

Mahalo plenty. I have the chance to pick one of these up new for very little money and think I will give it a go. I watched another video of yours in which you used this and it looks like things came out great. :)

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Kimberle, Thanks for the great input and the planer has given me good service so far. Mahalo, Mike

[@solarjudgement4575]

I learned how to assemble and maintain it but not how to use it 🤔

[@bijan4727]

Hi this was an excellent presentation. I have a question. Let’s say I have 3 pieces of wood with different thickness and I want to make all three of them to have the same thickness. Can I do that with Craftsman planer ? How does the machine know I want all three of them to be the same thickness? I appreciate your feed back. You did not say anything about the thickness being the same on both end.

[@joshswenk1967]

Great stuff sir! Thank you

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Josh, Glad that you enjoyed the video. Mahalo, Mike

[@coreypacillo8204]

This was really good! Hate the snipe, but its still a good machine for the $$!

[@jorgevega5086]

Hey guys, anyone know where I could find replacement parts? My handle broke and I am trying to find a replacement, thanks in advance!

[@dallaspaytonlynam1185]

Really dislike the fades between takes. Just cut to the next one or so a really quick transition fade. 0.5 seconds. It was distracting. But it was a very informative video. Thumbs up overall

[@beckywurzel585]

Thanks for your video! What is the red oil you used?

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Becky, It was a mix of transmission fluid and regular engine oil. You need not use that combo it is just what I had on hand. Mahalo, Mike.

[@beckywurzel585]

I did all you showed, trued up the trays and actually had no snipe. :-) Thanks for all your advice! Wondering if you still like this planer?

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

@@beckywurzel585 Good for you Becky! Yes it is still giving me the expected service. Mahalo, Mike

[@tommycollier9172]

Thanks for the review most excellent

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Tommy, Thanks for the kind words and glad the video was helpful to you. Mahalo, Maverick Mike.

[@nasty575]

What kind of oil did you lubricant with?

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Hi, I just use a mixture of mineral oil and regular automotive engine oil.

[@jonboyd8613]

Does the planner have to be bolted down?

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Jon, I just place it on top of my workbench (without bolting it down) when I need to use it. But that being said, securing the planer is always a good idea. Mahalo, Mike

[@MrFrumos]

nice video but filming all details against bright background behind is nonsense.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Mr. Furmos, I agree. Glad you got something out of the video. Mahalo, Mike

[@Hotled1944]

Snipe on the leading edge is really bad.

[@maverickmikekauai3515]

Aloha Ken, Try adjusting the infeed/outfeed adjustable tables, that should help a bit. Mahalo, Mike.