Lumberjack PT 254 Review - Part 2

[@stuartjones7903]

Good honest review,no non-essential ridiculous music, no auditioning for their next workshop Oscar, not a myriad of Festool equipment in site , not a big workshop, just honest, plain information that helps tremendously ,well done and I have subscribed

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Thanks for the feedback Stuart :)

[@randallcrisp3266]

I enjoyed this series. Thank you

[@nicklloyd8191]

Thanks I will wait until the time is right or will go for a used one. Thanks nick

[@rimmerd9908]

Cheers for reviewing the machine. I like your straight forward style and the lack of music is a bonus. One thing I will say is, you need to read up on how to use a Jointer/Thicknesser as you are making all the same mistakes people would without knowing the process. Two sides at 90 degress is achieved with the jointer then you can use those flat sides in the thicknesser to achieve your 90 degree angles. Pushing down on the wood as it goes through the jointer is a no-no as well. Got a sub all the same but well worth checking out someone like Matt Estlea's video on how the process goes. I personally found it the most useful..

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Thanks for the advice it's much appreciated I will check it out...lots more videos to come from me keep watching!

[@susandurrant3203]

I bought this ‘toy’ for various projects. It was good to be reminded of its functions and drawbacks when it’s not in every day use. Sue

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Sue. Thanks for the comment :)

[@jlhuk52]

Thank you for the review. Have you tried planing/thicknessing scaffold planks and how does it do? Looking for something wide enough to do this thanks.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Yes i have and they did fit but the dust collection was horrible and the machine kept stopping.

[@crazyharedesign]

cheers for the review i had the same problem with reviews on this planer thicknesser thanks for the info.

[@michaelwillson6847]

Ok so ive just found this video based on that i have just bought this from lumberjack direct. I paid 300 for it slight discount on what should of been. Anyway my questions. Mine areived pretty mucy same as yours although i found 2 blades in yhe box now ave not set it up yet and wonder if there spare or still to attach. Second your right instructions seem useless. I have a jet extractor system which is 100mm pipe which ive found a reducer to add to the chute so am hoping shouldn't block. I am setting up woodworking business dounh live edge and reclaimed timber (pallets etc) and this was bought mainly for the plainer top. How did u find the arm thats attached to the guard mine aeems to only lift up about 3" or am a being stupid 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Michael.The support arm on the top isn't great and to be honest I often clamp a bit of wood onto it. The blades in the box are spare, the unit is ready to go straight out of the box. No, mine lifted up the whole time too

[@equin9309]

I'm looking to buy on of these. I have a question, aren't you supposed to get a flat side using the top planer/jointer first before putting it through the thicknesser part with the newly planed/flat side on the bottom?

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Equin...yes. I was just testing it really not using it to make something.

[@KAPWoodworkandbuilding]

Thanks for this review of the lumberjack. I’m in the market for a new machine and your review has been really helpful.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Great news thanks for the feedback!

[@neilgoodburn6829]

Hi there, great review - i like you agonised over which unit to buy due lack of reviews of this model. I did go for this one and have found it pretty good as a new start woodworker. Typical guy, I did not research the process of 'how to' plane / thickness in the right order to get the best results, just thought u ran an old bit of timber through the thicknesser and it came out all square flat and lovely 🤣.Now i do know how and my wood prep is great. The fence is a bit of a pain to set up and keep square as you say. The only other issue which was my fault was destroying a set of blades when i did not notice the piece of pallet wood was full of grit🤬. I am just a hobbyist so works well for my requirements - i was swayed to the 254 as Lumberjack had a special offer which included a dust vac. Cheers for now Neil.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Thanks for the comment Neil and I agree 100%. Happy woodworking!

[@drummingsim]

Thanks for doing this. I think this is still the only review on KZbin for the model of P/T. I picked this model up for £200 second hand and I’m really happy with it for that price. Had I paid the £370 asking price on Lumberjacks website currently, I’d be less pleased for sure. Mine has the same issues as yours but, as the unit will only see occasional use, it’s great for my needs. Re the fence, there was a little metal pin in the opposite end of the bar to the quick release handle on mine, that held the flanged end off the face of the curved sliding support for the fence, preventing them from coming into contact. I have no idea how this was meant to help design-wise, as it meant the flanged end couldn’t actually grip the surface of the curved slider, meaning that no matter how hard you tightened the quick release leaver at the other end, the flange could never tighten up on that end and the fence would always have slight movement on that side. I tapped mine out with a small drift and tightened it back up so the flange contacted the surface of the slider and the fence held much better. Not sure whether my confused ramblings will be of any help, but let me know how you are getting on with yours 😁

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Simon. Thanks for the message and I will look at mine and see if I have the same pin you did. Please keep checking for tool reviews on my channel. Thanks for the feedback, The Garage Workshop

[@DavidSmith-qh8ok]

Did you manage to find an adapted dust extractor pipe from 75mm to 100mm if so where from please . Regards dave

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi David. No I made one myself and 3D printed it. To be honest it was ok but the design needs refining.

[@philipb867]

I looked at the Lumberjack but went for the Metabo 10inch in the end purely because it has an induction motor and is much quieter and doesn't annoy the neighbors as much and it does a great job. You need a better extractor the Sheppach does not move enough air for a PT I use a twin motor Camvac which seems to work nicely and gives twice the air movement of your sheppach.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Philip. Thanks for the advice. To be honest the amount of use it gets I am not sure I want to upgrade to a large vac yet. I may do in the future.

[@tomdavis9826]

Bought one of these, for the price I wasn’t expecting much. I had an Electum Beckhan for year. Brilliant bit of kit. The Lumberjack is very lightweight in comparison. The smooth feed rollers are not a good feature. The dust extraction needed modifying. Took the panel out of it. It was totally useless when thickening. The extraction faces the wrong way, that’s why in the video it blocked. So made a new box for the top of the bed when thicknessing. Only don light work so far. Already isolated the so-called safety switch

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

That's great feedback Tom, thanks. How did you make the box?

[@10120socks]

hi are the blades standard ground sharp with a grinder from the factory. . if you sharpen them with a wet stone like you do a hand plane it will plane 20 times better. tony

[@AlexEllis]

Hi thanks for making this video. I put the 205mm Zipper on order but just cancelled after watching this. To be fair - this would accept scaffold boards which is going to be important for outdoor furniture. What's it like to stow away when not in use? What are you using for your dust extraction?

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Thanks for the comment. To be fair I have made a new stand for it because it was heavy to move. It's one of my videos so please check it out. I like the machine a lot and for my occasional use it's perfect.

[@AlexEllis]

@@thegarageworkshop4791 Thanks for the reply. There was another part to my question: What are you using for your dust extraction? It looks like my Titan wet/dry vac is a 38mm hose, but I can't find a reducer from the claimed 75mm fitting? I saw you have your extraction set up in your shop now. Have you managed to sort this machine out with extraction too?

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

@@AlexEllis Hi Alex. Yes and I have a video on it. I use a Scheppach shop vac for the dust extraction on the planer. I use the Titan just for my mitre saw.

[@AlexEllis]

@@thegarageworkshop4791 is there a special adapter for it? It's 75mm and most of those larger machines are 100mm. I'm struggling to find 75mm->38mm for my Titan wet/dry vac.

[@Steve-dr7rr]

Hi can I ask where you got your hose from if ok thanks steve👨🏼‍🦽

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Steve. It came with the vac when I bought it. Not seen on that size since!

[@MegaBuckfast]

Thanks for doing this review. I’ve also looked at this model and the Excel 10” machine which is very similar to the lumberjack with only a few pounds price difference. I remember looking at these before good old covid reared it’s head and they were definitely £50 - £100 cheaper. I think I’ll wait a little longer to see if the price comes down. Thanks again and keep the vids coming.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

I would give it a few months if you can...if prices stay the same I personally don't think you'll be wasting your money.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

I don't blame you thanks for the comment.

[@ianandrews1511]

Ive had similar issues with machines with few reviews. Although i admire the make the machine better approach, i usually find if a fence isnt able to be locked and not moved during use, then what else is below standard. I sent my machine straight back as my fence wouldnt square at all

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Totally agree!

[@alanrees4837]

JUST BOUGHT A SECON HAND LUMBERJACK PT 254 PLANER THICKNESSER I DONT SEEM TO HAVE ANY POWER AND IDEAS ON WHAT COULD BE WRONG

[@ep91monster]

Microswitch fault

[@PhilsWorkshop1953]

Enjoyed the review I have the Titan version and it has the same fence problem as yet I’ve not used the thicknesser just the planer my vac is the lumberjack 1200 and the suction is great and it just fits direct on the unit with no cyclone etc as yet no problems. The only thing you missed out on is checking for old nails and screws as it’s reclaimed wood other than that a good review

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Thanks for the feedback. And you are right I didn't in the video I did off camera but didn't record it. I will check out the the lumberjack 1200!

[@stuartberry7184]

I have this machine, after a year of total of about 200 hours of use it is ready for the scrap heap, height adjustment ceased solid, despite regular greasing, guides no longer true, on for rough work but not for finish work. on/off switch just burnt out,so bypassed it , until new machine arrives.

[@onetalentedman2822]

You never grease planer thicknesses or use WD40 to lubricate. Silicone dry lubricant is what you use. That way saw dust and chippings will not blog mechanism on machine.

[@The_IntrepidExplorer]

For a hobbyist it's ok but it does give bad snip and I've found the planet bed isn't great, not as smooth as a cast bed. Have you found the same? Regarding your extraction, you really need a 100mm hose. I used to have mine hooked up to a shop vac and it would always block. A shop vac cannot take the sheer volume of shavings.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi. Yes I have and for my use it's fine but more than occasional use I wouldn't recommend it.

[@garyblake3130]

Hi, I have seen a lot of these machines which are pretty much a diy machine but in the untrained hands still a very dangerous one. I don't think personally they should be sold to the general public without first the user getting some much needed training on the safety of using one. Number one rule your hands should NEVER cross the cutters for if the timber should get grabbed by the cutters your hands will drop into them. Rant over. These machines are ok for what they are but are difficult to set up as the beds are often twisted and the fence is as well. I guess some diyers will say they are great, so its horses for courses. Nice review and video, just be careful with those hands please.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Hi Gary. Thanks for the advice. It was my first time using it and I can assure you I am super super safe now I have used it a few times. Thanks for the comment!

[@PaulDobson-ih6lc]

Why did you thicknesser before getting two edges square??!!.... try planing flat and square then thickness plane and cut to width on your table saw from the other square edge...

[@coolcd3285]

You need to uncoil the cable and your extension lead mate.

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Thanks cool...you I must do it 3 times a day!

[@pof1991]

The bed handle is on the wrong side really you have to stretch to get it and eyeball

[@jonathannewell5458]

You should have removed the transport supports before using the machine!!!

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

Yeah got that now thanks though! :)

[@johnweir2460]

Thanks for making the two review videos there have been a great help. I've been looking at this model and trying to decide: a) should I go for it and b) do I really need a jointer thicknesser - usage, space and cost considerations (jointing can be done on and table saw and thicknessing by using a router and sled - but both using these processes have negative time impacts on work) still undecided. I think the fence being difficult to square up and keep square is a major negative for the machine, I seen a review for the 12" version where they had a similar issue. I have spotted that these machines come up on auction sites, a link to one in the following link, but there is the risk that they are not in A1 condition or have parts missing. I guess if you can pick one up at the right price the risk is mitigated to a degree. www.simoncharles-auctioneers.co.uk/lots/3211614/lumberjack-tools-pt254-planer-thicknesser Looking forward to your future reviews. Last point the link you have provided doesn't work and the name to the has a typo

[@thegarageworkshop4791]

If you need one...it's a good choice....if you don't....it's a costly choice....