The old Delta RC-51, you served us well.
For years, our Delta RC 51 Planer helped thousands of members surface wood to just the right thickness. It got the job done, but at 97 decibels, it sounded like a giant axe smashing into wood at 5,000 RPM. We’ve longed for a quieter helical head planer, but the cost and the risk of downtime has held us back.
That all changed a few months ago when one of our members stepped up with a $2,000 matching offer. It didn’t take long for 20 more people to get us to $4,000. We had to decide between upgrading the old Delta or going for something new. After some research and a few calls with Jeff at Glenn Wing, we sealed the deal on a brand-new Powermatic 209HH.
Benefits:
It’s 10 decibels quieter, about half as loud to the human ear.
The helical head leaves a nicer finish.
A longer infeed and outfeed table reduces snipe.
An improved design let us plane shorter boards.
Carbide inserts will last longer, meaning less downtime swapping knives.
Thanks to everyone who donated! This new tool is quieter, safer, and more efficient. It’s a huge improvement for everyone, and It’s incredibly wonderful to have the support of the community to not just sustain, but to improve our shop. Thank you!
While the basic operation of the tool is nearly the same, our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been updated, and staff are happy to help.
Check out the photos (including the Shop Dog at Glenn Wing) below!
Oh, and if you’re interested in purchasing our old (still working!) planer, shoot me an email: executivedirector@maker-works.com
