Charnwood Pro PT16S 16Amp Planer Thicknesser C/W Spiral Planing Head

Part of the Charnwood ‘Pro Series’, this combination planer thicknesser offers simple and fast changes between the 2 functions. The planer bed locking handles are located on the front of the machine for better access. Once unlocked, the planer beds lift as one and lock into the raised position. A pair of springs assist to reduce the weight. The bridge guard and planing fence stay in position when the bed is raised – nothing to remove.

 

An industrial 4 row spiral cutter block with Carbide cutters gives an impeccably smooth finish with noticeably reduced noise levels, driven by a 4hp motor.

 

The extra long cast iron infeed bed is quick to adjust using a lever, with a clear scale to read the setting before locking the position. The bridge guard has simple controls to set the height over the cutters and the gap to the side fence. It can also be lifted up and locked completely out of the way.  The side fence is mounted on a sturdy cast iron support bracket. The fence can be positioned anywhere across the width of the cutter block, useful for getting even wear on the cutters when working mainly with narrower materials. The fence can also be tilted back to 45 degrees.

 

Moving from the Planing function to Thicknessing takes only seconds. Lift the beds then swing the cutter guard over the top. The cutter guard has a 100mm diameter outlet for dust and chip collection.

 

Setting the thicknessing depth is done by rotating the cast iron hand wheel (1 rotation = 2mm) and reading from the measuring scale or for more precise control the mechanical digital display, accurate to 1/10th of a millimetre. A position lock is fitted which prevents any movement of the bed during the cut.

 

The drive rollers feed timber through at an impressive 5.4 metres per minute. The feed system can be disengaged when planing to save wear and tear on the mechanism.

 

At the heart of the machine is a spiral cutter block with 4 rows of spur cutters, arranged so that they cut in a shearing action, rather than straight. This type of cutter block is more expensive than a conventional set up, but does offer several advantages. The more use the machine gets – the more these advantages pay off.