Super Six Planer - Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag
In this episode, luthier Robbie O’Brien discusses and demonstrates the super six planer available from Musictools in Brazil.
Video Transcription
[on-screen text reads: Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag]
Mailbag question: Where can I get a Safe-T-Planer?
Robert O'Brien: Today's Tips du Jour Mailbag question comes to us from New York. "Robert, I have seen you use the Safe-T-Planer in your videos for thicknessing back and side materials. Where can I get one? Mike in New York."
Well Mike, the original Safe-T-Planer is no longer available. It's no longer being made. However, there are some imitations out there. A few of them come from Taiwan or China or some other place in the Orient and are available. I have had some of those come through my shop. One of them worked great. The other one wouldn't cut butter, so it's kind of hit-and-miss as to the quality of these. However, I have a friend in Brazil that is now making a version of the Safe-T-Planer and he has improved upon it considerably. In fact, I got a package the other day from Brazil and I bet that's what's in it. Let's go over to the bench and take a look.
Unboxing the Super Six Planer
So here's the package that came from Brazil the other day, and it is from Miguel at Musictools. In fact, he's the guy that's making the version of Safe-T-Planer. Let's take a look inside the box here and see if that's it. And look at that, that's exactly what that is. However, I think this is the upgraded version. The original Safe-T-Planer had three cutter heads. This one has six and he calls it the Super Six Planer. Now, you know we've got to make some sawdust with this. I'm showing it to you, so we might as well put it to good use.
Setup
So here's the Super Six Planer. I've got it chucked up in my drill press. I've got it set up just like I do the original Safe-T-Planer. I make a small table here that clamps to the table of the drill press, and I'm just going to run it through there. Now, since the tool is made in Brazil, I thought we should put a piece of Brazilian rosewood through it.
[Robert runs the rosewood under the Super Six Planer]
Pass
So here's the pass I just made with the Super Six Planer. I took a couple of millimeters off of this in one single pass running at about 3,000 RPMs, and it cut like butter, very smooth surface, very consistent all the way along the board. And wow, what a dream to work with. Nice job, Miguel. That was so much fun, I'm going to do that again. Let's take care of this little residual part here.
[Robert passes the rosewood under the Super Six Planer again]
So, Mike in New York, as you can tell, this tool did a great job. I took two millimeters off in a single pass at 3,000 RPM and it left a nice, smooth, consistent surface. Now, I know what you're thinking. Since the tool is made in Brazil, will it only cut wood from Brazil? Well, the answer is no. I tested this tool on mahogany, Indian rosewood, walnut, and maple, and it did just as good a job. So this tool is multilingual.
Here's another little bit of information: If you have the original Safe-T-Planer and you need new cutters for it, Miguel has those as well. Now, that's not the case with some of the imitations coming from the Orient. Their cutter heads will not fit the original Safe-T-Planer. So keep that in mind and I hope you find this helpful.
[on-screen text reads: More Luthier Tips and online courses available at www.obrienguitars.com. Private and small group guitar building and finishing instruction available.]
