Knothead wrote:
I found an Oliver 4255 12" jointer that although being run hard appears to
be in pretty good shape at a nearby sawmill. I can buy it for what they are
getting out of it for trade in value. What do you fella's think of this
deal?
1. $1800 for the planer without the 3 phase motor.
2. The guy at the sawmill will deliver it and bring a material handler to
set it in place for another $300. Weighs 1400 lbs.
3. A single phase 3hp motor from Oliver with all the necessary bits to
retrofit is in the $1200 range.
4. Needs to have the helical knives replaced I have no idea of that cost..

Does $3400 for that monster seem worth the effort? Also does anyone have
experience with those helical cut knives they could share? The Oliver
website seems to make it sound a bit too easy... " quick and easy blade
change with no setting required". But it sure seems like a real "top o line"
unit. This would be for a specific timber framing project and go up for sale
afterwards. (Hopefully not at a loss)

Thanks guys!
Knothead

BTW please post responses to the wreck. I was a fool sometime back and
posted a real address and learned that lesson the hard way.


Seems a very expensive exercise for your stated objective. I dont
understand why they are selling the machine without the motor, even if
the motor burnt out you would still have the rest of the stuff. $1200
seems an awful lot for a motor, typically 3 ph 3 hp motors run in the
range of $300, I very much doubt if a potential purchaser will take into
account that you have fitted a new motor to a nn year old machine.
Unless its some very exotic faming your doing it would be much cheaper
to get the supplier to do the wood prep. Different case if you are into
setting up a cabinet shop or similar, but you have much better
options for just the one job.

BernardR