Has anyone modified or used off the shelf $350 12" planers for cleaning up beams? I know that Makita makes one for around $1800, but for someone who's only going to use it once, I don't want to spend that kind of money. I also don't see why a $350 planer becomes a $2000 planer once the table is removed and a handle installed??? Surely someone has done this already.

--Bill

The problem is kick back. When you remove the table and just ride the planer down the beam there seems to be a problem when the knives bite the beam that it can kick the planer back.
There's a guy in southern NH who made one that walks down the beam by itself, but again he gets $1800 for it.....
I have a link to his site if you want it....

Bill,

ever used a Beam planer? Then you would know why they cost more. More powerful and they do not overheat and shut down every six feet. Maybe you can find somebody who has one and will lend it to you. Those 110V planer jsut do not cut it. Even worse when they run off a long extension cord.

Not that $300 will make the difference, but you can get the Makita KP312 for under $1500.

http://www.tools-plus.com/makita-kp312.html

I own the planer (quite satisfied) and have purchased several tools from this site (they are great!).

Yes, I used a dewalt 13 inch planer to plane a some beams a couple of months ago. This was with wet white pine so the wood was pretty soft. I just took off the bottom plate, put it on the beam, set the speed to slow, turned it on, and it didn't work. It needs weight on it for the blades to make contact with the wood. After some trial and error I found that about 75 lbs did the trick. Does it work well? No, but it did work. It wantted to rock from side to side as it went down the wood. so I needed to balance it by hand it as it cut. I found that by putting the beam on the ground, and lean over to stabilize the beast as it went down the beam I could smooth a side in about 3-4 passes. If the beam is not square to start with it will be out of square when you finnish. Mine were square to start with so things worked ok. Not the best but I was in a pinch and needed a few planed beams the next day, so when ya gotta have it......
good luck

Awesome responses. I think I'm going to tinker around some time down the road when I build my guest house. For now, the local mill will plane all four sides of my beams for about $.12 / bd/ft.

Thanks for the responses...

I modified a 10" $300 planer and have used it for about the last 10 years the one thing You have to do is remove the feed rollers it will not be self propelled bot it will plane from rough sawed woodmizer timbers to ready for sanding finish I will send you a picture if you want.

Pictures... Yes, we like pictures.

http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/ViewFlashMedia.aspx?AID=36462&AT=3

This address should get you photos.

Bob

I posted the pictures on Line
http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/ViewFlashMedia.aspx?AID=36462&AT=3

I you have any questions just ask
Bob