# STL196: Is It Time to Upgrade Your Planer

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2019-08-16
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl196

## Summary

Mike Pekovich and Ben Martin discuss upgrading a 13-inch Hitachi planer, recommending a segmented cutter head for DeWalt or Grizzly models to reduce tearout. Barry York and Ben Martin review SketchUp for design, Suizan Japanese saws for precision, and DFM dowel plates for joinery. They address errors in low-end contractor table saws, such as arbor runout and fence alignment, and debate the utility of Lee-Nielsen rabbeting block planes versus adjustable mouth planes for tenon sizing.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer#t=6) Introduction and Shop Cleanup
- [8:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer#t=516) Upgrading Planers and Segmented Cutter Heads
- [17:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer#t=1067) Avoiding Chipout on Frame and Panel Doors
- [24:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer#t=1472) All Time Favorite Tools: SketchUp, Suizan Saws, and DFM
- [45:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer#t=2718) Troubleshooting Low-End Contractor Table Saws
- [55:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer#t=3302) Block Plane Debate: Rabbeting vs. Adjustable Mouth

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hitachi (product)
- DeWalt (product)
- Grizzly (company)
- SketchUp (tool)
- Suizan (product)
- DFM (company)
- Lee-Nielsen (company)
- Delta (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Making It #010: If it looks straight….](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-02-26-making-it-010-if-it-looks-straight) (Making It)
- [Episode 219: Really? Plastic? Really??](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-07-05-episode-219-really-plastic-really) (Making It)
- [361: It’s complicated](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-07-08-361-its-complicated) (Making It)
- [479: The One](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-18-479-the-one) (Making It)
- [Episode 235: Dreams of Modified Tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-11-01-episode-235-dreams-of-modified-tools) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-08-16-stl196-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-planer. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.