PLANER THICKNESSER PT85 By WOODSTAR & Best Price Square

The guide fence fixing is rubbish as noted on other reviews. My fix was to drill two holes either side of keyhole fence removal slot through the cast base and the metal casing underneath , elongate the holes right angled in the cast base to allow alignment of the fence parallel to the surface table , use two heavy duty self tappers 10 gauge or so ,screw through into the metal base .Slots in the cast base allows you to adjust alignment, screw down tight . Screw the keyhole slot screw tight for additional security . Discard other original fixing . Job done, fence now much more rigid, adjustable and just as easy to remove if needed now have a three point inline fixing

This machine is about as well designed and built as a chocolate teapot with a hole in the bottom.Like The previous reviewer, I have owned my machine for a number of years and what should have been a godsend in the workshop has been more of a dust gathering millstone.The whole construction is shoddy and the fence and bed are worse than useless, as is the wood star customer service, who have ignored several questions from me.The safety interlock is a pain to use and swapping from planer to thicknesser is really awkward.The feed table for the thicknesser is too short and flimsy and always gives blade snipe on any workpiece.I haven't persevered enough with it to experience the liquorice drive belts, so I can't comment on that aspect.All in all, I'd recommend saving your money and buying a much better machine from another manufacturer.

I have owned one of these for the last nine years, I have to say that I have found it to be a pretty mediocre performer, which can make planing into a frustrating chore, rather than the simple operation that it should be.The bad,1: The fence is a very poor affair, never square to the bed and if used never stays where set.2: The infeed part of the jointer bed is not square to the outfeed end.3: be prepared to frequently purchase new drive belts for the thicknesser roller as they seem to be made of liquorice and melt if put under slight strain.4: If you do get the thicknesser to work properly the roller belt heats up and comes off constantly.5: The feed roller for the thicknesser leaves black marks on the wood which have to be sanded out.The good,1: the chip collection when fitted to a vacuum is good. Overall this is a poor machine, overpriced and under engineered, there are many similar machines out there probably made by the same manufacturer and merely badged for the retail market.However if you still want to buy one of these, check out the replacement cost and availability of the liquorice roller drive belt.I only still have mine as its easier to carry around than the large charnwood machine that I replaced it with.

I was a bit hesitant in buying this but I need not have worried. It is a German make so we can expect good engineering. I have only checked it & set it up so far but it runs & feels ok. Quality wise it looks good & finishing is good.