How far will a cheap planer take me?

[DanG]

Another alternative for you would be one of the old Belsaw planers.  They seem to be in good supply.  I recently bought one for $200, and ordered new feed rollers and knives for it yesterday.  The order came to $141 including shipping, so I'll have about the same money in it as I do in that wimpy little Ryobi. :

Oh yeah, to answer the original question in the title of this thread; The cheap planer will take you all the way to the realization that you need something better. ;D

[scgargoyle]

Being a toolmaker, I should know better that a wimpy little tool is not gonna make me happy! Thanks for the heads-up on the Belsaw.

[solidwoods]

Flooring will require:
Planer, 12"ers are fine.
Jointer- you have to straighten the edge.
Table saw- rip to width
Miter or Radial arm saw- chop out defects (compound miter saw to angle the ends if you are not coping the flooring ends.
Shaper- 2 passes 1-T  1-G
Powerfeeder for the shaper (you may not think so ,, but I'ma tell'in Ya you'll need one )
Dust collector-your choice here, but its nice for mountains of shavings

The above will allow you to machine to a reasonable degree of accuracy (have to have that)

OR-
Take it to a shop with a 4 side moulder, my rate is: your lumber random  size .70sq' through the moulder.

So depends on which way you go.. 1 way may be cheaper, the other leaves woodworking tools that can continue to make $.
jim

[Cedarman]

We use our WM in place of the rip saw and jointer to prep the wood for the moulder.  Gets uniform widths and a nice straight edge.  Boards with too much side bend are whacked in half first.