Planer Price ?

[Furby]

I have a lead on an old planer. There is no markings on it that I can find. It has 27" width cap. and 8" depth cap. The blades are powered by a 7 1/2 hp 1phase 110/220 motor. Seperate motor for power feed.
The building it is in, comes with it, 14 1/2' x 7 1/2' with 3 doors.

I know it's impossible to know exactly what it's worth, but can anyone give me a ballpark number???
I'm really interested in it but I don't want to pay more then I need too.  :

[Furby]

Ok..............................
Does anyone know what a new one around this size goes for ??? ??? ???

[Larry]

Furby,
Few things to look at.  Does it have babbitt bearings?  If so do they need to be replaced?  How many blades does it have?  Condition of blades?  On a 27" planer new blades especially if they have to be custom made could be 20 times the price of the planer.  Just touched on a few points to consider.

I bought this 24" Crescent planer for $25 and ran tons of WRC through it out of old power poles.  Sold it couple of years ago for $100 and kept the motor along with the dust chute for another planer

[Furby]

Thanks Larry!
What are babbitt bearings?
It has two blades in great shape. The planer looks to weight 300 - 500 lbs and the motor another 400-600 lbs.

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Babbitt bearings are like bushings. No balls or rollers. If they get even CLOSE to dry, they melt and hammer out, and yer planer is worthless, unless ya know someone who pours Babbitt. Pillow block bearings, or, flange bearings,  have mounting bolts that secure the shaft to the frame.

[Larry]

No way am I any kind of expert on planers but I think the two blade planers were made for softwood, hit and miss, or wood for wagons.  The one I pictured is a two blade planer and I tweaked it quite a bit to get a good surface on oak.  Still had chip out depending on the grain of the wood.

Babbitt bearings are a type of lead poured into a cup.  They have shims to take up the slack as the babbitt wears.  They need a constant source of lubrication.  Ball or roller bearings replaced them.  Babbitt is expensive and it takes a experienced old timer to replace them.

Congratulations on your new mill.  Hope you like it!

[Fla._Deadheader]

Larry, who you callin an Old Timer ??? :D :D :D :D :D :D

  I've poured some Babbitt, in my younger days. : ;D :D :D :D

[Tom]

Your not kidding me, Harold.    You didn't have any younger days.  :D :D

[Furby]

Ok, thanks guys!
The guy I bought the mill from has the planer. Softwood is mostly what he cut from what his brother said, and what I saw stacked up.
The owner is going out of town for a month or two next week so I need to decide if I want it or not. I'll have to make a trip back out there and see what else I can see.

He also has a 16' truck box that he made into a solar kiln. He said I could have it, if I can haul it, but I have to pay for the wood that's in it and in the barn if I want that.