Antique planer in action

This is an 1884 Rowley & Hermance "Sweepstakes" planer matcher running from a lineshaft.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• wood
• planer

[emlerron]

Ear plugs? Safety glasses? Dust collection? If the fore mentioned hazards

don't do you in the exposed pulleys and

belting will. Its amazes me to see people

risk their life with old unsafe machines.

That planer would never be within feet

of my shop. After 47 years I've grown quite

fond of my limbs. Save up some money and buy a modern safer machine.

[klavelle72]

I'll concede 2 points on your comment. We should have been wearing side shields on our safety rated prescription glasses, and though the machine is really no louder than most lawn mowers, ear plugs wouldn't hurt. The planer does not produce fine dust like a saw or sander, it produces large fluffy chips, so the inhalation danger just isn't present. The machine is dangerous to the operator, but I know and accept the risks associated with running it because I enjoy it.

[klavelle72]

I don't criticize others for skydiving, mountain climbing, driving cars, or other dangerous pursuits. As for the money, a modern industrial planer matcher costs six figures. If I saved $100 a month for it, it would take a bit over 83 years to buy one. I enjoy restoring and operating antique industrial machines, and will continue to do so while accepting the associated risks. thank you.

[fishnriver]

great machine. as far as danger... like the warning says on my 6 ft step ladder, do not stand or sit on the top step, you may fall or loose your balance. Hell, I can do that standing on the ground. nuf said.

[Mrpsychotehpyro]

BTW......everyone forgets to mention something :

Modern machines look like SHIT....yeah....you know..dung, crap,

bullshit, you get the idea.....

Cast iron is such a wonderful material.

It makes pretty, general wear and corrosion resistant, vibration dampening parts.

Sounds like everything you need for a machine tool.

Ladys and gentlemen....take your horror freight sheet metal machines and leave.....

i dont want that stuff in my/our shop and klavelle doesnt want it in his.

Get over it.....

[kenny474]

(add to my below comment) So all you "New Machine Advocates" should just shut your lips and do some research into what really is safer, rather than just spout off at the mouth! Do you see any plastic or other marginally built parts on that machine? NOPE! Is it built like a tank and made to last for centuries? Obviously!

Safety isn't always about guards and safety systems. Sometimes it's just designing a machine properly so you don't need to really get into harms way to operate it.

[kenny474]

Why do people feel the need to stick their noses into other people's business? This machine is likely no more dangerous than most new equipment.

As for a belt snapping, DO YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT BELT!!! Snap? HA! Not hardly! It's going to be a long, long time before anyone needs to worry about that!

Anyway, if it does, it will likely just swing over and flop on the floor. No huge risk like some make it out to be.

[kenny474]

And for the record, the only machine I have ever been injured by is an new Ryobi table saw, in which the motor housing snapped, causing the blade to jam against the wood and fire an 18" long, 5"+ wide piece of 8/4 red oak into my arm, my stomach, and finally my back wall. Injuries? OH YEAH! Laid a big ol' flap of my arm over, left a black and blood red bruise on my gut and slightly tore an muscle in my abdomen.

WHY? BECAUSE THE MOTOR HOUSING IS PLASTIC! THAT'S WHY! Cheap, Chinese sh-t!

[730M]

like this but there is no safe to be you wont fall asleep working around this mach

thanks for sharing

[BuickDoc]

The OSHA-NAZIs just have to have their say...

[klavelle72a]

@oldmachineguy Thank you. I don't bother shaving anymore since the belt is going to slap my face off anyway. :-)

[oldmachineguy]

I love the video. Watching old machines running with flat belts is fantastic! You need to use care as with any machine. As for belts flying off and slapping your face off...I don't see that happening here. Your belts look like they are taken care of, no flaps or lacings comming apart. You arn't wearing anything loose so nothing should get cought.

Great job on the planer/matcher very cool!