Charnwood PT10ES2 10″ x 9″ Planer Thicknesser With 24 x TC Cutters In Spiral Block

A combination planer thicknesser with fast changes between functions. Fitted with a spiral cutter block with TC spur cutters for a smoother finish and noticeably reduced noise levels.

The large cast iron infeed bed is quick to adjust and lock in place, with a clear setting scale. The bridge guard has simple controls to set the height over the cutters and the gap the the side fence. The side fence can be positioned anywhere across the cutter block, useful for getting even wear on the cutters when working mainly with narrower materials. The fence can also be tilted back to 45 degrees.

Fast changeovers between the two functions of planing and thicknessing are possible due to clever design. There is nothing to be removed from the machine, simply disengage the locks, lift the beds as one, and swing the cutter hood over the top. No tools – No fuss.

Setting the thicknessing depth is done by rotating the hand wheel (1 rotation = 2mm) The approximate height setting can be read from the scale, marked in millimetres. For final finishing dimensions an exact height reading can be taken from the mechanical digital display, accurate to 1/10th of a millimetre. A height lock can be used to prevent any creep when sending multiple components thought the thicknesser.

The workpiece is fed through the cutters by a pair of feed rollers. The first one is serrated to push the work piece through the cutters. The outfeed roller is rubber coated so as not to damage the finished work. The drive rollers can be disengaged when planing to save wear and tear on the mechanism.

At the heart of the machine is a spiral cutter block with 2 rows of TC cutters, arranged so that they cut in a shearing action, rather than straight. This type of cutter block is more expensive than a conventional set up but does offer several advantages. The more use the machine gets – the more these advantages pay off.

Advantages of spiral cutters over conventional knives:
Shearing Cut = Better finish. Expect a smoother finish in softwood, hardwood and difficult grain.
Low Sound Levels = Less noise by up to 50%. Each blade is moving less air and taking a smaller cut.
More Knives = Reduced energy consumption. Each cut uses less energy, overall saving can be 30%.
TC (Tungsten carbide) Cutters = longer cutter life, up to 10 times compared to HSS. Each cutter can be rotated when worn.
Less Maintenance = Quick and easy to change out 1 or 2 cutters after a chip.

Supplied with 5 spare TC cutters, 100mm diameter dust extraction outlet, service tools, 2.0m power cable and 3 pin UK plug.

It is essential to use dust extraction with a planer thicknesser. The extractor removes all the dust and chips which will otherwise build up, causing a blockage and eventually damage to the machine. Using an extractor also increases the life of the knives.

Comparison with Charnwood PT10S

PT10S is a slightly heavier, trade rated, version of this planer. The PT10S uses 4 rows of TC cutters, rather than 2, which gives more cuts per second and results in a higher quality finish.

PT10S uses more power and therefore needs a 16 amp power supply, as opposed to the standard 13 amp supply to run for PT10E2S. For home workshops, the advantage of using a standard plug is usually the reason to choose the PT10E2S.