Draper 09536 Bench Mounted Spindle Moulder

If you use this machine with respect for the size it is a remarkable machine, If you use it as a 3phase machine you will be disappointed.

I give this four stars only because of the very poor assembly instructions. The service and delivery from Amazon was first class and the product arrived earlier than expected.With respect to the assembly it arrives with a big bag of assorted nuts and bolts as expected. The assembly instructions tell you to use a specific number nut and bolt for a specific assembly, but the problem comes in that the instructions do not specify which group of nuts and bolts are the specific specified number. Hence there is a lot of trial and error till one gets it right - thank goodness for the clear pictures on the box as they made the assembly achievable.The machine itself has worked well so far, the extensions for the table are difficult to get level.

I ordered this tool which is in fact more like a router table than a spindle moulder in order to free up my router for freehand use.It arrived with no parts list and very poor assembly instructions.When I finally had it assembled; I switched it on only to find that the collets provided were of such poor quality that the machine vibrated violently and started to "walk across" my work bench. Also the side extensions could be pushed down very easily despite the fixing bolts being well tightened. The groove for the fence and guides was out of alignment between the cast table top end the extensions, the motor was loose in its guides so precise work would not have been possible.I did not attempt to use the machine as I was concerned that something might break causing injury.Amazon tok the machine back and provided a full refund, I have not bought another!

This Draper Thicknesser planer arrived in good time, good value for money I'm impressed . Just what I've been looking for.

Took me a couple of hours to put together. The instructions might as well have been in French for all the good they did me. Draper really need to take a look at their supporting instructions. It was quite often guess work as to what bolt fitted where plus some diagrams are wrong or the detail so small or poorly presented it made things very difficult to follow. There are still things on the unit that I don't understand, such as what is the plastic dial knob for that's found above the router bit height adjustment hand wheel? Does it lock the router bit in place or something else? There's nothing in the instructions that shows it or mentions it. Any ideas Draper or anyone else? Considering that Draper appear to have such a good reputation I'm surprised they let themselves down in this way especially as the unit looks like it's going to do a good job.It's less than two years since I bought this item and I've pretty much given up on it. Each time I used it I tried in vain to get accurate passes using various router bits without much success. I thought it was 'operator error' for quite a while. screws have fallen out from somewhere around the motor assembly and it's proved impossible to align both faces of the adjustable rear fence to make a single straight surface along which you pass your wood. No matter how I position both parts of the face they do not align. It got to the point where I had to make my own straight face and clamp it to the supplied one.I'm considering buying another table router/spindle moulder and it will not be a Draper.

The unit was well-packed and the instructions pretty straightforward, so it didn't take long to assemble and get going. It's very noisy and ear defenders are a must. It's a bit worrying having a large gap with the exposed blades and a long push stick would probably be better than the two short pads with handles, useful though they are. If you use the guard to cover the whirring blades, it's awkward pushing the wood through.Other reviews I've read on similar light models have commented on the weakness of the alloy planing bed, and with good reason. Mine buckled and cracked within a very short space of time. I have to say that Amazon were absolutely brilliant about providing a replacement: I sent an e-mail saying what had happened and what should I do about it, and within an hour I had a reply saying that it would be picked up and a new one sent. Top marks to Amazon, but not for Draper. There was a time when the name Draper was synonymous with high quality, but this isn't the only product I've had which has failed after little use. I know that corners sometimes have to be cut and the price of a cast iron bed is (for me) in the realms of Monopoly money, but the table just seems too light. Having said all that, the replacement has worked fine. If you don't have a vacuum system attached for clearing the shavings, it's necessary to stop the machine every few minutes to clear the accumulation, otherwise it soon blocks up.In short, if you're on a small budget, as I am, the machine is O.K. but you're advised to work with a light touch and use a lot of passes to take off thin shavings: I would be wary of the claimed 3 mm setting.

Although I haven't used the planer heavily, I have put it through one afternoon's work, reducing pine. I am very happy with the finishes produced. The tool requires setting up carefully, and feeding work pieces into the thickness planing function and retrieving them required equal attention. But you'd expect that - it's not a toy. Great piece of kit from Draper - competitively priced and well presented.

I use lots of tool now that I have retired, and I find that tools bought from Amazon meat my neads at a fair price. Another excellent product at a excellent price