The Parks 12″ planers are literally famous in the woodworking community for being very well made and well performing yet sized small enough to fit in literally anyone’s shop. For a small planer this is the cream of the crop I think. I found this one locally and can’t wait to dig into it and get it refurb’d and running.
Update: I’ve sold this machine. It’s going to a good home!
I have a 12″planer just like yours. My 1 1/2 hp 240 volt motor is housed in an enclosed cabinet. Mine appears to be in working condition. When I turn the drive pulley everything turns.
I have yet to clean it up and repaint. It looks like the only thing that I need is the two V-belts.
I bought a Parks planer like the one in the photo in 1978. I planed a bunch of lumber with it for 20 or so years. As I remember it, they had a combination ball bearing /babbit bearing system. I sent it back to Parks or a refit after 7 or 8 years of heavy use. I finally traded it outright for a Buss 208, 3 phase.The Parks planer is a realy nice machine!
You can get parts for Parks in Covington KY, a machine shop has all the stuff when Parks went out.
looking for parts on a parks heavy duty thickness planer model 97 please help in the middle of rebuilding
I have one of these Parks planers. I can tell you, this is a workhorse. I am wanting to put a helicoil cutterhead on it as soon as I find a fit up for it. When restoring one it is somewhat tricky aligning the bed with the cutterhead but is very doable.
i was wondering if someone could give me an idea on what a mid 70′s combo unit is worth. it hasn’t been run for about 10 years but appears to be working order (needs cord to verify). it has its share of rust but all the parts move and are not froze up. i was wondering if $200 is too much or too little. could anyone help? thanks
Hi: I just bought a PARKS planer, Model #11. This unit is like new , and I am needing a copy of a owners manual for this model. Any help would be appreciated. thanks for looking and have a good day!!!! jim in INDY indy55@sbcglobal.net
Jim, you can find a manual for that on the OWWM website probably.
I bought a parks 12 in plainer in 1976 from parks. paid $600 for plainer with no base and no motor. I still use it almost every week. only had one problem where a set screw holding one of the gears in place came loose due to shifting it in and out of gear. parts are still available from the company (i think) listed above. lots of places to grease and oil but not a problem. i use a 1 hp motor but a 3 hp is recommended. i just take more runs to get it down to size.
i plan on switching to a 2 hp motor that i managed to snag for no cost.
I have just purchased a 12 inch parks planer. the gear box is loose.Does anyone know how loose it should be? I remember years ago when I was working at an old wood shop that the gear box just hung on the body of the planer.
Can any one tell me the name of the company in Covington KY that has Parks woodworking machinery for sale??? thanks Mike Hughes