Help upgrade the Maker Works Planer - Campaign ends March 1st!

Right now, we have an exciting opportunity to upgrade one of our most-used tools—the Delta 20" planer.

Our Goal: $3,000

Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you donate will be matched up to $1,000—which means your $1 donation instantly turns into $2. If we can raise just $1,000 in community support, we’ll quickly reach $2,000, bringing us within $1,000 of our goal!

Why This Tool?

A better planer benefits everyone in the shop:

Quieter Work Environment – A helical upgrade dramatically reduces noise, making a safer and more comfortable wood shop, conference room and beyond.
Better Performance – The upgraded planer provides smoother cuts with less tear-out, improving the quality of every project.
Lower Maintenance – A helical cutterhead uses carbide inserts that last far longer than traditional knives.

With your support, we can bring this upgrade to Maker Works sooner and improve the shop for everyone. Can you help us reach our goal? Every contribution brings us closer to a quieter, more efficient, and more effective woodworking space!

What do we intend to do?

Our initial plan is to purchase a SHELIX Cutterhead from Byrd Tools to replace the existing setup in our RC-51 Delta Planer. There's a small chance we will end up purchasing an entirely new planer with a helical head on it. Either option will be a significant improvement!

When do we intend to to this?

February: Wrap up the fundraiser.
March: Work with companies to get the best deal we can.
April: Order and implement the new upgrade

Didn't we already raise some money for the planer?

Yes! Our end of year fundraiser set out to raise $5,000 to improve the planer and has contributed $2,000 so far. We need to raise $3,000 more. That seemed out of reach until an anonymous donor recently offered to match up to $1,000. We believe this is now easily in reach!

Thank you!

The Planer at Maker Works is a tool that supports nearly all the work done in the wood shop. It's probably processed hundreds of cutting boards that get used every day across Michigan and beyond, supported everything from birdhouses to custom cabinetry, and more than a few businesses have prototyped ideas and launched them into full time small businesses with the help of this tool. It's also loud. So incredibly loud. Please help change that : ) Thank you!

Upgrade the Planer

By Maker Works Community Workshops

Upgrade the Planer

Imagine a quieter, safer shop, and a more efficient tool!