 Planer width: 396 mm |
|
 Max depth of cut: 1 mm |
Table length: 600 mm |
| Max workpiece height: 195 mm | Feed rate(s): 9m/min |
The Makita 2040 was an industrial-grade planer made in Japan in the 1980s and early 1990s. It cost about $2000 new. It is made mostly of cast iron and is very sturdy. Makita also made a smaller version that included a jointer, called the Makita 2030.
The planer can only be switched on once a safety key is inserted. It uses two standard blades which are calibrated by adjusted hex bolts underneath, as is common on machines from this era.
One design difference of the Makita with many other floor planers is that the universal motor is all the way in the base, driving the arbor with a belt. On many other planers the motor is often integrated in the arbor section, making the top much larger and heavier.
As optional features there was a small stand, and there was an extra sprocket set to allow for a slower feed speed (the standard feed is relatively quick, so may not give the best results on difficult boards).
One common problem seems to be that the polyurethane or rubber on the feed rollers dries out or disintegrates (normal after such a long time). It can be quite costly to have this replaced, so take that into account when purchasing a used machine.
Replacement Blades: If you’re looking for new blades for the Makita 2040, you can get some original ones from eReplacementParts but they are very expensive. Some more affordable ones by Freud can be found on Amazon here.
Great machine if you can find it for a good price and in good condition.
Know a useful link or video for the Makita 2040 Planer? Send me a message, and I'll update the page with your info.
Reviews and Videos
Restoring a Makita 2040
youtube.com
Youtuber Mats World shows off his restored Makita 2040 Planer.
Sharpening and setting the Makita 2040 Blades
youtube.com
Randy Richard shows how to replace, sharpen and set the blades in the Makita 2040 in detail.
Makita 2040 in action
youtube.com
Short video showing some planing action on the Makita 2040.
Repairs
Restoring an old Makita 2040
blogspot.com
Featured Resource
Three part series of a woodworker who restores a used Makita 2040. Very helpful for people who need to repair or restore this machine.
Replacement parts
ereplacementparts.com
You can still buy some replacement parts online. Conveniently displayed next to a technical drawing of the machine.
Manuals
Official Manual
manualslib.com
Official Manual for the Makita 2040 Planer
Ask questions or share your experiences with the Makita 2040 Planer with others
Handpicked alternative machines for the Makita 2040 Planer
All the specs and options for the Makita 2040 Planer
| General | |
|---|---|
| Weight (standard configuration) | 115 kg |
| Total height | 715 mm |
| Total width | 570 mm |
| Motor | |
| Motor Voltage | 1x 230V 1x 115V |
| Extra Features and Options | |
|---|---|
| Metal stand | Option |
| Slower speed sprockets | Option |
| Planer | |
|---|---|
| Planer Width | 396 mm |
| Max depth of cut | 1 mm |
| Table length | 600 mm |
| Max workpiece height | 195 mm |
| Feed rate(s) | 9m/min |
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© Machine Atlas 2023
I have had my 2040 planer for 35 years. I am a retired shipwright and furnituremaker. This machine is unsurpassed in quality,durability and precision. I did replace the rollers about 10 years ago but thats it. I love this thing.
I am looking for a good used field for a makita 2040 planer. My email is hornhunter@sopris.net. The machine is awesome, but I can not find a field. Really all I need is a tiny copper spring on the back of the field. Two wires come off the side with what looks like two little circles. Those are the springs.
Jim please explain (field) has it something to do with the power switch. I bought one that I knew was only working directly with the plug. It was by passed at the switch. I have tried jumping directly to the motor and have had 0 luck I bought a new switch and the same. I have noticed on some parts diagrams an item 4 on a parts list but never seems to have an explanation as to what it is
I’m trying to get my 2040 working again but like the comment by George Sapia, the feed table was stuck at the top position after sitting for a couple of years.
I managed to get it unstuck by hard cranking up and down and when it was free from the up limit position, there was almost no resistance in cranking it down. I lowered it to very bottom thinking the posts were dirty or corroded and wanting to expose them by unclipping and pulling down the black plastic accordion protection tubes.
However trying to turn the crank to go back up is impossible.
I tried light machine oil and WD40 on the post collars (they look like a bearing metal) and there was some corrosion staining (not rust) on one of the columns. But no luck in getting the table to move upwards, feels like its binding on one of the posts. Do you think I will have to remove the cutter head and then remove the posts to completely clean it up?
Mike – thanks for this info. Just picked up a 2040. Same table issue. Got it freed up. Easily cycled it all through way down but could not get to come back up. Actually broke the crank handle. Will try the scissor jack
found brand new rollers on ebay for 189 dollars just a two months ago for my2040 planer hope this helps and have found new blades as well
Replying to my own question about the stuck table on my 2040.
Phoned the local Makita service centre here in Burnaby BC Canada and talked to a friendly shop guy experienced with the 2040. He said just keep working at the crank, squirt lots of oil down the post collars, let stand overnight and it should free up. Next morning I added some extra upwards pressure with an old Honda scissor jack while rocking screw crank back and forth. All of a sudden there was a slight pop and voila, it was free. Now to find those feed roller replacement without breaking the woodworking piggy, The original Makita part sells for about $400 each up here! I saw an article about a guy who found some big truck water or hydraulic hoses and starting with a small diameter one and slipping on larger and larger ones greased with epoxy as a bonding until approximately the right diameter was reached, then trimmed the whole bunch down on a lathe to exactly the right diameter.
Mine were totally disintegrated so I’m not even sure at this point what that diameter is, so I have get a spec on the roller diameter if I’m going to try that.
Does anyone know the specifications of the drive/feed rollers. I’m looking for the thickness of new rollers
My resurfaced rollers measure 65mm diameter.
My table was stuck. After a couple of days of penetrating oil I got it to move. I cranked it up and then down and then it stuck again. I removed the 5 screws that attach the lift mechanism to the table. used 2 scissor jacks with oak blocking and light upward taps with a hammer. Turns out one of the post has a bit of rust. I hope this helps others.
Can anyone help me find blades and belts for Mikita 2040 around Sydney Newcastle please
can anyone share a wiring diagram from the switch to the motor, I have a 2040 that I picked up and the switch was bypassed, the unit could only be turned on and off by unpluging it. I bought a new switch and wired it based on what I saw from the residule wiring after the bypass but still cannot get it to run.
The diagram here might help: https://www.ereplacementparts.com/makita-2040-planer-parts-c-97_156_454.html
i have a makita 2040 planer to sell. it came with the house in the workshop.hasnt been used for 10 yrs that i can find out .
any idea what it would be worth?
thanks
Hi Robert, hard to say as prices vary a lot depending on location. If it’s in reasonable condition I’d say at least $500.
Hello is there a hidden pin that stops the table from going up and down? I have tried turning the wheel extremely hard after putting ed 40 on all 4 posts and gears and it wont budge ?? Cant find a release..thanks for any help
Lube the gear mechanism on the very bottom problem will go away you have to lay on the floor and look up to see this!!! Hope this helps
Could it be possible you have traveled to far and the gears are becoming un-meshed, out of time with each post and binding.
I would look at the gear that moves the bed up and down. I may be clogged or jammed. if jammed you might be able to take apart and reset it. The only other thing which should ne obvious is the ring that is around one post that controls repeatability for adjusting the cut. But that would only prevent the bed from moving in one direction. As iwrite this it might be possible someone really tried to torque the deptth adjustment wheel and that might have jammed the gear in the bottom of the machine
I have a Makita 2040 for sale. The rollers and blades were replaced a few years ago with very little use since. Always a workhorse it never let me down until I went to use it recently and found the drive roller jammed. I am not mechanically inclined and have too many projects going on to look into fixing it. I strongly suspect it is only a matter of disassembling the primary components and giving them a clean up and lube.
@ Rob The eBay seller in Australia has belts with grooves running in the short direction. The 2040 planer has 7 groove pulleys for V-grooved belts long ways. Were you able to get that to work or is there a different type of pulleys to change on the planer?
Hi Gilles, I don’t own the 2040 myself, so I can’t say with 100% certainty. But usually when the grooves go the long way, there is a corresponding groove on the pulley/shaft, so the grooves of the belt fall into those grooves, which helps keep it in place. In that case you should probably replace with an identical type belt with grooves the long way.
If that isn’t the case, the other type of belt might work. But it’s generally recommended to replace a belt with the same type.
Hope that helps.
pdmcgaffey@gmail.com
Is your 2040 still for sale?
Where are you located?
Thank you, Geoff, Paul
Hi Geoff, you’re probably right about the solution to the jammed rollers. It might also be that the belt that drives the rollers snapped, in that case simply replacing the belt would solve the problem. It’s a great machine though, so I hope you can fix it before deciding to sell it.
can’t find anything about what size motor the 2040 has .. can anyone help with the answer … does this machine work well on hardwoods ? my dewalt has a very hard time doing a good job on the hardwoods I am now working with red oak and hickory ..
absolutely works well on hard woods. Got my machine in the early 80s. I used for years with only having to have feed rollers resurfaced. I am pretty sure i put too much green oak through the machine and that ate the roller coating
A machinist friend literally formed a mold that aligned with the roller shaft. Then he found a component mix that he poured into the mold. He went the extra step of putting them on a lathe to make sure they were perfectly centered around the shaft. I still use them years later . Unfortunately I developed a problem with adjusting the feed rollers and I can not get the roller height adjustment and pressure mechanism to turn properly. Plus I am not able to get the damn screws that hold the rollers in place to loosen up. Should have replaced them the first time i worked on the machine with hex screws with allen heads. Just try getting a manual impact hammer on those screws and hitting them hard with a hammer.
Hi Ken, I’m not sure how much power the motor has, I found one source mentioning 1400 Watt, but not sure how accurate that is. But from what I’ve read about this planer, I’d say it will do hardwoods just fine. Seems like a really sturdy and powerful planer. Maybe you can try a few test pieces before you are going to buy it?
Where can i find a drive belt
Did you find the drive belt you were looking for? I need the same and I can’t find any.
Thanks
The only drive belt specifically for the 2040 I could find is sold by an Australian seller on eBay. They do sell internationally though, so it might be an option.