just looking for opinions on hand held electric planers as I’ll be in the market for one soon. The bosch looks like the winner but any opinions would be great.
And then just this quick question: Why the heck are they called planers? shouldnt they be called jointers?
–> measure once scribble several lines spend some time figuring out wich scribble cut the wrong line get mad
Replies
I own two Makita's and a cordless Bosch flat planers as well as several of the Porter Cable door planers. I've use the DeWalt power plane.
As far as the flat planers go, one is about as good as the other in my opinion. The wider the bed the better.
Ed.
I have and old, Ryobi 220V power planer I bought in South Africa 20+ years ago (don't ask).
Always given good service, but if I was in the market, I'd probably look at the Bosch too.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
your name sounds REALLY familliar, my dad's side of the family is from southAfrica, this just a shot in the dark but you dont know any Cohens from Johanesburg do you?-->
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
Edited 12/1/2004 3:18 am ET by skyecore
I'm not a Yaapie, my wife is. I just went there for 10 years to see what the place was like.
Out of 120,000 Jewish people in Jo'burg when I was there ('76 through '85) there were probably 5,000 Cohens. I only knew a few.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
ha! yeah thats right, cohen IS a pretty common jewish name. I dont know what it is about your name, i called my sis last night and she is going crazy as well trying to figure out where she knows your name from. I think perhaps your name just sounds familliar to me for some odd reason. My dad was raised in SouthAfrica but he moved to london (later here to the US) in.. I think '75, so I dont think you two would have met in Africa.
Still.. It's killing me trying to figure it out. I think perhaps your last name just sounds familliar.
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measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
I have the Bosch (the good one, not the cheap one with the bad base). Good tool. Used a Dewalt, Makita, Porter Cable. All fine tools. Porter Cable's door planer, the one with the extra long base, would be nice if you were doing a lot of door fitting, but it's heavy, expensive, and balancing it is awkward because the motor hangs off the side. So I would avoid that one unless you're really a door guy.
Jointers are floor tools generally found in shops. They are designed to produce straight surfaces because of long, carefully aligned infeed and outfeed tables. A handheld planer doesn't have these.
I've used Makita and Bosch extensively, both are good.
Wally
"Jointers are floor tools generally found in shops. "Not nessecarily.http://www.fine-tools.com/eputz6.htmThe power plane is probably more related to the hand plane than the stationary equipment.
thank you all for the responsessly karma: I guess i should clarify about the jointer question: A stationary planer is for thickness planing; the drum with the blades, that does the cutting, has an adjustable distance between the table and the drum.
A jointer has an infeed table and an outfeed table, it is for truing up an edge, certantly one can achieve more accuracy with a long tabled stationary jointer than with a smaller one, but it seems to me that a hand held planer is really a hand held jointer since the blade and fence mechanisms are so alike.
Pointless question really, im just curious.
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measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
Have the Makita and the higher end Bosch. The Mak is used for the dirty work, the Bosch for more for cabinet making. The Bosch has a ton of nice features you won't find elsewhere.
I have an old Makita, nice tool. I don't know if the newer Makita is any different, but if this one died I'd buy the same.
Joe H
I had the cheap Bosch, but never really liked it. When it died, I bought the better Bosch ( 1594). Its a much better tool.
BTW, I got mine at a Bosch service center. It was a reconditioned tool, and cost about $30 less than factory new, with the same warrantee. Lucky for me, the service center is only a few miles from my house.
whele, i think that this is the cheaper version(of the bosch elec. plane) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002L25FU/104-1640982-1008714?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance but it was only 69.99 reconditioned, i couldnt say no. But after reading a little, doesent seem like you guys are fans of the cheaper one. Still i just couldnt say no to that price.
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measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
Hey, same one I have. Works. Like being able to send the chips out the other side, whichever side that is.Saved our butts last week on a front door change-out. Like the carbide blade. It handled a few staples on the way across the head jamb. No muss, fuss or nicks. I'd save the really good planer for a metal-free environment. That door was not going to fit without 3/16 coming off the top. Must have been framed for 20 minute fire rating as there was about 1/8+ clearance for shims and such.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
The smaller Bosch is a decent planer; its just that the other one has more power and a longer base- all in all, a better tool.
But if you're not expecting any heavy use , the smaller one should be just fine.
That's the same little cheapie one I have ....
it's only used for light duty work ... purely a trim/cabinet tool ....
rarely see's stock over 3/4 thick.
usually see's prefinished ....
and it works great.
very smooth ... no vibration .... easy to handle ....
has made it's way thru the occasional door ...
someday I'll also pick up the top of the line PC they stopped then started making again ...
But for light duty precision work ... the cheap Bosch is a bargain and a half.
The "either side" chip chute it a great idea ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
I've owned both Boschs and the Makita. I've used the PC (lower end).
The PC vibrated a lot. Could just have been the one I used.
The Makita is fine in operation, but is miserable when it comes to blade changes. Takes a long time to get them set right. Bosch design is way easier, though the blades cost more...
The Bosch 'switchable' dust outlet design is very cool, and a major asset. Can also be attached to a vacuum, though the bag works suprisingly well.
The cheaper Bosch is a really good deal for the price, though the nicer one has a much better milled (not stamped) baseplate (also longer) and better fence. Also lays down more power so it can do a deeper pass.
The nicer Bosch has a really good case, with room for the cord (imagine that), while the Makita case sucks. The cheaper Bosch did not have a case.
The cheaper Bosch is the best value (particularly reconditioned), while the nicer Bosch is the best planer I know of.
My all-around choice would be the Bosch after much research. I bought the DeWalt last year instead because it seemed to be better for rough framing, which I do more than finish work. It's great for fixing many mistakes. I am very happy with it. I always recommend that a planer is not something I would let anyone else use. It doesn't take but one careless guy combined with one nail to tear up a knife.
I have been happy with my DeWalt that I got at Sears for $40 with a metal case. Closeout deal, salesperson said make an offer, grinned out the door. I think they all take some time to get the proper technique. My problem is I dod not use it frequently enough to get really good with it.
I got the pc low end..work good dont care for the fence though and the handle leaves a lot to be desired
"I mean, what kind of a twit makes a big deal out of having someone on ignore?
And, OTOH, there is no doubt that some of the idjits here are, in fact, the most ignored"
The Bosch is a pretty good contender...
BUT...
The chip extractor leaves a lot to be desired...
The mortising function is hard to view...
The motor and cutter and balance and belts and all the rest is rock steady...
Now...
Y'all can line up and shoot me for this or take me out back and have me tarred and feathered...
Go with the Ryobie.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Edited 12/3/2004 11:09 pm ET by IMERC
Man, say it isn't so...
I never met a tool I didn't like!
the ryobi?! This is like that twilight zone episode where..-->
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
I have a low end Bosch. It broke the 2nd week I got it. Too much plastic. It's lived it's life since then decorated with duct tape and adhesive caulk.
I used the cheaper bosch as a throw away on a timber frame sunroom I built last summer. I wanted a hand planed finish on the timbers so I used it to hog off all the rough prior to breaking out jack plane. It took a serious licking but kept on ticking. The nicest thing about it is the ease of blade change, although the dust chute clogged every 10 seconds. overall its a heck of a value as a general purpose planer.
I'm sure the top bosch is an excellent tool-BUT I got a port cable #126 at a garage sale for $40, the thing about this PC is that it has a spiral blade.I don't believe there is a smoother tool.I've heard these are recommended particularly for doors. I can' complain.
wow! looks like we've reached a consesus that the lower end bosch is ether great, ok, or a not good at all.-->
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
I have the PC with the bed that's 22" long what ever the # is...
the cheapo Bosch is 6 times the plane this 700$ PC is...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!