Replies

1. 
   philip | May 21, 2009 09:32am | #1

   Congratulations , you have seen the light, they are mighty handy tools and you don't have to only use them for flat straight surfaces.I am surprised more folk don't have them, especially as the modern ones are light compact and powerful.
   Mind you don't check for blade projection the same way that some folk do with hand planes (;)

   Philip Marcou
2. 
   ring | May 21, 2009 10:06am | #2

   We've had one for years and it's invaluable as a fitting tool when installing cabinets on jobsites. Planing to the line while standing in all kinds of awkward positions is not very enjoyable, and the power plane takes most of the frustration out of it. In the shop, at a comfortable work height, I still prefer to reach for a hand plane.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

1. 
   sledge | May 23, 2009 04:45am | #8

   Ring,

   I agree. I like my old planes.(and my new Veratis). I sanded the step before I looked for any planer blade marks so I don't know how smooth a cut it makes. But I'm sure I will have an oportunity to check soon. The planing went very fast and accurate. I'm sure all the hours I've spent planning wood with my non power planers helped.  

   This power planer is hitachi and at least 15yrs old. This planer doesn't sound too bad when you switch it on but once the blades touch wood it has to be just about the noisiest power tool I have. Rivals my old thickness planer!! The wood I bought for the steps is only good 1 side and good 1 edge. This piece had one corner, about 46 inches, that almost looked splintered. I took the corner off at 45 degrees so that the splintered section won't hold bugs or moisture. I was done in no time.

   Now I'll try and find the manual and touch up the blades. I seem to recall this Hitachi came with a spare set of blades as well.

   Ed

    

   Edited 5/22/2009 9:50 pm ET by sledge

3. 
   roc | May 22, 2009 09:34am | #3

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=24092

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

1. 
   habilis | May 22, 2009 06:13pm | #4

   roc,
   Any recommendations on a planer?Pete

1. 
   roc | May 23, 2009 04:15am | #6

   >recommendations on a planer?Weeellll. I don't want to mislead anyone. I don't have one; yet. I like the article that I posted for flattening wide planks in general.I will eventually buy one of these planers but my wide stuff future is probably pretty limited and in reality I can get by with what little I do without one.That being said Toshio Odate uses the biggest Mikita ( three inch wide I believe ) so I trust his judgement.Just lately Festools came out with a spiral bladed job that is suppose to be allot quieter. Out of my price range no doubt. I have no experience with it or what it takes to touch up the blades to keep them cutting. Straight blades probably cheeper and easier to touch up. There are always trade offs.So in short I don't have a clue. I am sure the other people here will put you on the right track.rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   Edited 5/22/2009 9:17 pm by roc

1. 
   habilis | May 23, 2009 04:24am | #7

   Yeah, Fein And Festool are two names I associate with beyond my budget.

1. 
   roc | May 23, 2009 05:07am | #9

   >Fein beyond my budget.Ha Ha Ha I hadn't thought about them that way but now that you mention them I bought their midsize shop vac and the powered carpet head when I got a small inheritance.So yah them guys too.PS: I like the vac and the P head but the connection between the wand and the hose is trash. There needs to be a positive lock so the hose's end doesn't keep popping out of the wand.I wrap a strip of tape around the joint to keep them together. Seems kinda turkey for a vac worth around five hundred dollars. Quiet though. Real quiet. Comes on when power tool (sander etc.) is turned on. Has the delayed off to clear the hose. That works great !rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   habilis | May 23, 2009 07:01am | #10

   Having heard how important it is to start with a jointer I think I've explored most of the options; many with this group.
   I'm sticking with the human powered hand plane for a host of reasons. Skill, connection, craft, understanding, money, space, etc. I'm not looking for great production rates, just want to do good work.Pete

3. 
   roc | May 23, 2009 07:45am | #11

   Good Job ! Well Said. and a guy can always change his mind; if circumstances change: space, money, need to produce more etc.rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

4. 
   Lataxe | May 23, 2009 12:05pm | #12

   Roc,

   Now then!  I detect inconsistency in the spending rationales. 

   A chap prepared to buy them exotic tubular bicycle tyres at $200 a pop (and the pop is often literal) should surely snap up any number of Festools or for that matter Marcous?  After all, they work better than tubular tyres, do more things and last forever.  Nor do they need the presence of other gubbins, such as titanium rims or Columbus-tubed frames with pretty-lug, to look beautiful or do anythang.

   Rush out now and get that Festool planer, including the two profiled heads for emulating adz-cuts and such.  They be cheap, I tellee!

   Lataxe

   PS Otherwise get that top of the range Bosch one.  It used to come with not just a fence but also a contraption into which it mounted to trasform it into a small planer-thicknesser.  I confess to having one although the planer-thicknesser attachment is rarely used.  (Its more for a box-maker than a cabinet-maker).  The Bosch is half the price of the Festool yet quite robust.

5. 
   roc | May 24, 2009 04:12am | #13

   Sir Lataxe,>Rush out now and get that Festool planerTHANKS ! I will tell Queenmasteroftheuniverse that you have encouraged me to borrow money from her to buy some new power tools and I will tell her you said that it is a very rational thing to do. That will make all the difference ; I just know it will. This time. For a change.>inconsistency in the spending rationales department<So you are under the impression that I claimed somewhere in this esteemed canon to be consistent in my day to day constitution ?Oh and now you are claiming that I stated somewhere here that I am of a rational bent ?I defy you to find a single scrap of evidence to support your wild flights of fantasy.Just the statement that I would buy delicate tubulars over tools that have the potential to generate income and to last for generations seems to dash your theories. :  )PS: and buy tubulars I WILL ! Don't think I won't ! I simply must have them ! That is a given. And the last of my purse. If they increase in price any more I will just have to sell my body. I will not be deterred.
   :   )rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   Edited 5/23/2009 9:18 pm by roc

6. 
   Joe Sullivan | May 25, 2009 04:32am | #14

   I have the Bosch, and a right handy tool it is, too, for all sorts of things.Sometimes you can save a few shekels by getting a reconditioned one on-line. Mine was a gift, but if I were to lay out any scratch, I'd surely be looking at the reconditioned ones. They even come with factory warranties.Joe

4. 
   RMillard | May 22, 2009 07:13pm | #5

   I have a 24 year old Makita 1100 that I use all the time as a powered scrub plane (in fact I'm on my way out to sharpen it right now). I have replaced the bearings and brushes and when it burns out I will have it rebuilt as I like the larger size, compared to the smaller one I see for sale today.

   Rob Millard
   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

5. 
   KeithNewton | May 25, 2009 06:17am | #15

   Sledge, Congratulations on coming around, but if you are talking about a 3" model, you have not even lived yet.

   I am surprised at the rest of those who have responded to this. Over the past five or six years, I have recommended getting a 6" power-plane at least 20 times, as a substitute for a small jointer for those of you who work in small shops or garages over small 6" jointers. I don't recall anyone ever answering my suggestion, or thanking me for the recommendation.

   Through the years, I have used most of the brands of those smaller power planes. I have to say that they are just nothing compared to the next level up in the 6" range. I might grab one of the smaller 3" ones for a dirty job that really doesn't require precision, but they really are not in the same league as the larger ones.

1. 
   Lataxe | May 25, 2009 12:43pm | #16

   Keith,

   Perhaps you are thinking of this rascal and its brothers?

   View Image

   http://www.nmatools.co.uk/productdetails.asp?Product=1093&ZStock=0

   Lataxe

1. 
   KeithNewton | May 25, 2009 03:35pm | #18

   Not quite that large, but I have to admit that I have a bit of lust for one of those. It may still be in my future though. I have a prospective customer for a post and beam home build. Here is a link to the one that I like, only when I bought mine back around 1980 it was only
   6 1/8". http://www.tylertool.com/mak18634powp.html

2. 
   sledge | May 25, 2009 06:08pm | #19

   Hi KeithNewton

   Yes mine is a 3 inch. I'll use this unit occasionally now that I've started and see if a bigger one is in the cards.

   Ed

1. 
   EdHarrow | May 29, 2009 06:05am | #20

   Heh, heh, heh.  This is the baby you want!  SKIL 100

   View Image

   Sew ups, $200!!!!  You are kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. 
   9619 | May 25, 2009 02:14pm | #17

   Sledge,
   The power hand planer. A Great Tool. Used, as folks have already said, not only to flatten boards, but also for carving. I know bowl carvers who use power planers in the shaping the outside of the bowl.

   This topic comes up on Knots a few times a year. Not as much as "sharpening", but often enough. And every time, there is a positive response. Great stuff.

   So try one out on carving bowls, along with the chain saw.
   Mel

   Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

7. 
   WillGeorge | May 29, 2009 12:37pm | #21

   And I have a so called Junk Ryobi for about 99 US in cash.

   Works for me.. When I use it!