Replies

1. 
   Henley | Oct 25, 2009 12:08am | #1

   Well, none of them seem to have a cord for long...

2. 
   Sphere | Oct 25, 2009 12:22am | #2

   45 bucks.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   View Image

3. 
   DonCanDo | Oct 25, 2009 12:25am | #3

   Is it for occasional use or regular use?  I've used the Makita 3-1/4 power plane and it's a nice tool, but I bought a Ryobi because I thought I would only use it occasionally.  I've actually used it more than I thought I would and it's holding up just fine.

4. 
   Shep | Oct 25, 2009 12:34am | #4

   I'll beat Imerc to this- Bosch

   I can't remember the model #, but it retails for around $150-160.

   I bought mine reconditioned for about $120

1. 
   rez | Oct 25, 2009 01:02am | #9

   You talking about this one?

   http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=141510-353-1594K&lpage=none

     

1. 
   Henley | Oct 25, 2009 01:06am | #10

   I have that one. It would be a good choice. goes deeper then the Makita and is comfortable
   to use.

2. 
   MSA1 | Oct 25, 2009 03:07am | #15

   That's the one I have. Works great. 

   Family.....They're always there when they need you.

1. 
   rez | Oct 25, 2009 03:37am | #16

   well, just bought one. The old cash and carry routine.

    Thanks all.

   If I wasn't in a hurry this sure looked appetizing. Hell, still might.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000ER7TJE/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=AUEUXQQV6YS3R&v=glance

   Edited 10/24/2009 8:40 pm ET by rez

3. 
   Shep | Oct 25, 2009 09:01pm | #21

   Yup, that's the one. Nice plane with a pretty good fence.

   Is that the one you bought?

    

   I'm lucky with Bosch stuff. There's a Bosch repair place right here in South Plainfield, where they also sell reconditioned tools. So I can frequently find recon Bosch tools with a full warrantee at good prices.

1. 
   rez | Oct 25, 2009 09:10pm | #22

   yep, good advice on that little planer. Glad I bought it.

   Half tempted to get the cordless 18v in an earlier post.

    Might go well with my 18vnicad Brute that doesn't see that much use since the 12v impact arrived on the scene.

    

   What I should do is get an 18v nicad impact and be done with it. By the time I need to upgrade they'll have the LI 's down pat or a new battery science on the scene. 

2. 
   IMERC | Oct 25, 2009 02:12am | #14

   I'm with you... 

   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!

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

5. 
   popawheelie | Oct 25, 2009 12:37am | #5

   Have you thought about cordless?

   I would if I was looking for one. It's not like you plane a lot of material off.

   All you need is a few passes and your done.

   The Ridgid looks interesting to me because the blade isn't straight.

   It's a spiral blade.

   http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/R888-Dual-Voltage-Hand-Planer/

    

   "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."
   Will Rogers
1. 
   excaliber32 | Oct 25, 2009 12:42am | #6

   The Ridgid cordless is a nice tool. I didn't realize I needed one until I saw one in action on some rather unruly floor joists. I found a Bosch at the pawn shop for $70 with a six month warantee (did I mention at a pawn shop?). I don't believe its the really good Bosch, because it only goes up to 1/16". I didn't get to use it for what I bought if for (rush job), but I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities on that 90 year old house.

6. 
   jc21 | Oct 25, 2009 12:42am | #7

   Makita N1900B (3 1/4")............ been around for ages- long lived and tough to kill. Lightweight and imho, well balanced. If dust collection is a real concern the Bosch might be a better bet though I don't care for it's ergonomics.  Makita does make a nozzle and bag for the N1900B ...........  haven't tried it.

   "There can be no doubt that Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the abject worship of the state…Socialism is in its essence an attack not only on British enterprise, but upon the right of ordinary men and women to breathe freely without having a harsh, clammy, clumsy tyrannical hand clasped across their mouth and nostrils"  -Winston Churchill

1. 
   frenchy | Oct 26, 2009 03:41pm | #28

   Amen!  I do use the bag all the time with mine. But then I'll be planning for hours at an end.

    I also use the big 6&1/4 Mikita for planning my big timbers. I double pass the 12 inch timber and triple pass the 18 inch timbers. Then I belt sand the line between them off and if it's going into a really visable place take the card scraper to it to return the smooth planned look.. If it's not highly visable I then use the palm sander in decreasing grits to 220..

7. 
   gordsco | Oct 25, 2009 12:43am | #8

   Makita. Easy to handle, simple adjustment, idiot proof blade change.

   The big PC's are nice for solid wood doors, but best all around?

   Makita.

    

1. 
   dbcabs | Oct 25, 2009 01:54am | #13

   I had the Makita 3 1/4" for many years, but switched to the Bosch because of its ability to adjust direction of chip ejection (also works good with a vacume). It has a good fence for beveling doors and easy blade changes. DavidW

8. 
   Ted W. | Oct 25, 2009 01:18am | #11

   If I were buying a new planer, the Bosch that Rez linked to in post 10 would be my choice for all-around use. You can switch between the left or right side blowout hole, which also fits a standard 1-1/4" shop vac hose. The bevel guide plate is also a nice feature and very well built, iirc. I was checking it out about a year ago, but my standard, one exhaust hole Bosch is still running strong.

   Then, you can sometimes find a nice Versa-Plane on ebay for a few hundred

   http://home.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=versa-plane&_sacat=631&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=&_osacat=631 =).

   ~ Ted W ~

   Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
   See my work at TedsCarpentry.com

9. 
   jayzog | Oct 25, 2009 01:48am | #12

   I have 2 makitas, a dewalt, a PC126 , and a bosch 18v cordless. The PC does doors, the bosch is the most used, the others only come out for lengthy or especialy knarly jobs.

    

10. 
    chairmon | Oct 25, 2009 04:19am | #17

    Skill 100
    If you can find one!! and have $600+ laying around to bid against surfboard makers and collectors.

    Festool HL 850 E
    Twist to adjust depth, unlimited rabbits, great dust collection, interchangeable cutter-heads, $500

    Bosch 1594 k
    The best of the rest $150

    Craig

1. 
   Jercarp | Oct 25, 2009 04:46am | #18

   Bosch or Makita. I've had the Makita for almost 20 years and beat the **** out of it and it still works like new.
   I've used the Bosh and it seems like a very good machine.

1. 
   jocobe | Oct 25, 2009 06:00am | #19

   I use the Bosch for general use and the Porter Cable Porta-Plane Kit for doors..View Image

2. 
   DCCarpenter | Oct 25, 2009 08:40pm | #20

   What features make the Skil 100 perform so well? I always hear great things but what would a typical finish carpenter use on for on a jobsite or in the shop? Would they be especially helpful for curved work and elliptical work(I'm thinking that's why they are great for surfboards?)?

1. 
   rdesigns | Oct 26, 2009 05:05pm | #30

   The one-bladed Bosch, for about $100, is a fine tool.

   Having just one blade, but spinning faster than the others (seems like it's about 18k compared to 12k for 2-bladed models) means that you still get a very smooth cut, but when you hit the inevitable nail, you've nicked only one blade.

   Easy blade changing, cheap blades, and right-or-left exhaust post together with a fence/guide that actually covers the part of the blade not being used, make this the best for my money.

   (I had a DeWalt that had the kind of fence that doesn't cover the unused part of the blade. I lost the skin off two of my fingertips when I stupidly wrapped my hand around the tool to steady it. Hopefully, nobody else is as dumb as I was, but, just in case, the Bosch is a safer tool.)

11. 
    Scott | Oct 26, 2009 02:32am | #23

    I've had the Makita for many years, and like it. It will clog if you're really hogging out in wet wood, like peeling logs, but I think any plane would suffer under that load.

    When I bought it you could opt for HSS or carbide blades. I've always used the carbide ones.

    Scott.

12. 
    tsekas | Oct 26, 2009 07:31am | #24

    Get the Bosch.
    Easy to fit on the new Super Ez.

    Hook-up a vacuum and you don't have to work outside.

    http://tracksawforum.com/showthread.php?t=212

    I think, you can buy one "ez pimped" from the zone.

    http://tracksawforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=396&d=1255750492

    Edited 10/26/2009 12:48 am ET by tsekas <!-- TSEKAS -->

    
    

    ---

    Edited 10/26/2009 12:50 am ET by tsekas

13. 
    WorkshopJon | Oct 26, 2009 11:34am | #25

    REZ,

         I consider a handheld planer a "butcher tool."   IMO, an HF for $19.00 does the job, and you won't feel guilty if you hit a nail.

     

    WSJ

1. 
   Henley | Oct 26, 2009 03:30pm | #26

   Yeah, that's why getting a little deeper cut is great.
   Hogging out material can get old fast with a wimpy machine. The Bosch has 1/16 more depth then the Makita and it makes
   a big difference. Nails? Who cares, that's why the blades are replaceable.

1. 
   IMERC | Oct 26, 2009 03:33pm | #27

   at 12$ for a set of two reversables...

   go fer it... 

   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!

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

2. 
   dovetail97128 | Oct 26, 2009 04:42pm | #29

   The depth of cut on a Makita can be increased by removing the front plate adjusting screw and grinding a bit off of it.
   The adjusting screw bottoms out before the plate comes up all the way.
   Life is Good

14. 
    kakenetit2 | Oct 27, 2009 04:23am | #31

    I favor the Makita 3-1/2" myself