Board Flattening with Festool Planer

[Steve F]

I am considering adding to my Festool collection - this tine a planer.  But the main thing I want to use it for is to flatten boards.  I know that a regular planer would be the proper tool, but that's not happening.  Other than my Festool saw and sanders, I am a hand tool person and really don't have the desire to get a bench top planer.  On the other hand, hand flattening rough lumber is getting old.

So, just wondering whether I am asking too much from a hand planer.

Thanks

Steve

 

[vkumar]

I am considering adding to my Festool collection - this tine a planer.  But the main thing I want to use it for is to flatten boards.  I know that a regular planer would be the proper tool, but that's not happening.  Other than my Festool saw and sanders, I am a hand tool person and really don't have the desire to get a bench top planer.  On the other hand, hand flattening rough lumber is getting old.

So, just wondering whether I am asking too much from a hand planer.

Thanks

Steve

This will help greatly with removing cupping and twists in rough stock similar to a scrub plane. I see it as potentially replacing the need for jointer. A regular power planer would still be useful. The latter are fairly cheap, a portable could be well under $300.
Vijay

 

[peter halle]

Steve,

There is a thread here I remember about using the 850 to flatten boards.  I'll go look for it and post a link here.

Peter

 

[peter halle]

Success!  http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/from-rough-sawn-to-workable-ts75-and-850-power-plane/

 

[Kevin Stricker]

While you could use it to replace a jointer for face flattening it is not a good replacement for a planer.  The HL850 could help you get a flat reference surface but how do you then translate that on the opposite side of the board?  How do you end up with a consistent thickness that is parallel with the first face?

I've used a big Makita power planer to attempt co planar faces with large beams that would not fit through a 20" planer and I can tell you it is hard work.  Obviously easier than attempting the same with hand planes. 

In my experience a planer is a indispensable tool for woodworking.  If you can find one used the DW735 is a great unit.  The blower allows you to hook it up to a seperator like a dust deputy and you don't even need a dust collector or vac.  Leave it in the garage with the cars under a bench and only roll it out when your galoot friends are not looking and you will save your back the strain of hand planing large boards.  Rip boards with your Festool TS then joint them on edge to perfectly matching width with the planer.  You have already taken the plunge into using power tools so why not take the next step?