Cordless planer ehlc 65

[Ijustlovequality]

g'day all!! I am looking to convert my ehl 65 planer to 18 volt. Has anybody done this?? I'm going to a 1000w brushless motor, and will probably run it at the standard 15600 rpm unless I find it runs better at a higher speed.
Any pointers would be great!

 

[Kev]

My suggestion would honestly be not to bother.

Makita make one and I'd guess that it'd be a better package than a cordless Festool "Frankenplaner" [smile]

The mods here are also likely to caution a thread that involves potentially unsafe tool modification (not staying you're not capable personally).

 

[Staniam]

Milwaukee is also releasing their cordless planer soon (I just inventoried a bunch at the orange box). Also, Bosch makes some very nice corded a day cordless planers as well.

And I agree with [member=13058]Kev[/member]

 

[Ijustlovequality]

I have to agree that buying a makita,Milwaukee, or Bosch planer would be the smartest option by far!!  They don't have the quiet and smooth cut of the ehl65 though. Also, I don't buy tools that are made in China. That leaves me with a limited range of options.
I have pulled the planer apart and measured it's cavities, so now i will put it back together while I compile a new set of internals to suit 18v.
It's a piece of cake except the constant speed control, and watchdog system, which I hope to do with arduino.

 

[DB10]

You Sir are either a genius or crazy, I guess only time will tell, a video if it all works out would be good. Good luck.

 

[benwheeler]

My recollection of using a Bosch cordless planer a couple of years ago is that it was very smooth and pleasant to use. That's my vote!

 

[bryan1982]

[member=40965]Ijustlovequality[/member]

This sounds awesome

im about to mod a makita 18v vac into a sys 4 using my festool batteries

i look forward to seeing the planer

Cheers

Bryan

 

[Ijustlovequality]

[member=42735]DB10[/member]
I'm not sure which I am yet either. It's a fine line between the two they say, and I'm trying to tread on the right side of it!

[member=2768]bryan1982[/member]
That sounds like the way to go! Should be a straight-forwardish conversion, and will be an excellent tool! It could be worth trying the Milwaukee one too, just to see which one sucks more than the other. That is a paradox that I'll let you figure out

 

[goyya76]

[member=40965]Ijustlovequality[/member]

This sounds awesome

im about to mod a makita 18v vac into a sys 4 using my festool batteries

i look forward to seeing the planer

Cheers

Bryan

Ciao Bryan, i personally look forward to your festool batteries to makita tool mod! That would be awesome 
Cheers
Francesco

 

[peter halle]

As Kev posted earlier, modifying a Festool and then posting images or instructions here is against the forum guidelines.  I just wanted to confirm that just in case part of your inspiration was going to be the satisfaction of showing off your mod here.

Peter

 

[Ijustlovequality]

I didn't realise it is against the rules. Thanks for reiterating that!! That is def not the motivation though. I just like to have nice things, and since festool have no plans to bring one out, I'll do it myself.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]Whilst I totally agree that modifications such as the one suggested here should not be encouraged on the FOG; it has just occurred to me that there have been over the past few years at least two threads highlighting the modification of Systainers as radios and or junction boxes.

Surely these threads too were not within the FOG's guidelines.

[member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]  [member=13058]Kev[/member]

 

[peter halle]

[size=13pt]Whilst I totally agree that modifications such as the one suggested here should not be encouraged on the FOG; it has just occurred to me that there have been over the past few years at least two threads highlighting the modification of Systainers as radios and or junction boxes.

Surely these threads too were not within the FOG's guidelines.

[member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]  [member=13058]Kev[/member]

Just as an FYI:  We did have discussions behind the scenes regarding those particular threads.  Whereas the modifications were to "boxes" versus "tools" and in an effort to not be too restrictive we left those.

Peter

 

[AlexThePalex]

If it's your hobby to modify tools like that, go for it. But I really doubt you'll end up with a better planer than what you can buy from other brands. In fact, I think it will be worse.

 

[Locks14]

I would be interested in seeing the results just out of simple curiosity, maybe if [member=40965]Ijustlovequality[/member] could PM anyone interested a Youtube link or photos so it stays off the public forum keeping him off the naughty step or being sent too bed without dinner.

 

[Holmz]

While I would not do it myself, man did not get to the moon by believing that the Earth is flat and no trying.

But on a Festool managed forum, the risk management and legal aspects mean that everyone gets treated equally.

There is no easy was to encourage genius, while protecting the moronic.

 

[Ijustlovequality]

I will make a link when I've got it made for sure. I understand that the company has to protect itself from liability and if mods were allowed on the page I guess it would soon become the backyard modifiers group :-D

[member=5277]Alex[/member]  don't worry, that's the general reaction to the idea, and I'm not 100% myself, but hey, no guts, no glory, and it takes a bit of guts to hack into a near new ehl :-D

I am surprised by the interest in this idea, and hope that if I lead the way festo might pick up the baton. Can't beat that made in Germany feel!!

 

[peter halle]

My guess is that Festool is already working on expanding their cordless program.  I was once told that their timeline from idea to product was about six years.  That might not have been accurate and things might have changed, but based on where the entire industry is going I would be shocked if they aren't moving forward on a cordless planer.

Peter

 

[Locks14]

My guess is that Festool is already working on expanding their cordless program.  I was once told that their timeline from idea to product was about six years.  That might not have been accurate and things might have changed, but based on where the entire industry is going I would be shocked if they aren't moving forward on a cordless planer.

Peter

6 years???

I'm almost 100% sure that's incorrect. I'm not an expert on conception to market in the power tool industry, but in general I do have some fairly extensive experience in comparable industries and six years is not even remotely practical to maintain a competitive advantage. A more reasonable timeframe would be 6-18 months. Power tools aren't rocket science, things waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more complex have significantly shorter lead times than 6 years!!

 

[peter halle]

My guess is that Festool is already working on expanding their cordless program.  I was once told that their timeline from idea to product was about six years.  That might not have been accurate and things might have changed, but based on where the entire industry is going I would be shocked if they aren't moving forward on a cordless planer.

Peter

6 years???

I'm almost 100% sure that's incorrect. I'm not an expert on conception to market in the power tool industry, but in general I do have some fairly extensive experience in comparable industries and six years is not even remotely practical to maintain a competitive advantage. A more reasonable timeframe would be 6-18 months. Power tools aren't rocket science, things waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more complex have significantly shorter lead times than 6 years!!

[member=49749]Locks14[/member]

I only posted about the development timeframes based on what I was told by a gentleman at Festool who I honestly believe and is frankly above reproach.  Perhaps the process has changed since we had that conversation, but to assume that it had, and to post along those lines would be inaccurate and I chose not to do that.  My guess is that Festool will not confirm nor deny my statement.

If you are an expert in the field and are looking for a challenge and advancement, please let me know.  I can get your resume to the CEO of Festool.  What happens after that is beyond my control.

Peter