pingvinlakrits
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2007
- Messages
- 1,093
The EHL 65 is an excellent planer, though it could be refined in ergonomics. Something any chiropractor or dr of Naphrapathy would attest to if they had a look at the grip.
Thanks to it's small frame and light weight you often work a piece (like a window frame) from the side and sometimes from the top. In my work I restored a couple of hundred window frames using the EHL 65 and because you have to depress the switch all the time when working with the plane your underarm muscles will strain - a lot - from it because of the grip and when holding it at an angle. Which you do if you work your way around the frame. The grip could and should be improved, together with the switch.
I have complained about this many a time and even sent Festool Germany an email. But no reply.
Since the work becomes static (your underarm muscles don't work well with static gripping tasks, especially not at an angle) you will develop strain and fatigue over time, do stretch a lot.
I am a recreational climber with a fairly strong grip and don't usually complain but the EHL 65 needs reworking. As it is now it is a professional machine with hobbyist ergonomics.
At that work site people who borrowed the planer for a few hours would complain over underarm stiffness. So it wasn't just me. And these guys were young and healthy, not going downhill like me.
A slightly wider, more oval grip and a larger switch/clutch would do the trick. The best thing would be a grip you could swivel or turn on its axis, three stops would be enough. Heck, even two positions would work.
Thanks to it's small frame and light weight you often work a piece (like a window frame) from the side and sometimes from the top. In my work I restored a couple of hundred window frames using the EHL 65 and because you have to depress the switch all the time when working with the plane your underarm muscles will strain - a lot - from it because of the grip and when holding it at an angle. Which you do if you work your way around the frame. The grip could and should be improved, together with the switch.
I have complained about this many a time and even sent Festool Germany an email. But no reply.
Since the work becomes static (your underarm muscles don't work well with static gripping tasks, especially not at an angle) you will develop strain and fatigue over time, do stretch a lot.
I am a recreational climber with a fairly strong grip and don't usually complain but the EHL 65 needs reworking. As it is now it is a professional machine with hobbyist ergonomics.
At that work site people who borrowed the planer for a few hours would complain over underarm stiffness. So it wasn't just me. And these guys were young and healthy, not going downhill like me.
A slightly wider, more oval grip and a larger switch/clutch would do the trick. The best thing would be a grip you could swivel or turn on its axis, three stops would be enough. Heck, even two positions would work.
