EHL Planer Bench unit

[festoolviking]

Hi!

I got my bench unit for my EHL-65 planer the other day. Here is some pictures of the kit whit the parts included and how it looks with the planer mounted.

[attachthumb=1]

Bench unit kit, parts included int the kit.

[attachthumb=2]

Underside of the base.

[attachthumb=3]

Planer mounted

[attachthumb=4]

Planer mounted

festoolviking

 

[festoller]

I was hoping Festool would have renewed or improved the planers and its bench unit by now!

I have to admit it looks better on your photos than in the catalogue! Thank you for posting!

What's your experience?

 

[festoolviking]

Well I have only had it for a couple of days so not that much use yet. My first impression was that it was really sturdy and no need for clamping it to the bench, at least not when planing small peaces.
I guess I will definitely clamp it when planing bigger stock. A thing I'll probably add is a power outlet with a switch next to the planer to start and stop the planer more easily than fiddling with the "switch thing of a giggly" every time. I'll keep you updated when I get to use it more.

festoolviking

 

[ScotF]

I think that the plate looks pretty robust.  Do you have the larger fence or just the smaller one shown?  I could see how this would work well for smaller work pieces.  I will be interested in hearing more about your feedback after you have used it for awhile.

Scot

 

[Tinker]

I have had the HL 850 Planer for several years now.  About the only use it got was to flatten out short logs (fire wood) so I could run thru my bench planer for two parallel sides.  A first step before running thru bandsaw to get 4S.  Other than that, it gathered dust most of the time.  Last winter I bought the stand and fence for it and have found many uses for the complete assembly.  Mostly, i have trued up edges of short boards.  I have even plaed edges to 45º to make a squared up box (practice only to determine if i could make a squared box.  It works better for that than tilting my ATF 55 to 45º.  I never can get a perfect bevel with the ATF without a lot of finegeling.  With the 850 setup with the fence tilted, i can get it right the first time.  As a joke, i made a mallet head (gavel) for a friend.  I experimented with the tilt of the fence until i could get a head very close to round and with a touch up with block plane and sand paper, i made the head almost round.  not perfect, but close enough for folk music. : 

For planing wide surfaces, I still need to use the 850 as a hand planer, but with the base and fence, the tool just becomes a whole lot more useful.  after you play with yours, i am sure you will be quite happy. 

When it gets too cold for me to play with my $$$ making landscaping toys outside, I am thinking to make an extension table (infeed and out feed) and fence so i can edge plane longer lumber.
Tinker

 

[festoller]

I really would like to see that extension table once it's done!