Festool EHL 65 Cutting Depth Adjustment Question

[Psych101]

I just bought one and note the cutting depth adjustment does not seem to be quite right.  When the adjustment knob is set to zero there is still an offset between the front and rear sole plates when checked with a straight edge.  I have to go past zero on the scale to reach actual zero. 

Furthermore, when you turn the knob each step does not accurately align with each mark on the knob (i.e. each click does not accurately align with each 0.1mm mark on the scale).  Five clicks from zero equates to 0.6mm on the scale.  This offset gets worse the number of clicks you add.  You also can't go to exactly 1mm or 2mm on the scale for example due to the clicks occurring either side of these marks.

Am I expecting too much or is this not right?

I know in practice you would not rely on the scale reading alone but I thought maybe a festool tool might be different.

I have not been able to use the tool yet (opened it to find no blade was installed/included and the adjustment tool was missing - but this is another story).

 

[jmbfestool]

To me it doesn't sound right

Plus tool and blade missing I would take it all back and swap it!

When to many thing go wrong on a tool I start to think other things must be wrong with the tool because if quality control missed 3 things on your brand new festool tool already what else have they missed?  A loose connection inside?

Take it back

 

[jonny round boy]

Sounds to me like a unit that has been returned? I think it's highly unlikely that a planer would come out of the factory without a blade fitted (though it is, of course, faintly possible).

 

[Psych101]

I have taken it back and they have placed an order for a new one for me.

I asked the sales guy about the depth adjustment and he reckoned all of them are like that. Can anyone who owns one or a festool rep please verify this?

 

[joiner1970]

Rubbish my one isn't like that and previous to that I had the older model and that wasn't like that either

 

[Psych101]

Rubbish my one isn't like that and previous to that I had the older model and that wasn't like that either

Thanks for the feedback.  Can you eloborate on how the adjustment mechanism is supposed to work?

 

[joiner1970]

Well exactly as it should on any planer , you dial in 0 .5 mm and it planes 0.5mm

Oh and at zero both front and back parts of the base should be level

 

[Psych101]

Well exactly as it should on any planer , you dial in 0 .5 mm and it planes 0.5mm

Oh and at zero both front and back parts of the base should be level

I didn't test the tool so I dont know if the depth of material removal corresponded with the scale setting  or not (I only know for sure that the zero setting was out of wack so everything else probably was too).

I am interested to know if each click of the dial is supposed to line up with each 0.1mm mark on the scale?

 

[joiner1970]

Yes it is

 

[Psych101]

I have received the new one and the depth of cut adjustment is the same as the last described in my fist post.  Out of interest I also went to another retailer of Festool gear and their display model was also the same. Seems to be just the way they are.