Festool Power planer? Couldn't find any reviews
- Thread starter Macmann
- Start date
JFelchlin
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- Joined
- Apr 8, 2007
- Messages
- 216
If you’re referring to Festool’s 850 H power hand planer - It’s an incredibly effective tool.
For “mobile” applications - Like leveling joists or edging doors - Using a hand plane will “get it done”. But, Festool’s 850 H electric hand plane is definitely “the way to go”.
And, in woodworking applications - Where you want to customize the “look” of the material - Being able to change planer heads on the 850 H - Is invaluable.
In my shop - Until I could afford my Powmatic 60HH 8" Jointer - I used my 850 H regularly to edge joint SHORTER stock - With Festool’s SE-HL Bench Jointing Unit (unfortunately discontinued).
For LONGER stock - I used two methods to edge joint ‘em.
1. “Make Your Router Table Think It’s A Jointer“ - Woodworking Magazine
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/techniques/routing/make-your-router-think-its-a-jointer
2.
“Match Planing A Shelf With The Festool TS55”
https://youtu.be/LIsG8jAGnIU
As Sedge says: “I hope this helps!”
For “mobile” applications - Like leveling joists or edging doors - Using a hand plane will “get it done”. But, Festool’s 850 H electric hand plane is definitely “the way to go”.
And, in woodworking applications - Where you want to customize the “look” of the material - Being able to change planer heads on the 850 H - Is invaluable.
In my shop - Until I could afford my Powmatic 60HH 8" Jointer - I used my 850 H regularly to edge joint SHORTER stock - With Festool’s SE-HL Bench Jointing Unit (unfortunately discontinued).
For LONGER stock - I used two methods to edge joint ‘em.
1. “Make Your Router Table Think It’s A Jointer“ - Woodworking Magazine
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/techniques/routing/make-your-router-think-its-a-jointer
2.
“Match Planing A Shelf With The Festool TS55”
https://youtu.be/LIsG8jAGnIU
As Sedge says: “I hope this helps!”
It's a good hand-held planer. The 850. I haven't used the smaller one. I consider the 850 a specialized tool though. If all you need to do is fit doors a much less pricey unit will do. It can do rabbets for stuff like timber frame joints, which most of these planers can't. The texturing heads are cool, but specialized. It's a little heavier than some, but it's longer too. I also have a 6" wide hand planer and that thing gets tiring to push.
I read somewhere that a couple of people have had the planer bearings leak and had to send it in for service, even without much use. I've had mine for several years and last I looked at it the bearings hadn't leaked.
I read somewhere that a couple of people have had the planer bearings leak and had to send it in for service, even without much use. I've had mine for several years and last I looked at it the bearings hadn't leaked.
sancho57
Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2011
- Messages
- 7,089
For what it is its great. Yes its heavy. There are some accessories I recommend you getting. Its great for champhering and rabbiting. But also a few other things:
-The Bench unit- turns the planer into a small bench top jointer, discontinued but you can find the sale on ebay and here in the classifieds.
-The accessory fence with is a full length fence and is great to use as a door plane and you can edge plane with it.
-The undulating head, this planer has 3 different heads ou can buy to give the wood different effects. I have the undulating head which gives wood the appearance of being hand hewn. Check out Don Wares videos on u tube and hes shows another of the heads.
This isnt considered a "core tool" But it does come in handy when ya need a hand held planer and more
-The Bench unit- turns the planer into a small bench top jointer, discontinued but you can find the sale on ebay and here in the classifieds.
-The accessory fence with is a full length fence and is great to use as a door plane and you can edge plane with it.
-The undulating head, this planer has 3 different heads ou can buy to give the wood different effects. I have the undulating head which gives wood the appearance of being hand hewn. Check out Don Wares videos on u tube and hes shows another of the heads.
This isnt considered a "core tool" But it does come in handy when ya need a hand held planer and more
I think that the HL850 EB planer is possibly Festo's best tool ever. There's certain tasks it can perform that simply aren't possible elsewhere. That "unlimited" rebating capacity is probably its best & arguably most useful party trick for the production of rebated frames, adjusting of the seats of non-adjustable hardware such as aluminium windows in their wooden frames, sills, reveals, weather rebates etc. Solving the difficult problems of first fix carpentry in a manner with which any lesser tool would struggle, if not find impossible.
Secondly, the slicing action of the cutter means that a sharp blades' finish is sufficient without much if any at all subsequent sanding for painting or finishing prep. It's sheer bulk, width, length & heft also seem to work well to provide a smooth, balanced and linear action. All lesser tools tend to leave a distinctly rippled finish, its "frequency" dependent upon feed-speed.
Its ability to quickly, easily & after some practice intuitively adjust the depth of cut "on the fly" midcut is exemplary & (as a consequence of the front "throttle" twistgrip) possibly unique. In fact just about all mechanical controls & adjustments are available within reach of one's fingers wrapped around the front twistgrip: DOC adjuster & rebating cutterblock endguard retracting lever (which can be hooked up once the superstrong return spring stretches a bit). Sure signs of clever, intuitive design.
Great for right-handers, but nigh on useless for the cack-handed minority unfortunately. Therein lies some of the tool's inherent disadvantages, too. Far from being a site plane to be used easily one-handed for easing rebates and tight fits, tempering arrises etc., this tool is simply too big for many of the multitude of tasks required of a site planer. A firm grip is required with both hands, & the tool can only realistically be used in a horizontal mode, flat on, to a safely clamped or restrained workpiece.
Its single-sided cutterblock support is especially dependent & hard on its dual-bearing mount. It's not at all unusual for these bearings to fail, requiring regular replacement in heavy duty use. Luckily, these are easily accessible & exchange much more easily accomplished than with more conventional dual-suspended cutterblock bearings. These bearings should be regarded as mere"consumable" parts in the same manner as blades, carbon brushes & drive belts are.
The electronic idle control, as also fitted to the now discontinued top 'o the line Metabo, provides current-induced "acceleration" under load, making for smooth cutting performance, and the electronic brake (my own model predates this innovation) adds an additional layer of utility & safety.
Ideally, the tool really needs to be partnered with a more "conventional" one-handed planing tool for optimum site utility. My personal faves are Metabo's beautifully tiny little HoE 0983 or the extremely useful 4" cutting capacity AEG/Atlas Copco/Milwaukee HB750/HBE800 clones. All of these are now unfortunately discontinued, but there must be hundreds of thousands of these tool still available in garages, builders' toolkits & workshops all over the civilised world. The sheer quantity available second hand attests to their former popularity & ubiquity.
Makita still make some excellent trade-quality small planers that would partner well with the big Festo/ol. The Festo/ol planer still soldiers on in relatively unchanged form since the original HB750 machine was released in the early 80's. That sort of longevity almost rivals the Elu/DeWalt routers' claim to being if not the the perfect then at least the definitive tools of their type.
Secondly, the slicing action of the cutter means that a sharp blades' finish is sufficient without much if any at all subsequent sanding for painting or finishing prep. It's sheer bulk, width, length & heft also seem to work well to provide a smooth, balanced and linear action. All lesser tools tend to leave a distinctly rippled finish, its "frequency" dependent upon feed-speed.
Its ability to quickly, easily & after some practice intuitively adjust the depth of cut "on the fly" midcut is exemplary & (as a consequence of the front "throttle" twistgrip) possibly unique. In fact just about all mechanical controls & adjustments are available within reach of one's fingers wrapped around the front twistgrip: DOC adjuster & rebating cutterblock endguard retracting lever (which can be hooked up once the superstrong return spring stretches a bit). Sure signs of clever, intuitive design.
Great for right-handers, but nigh on useless for the cack-handed minority unfortunately. Therein lies some of the tool's inherent disadvantages, too. Far from being a site plane to be used easily one-handed for easing rebates and tight fits, tempering arrises etc., this tool is simply too big for many of the multitude of tasks required of a site planer. A firm grip is required with both hands, & the tool can only realistically be used in a horizontal mode, flat on, to a safely clamped or restrained workpiece.
Its single-sided cutterblock support is especially dependent & hard on its dual-bearing mount. It's not at all unusual for these bearings to fail, requiring regular replacement in heavy duty use. Luckily, these are easily accessible & exchange much more easily accomplished than with more conventional dual-suspended cutterblock bearings. These bearings should be regarded as mere"consumable" parts in the same manner as blades, carbon brushes & drive belts are.
The electronic idle control, as also fitted to the now discontinued top 'o the line Metabo, provides current-induced "acceleration" under load, making for smooth cutting performance, and the electronic brake (my own model predates this innovation) adds an additional layer of utility & safety.
Ideally, the tool really needs to be partnered with a more "conventional" one-handed planing tool for optimum site utility. My personal faves are Metabo's beautifully tiny little HoE 0983 or the extremely useful 4" cutting capacity AEG/Atlas Copco/Milwaukee HB750/HBE800 clones. All of these are now unfortunately discontinued, but there must be hundreds of thousands of these tool still available in garages, builders' toolkits & workshops all over the civilised world. The sheer quantity available second hand attests to their former popularity & ubiquity.
Makita still make some excellent trade-quality small planers that would partner well with the big Festo/ol. The Festo/ol planer still soldiers on in relatively unchanged form since the original HB750 machine was released in the early 80's. That sort of longevity almost rivals the Elu/DeWalt routers' claim to being if not the the perfect then at least the definitive tools of their type.
Another thumbs up for the 850. It was one of the first Festools that I bought and have no regrets. I recently acquired a 65 off Ebay, have yet to use but it feels like it will be very user friendly. I also have a rare Hitachi that takes a 3 5/8" cut. This tool was discontinued being sold in the Us back in the eighties as part of some dumping agreement. I could never understand the reasoning as no one was selling anything that would plane a two by in one pass. To do that one would have had to buy the 6" Makita.
batmanrobin
Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2009
- Messages
- 113
Did a lot of hand hewn with it on 2x and 6x6 lumber and it was great.
Look forward to using it more.
Look forward to using it more.
Holzhacker
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2009
- Messages
- 1,192
The 850 is great buy it.
The little Festool planer whatever the number is, pass on that. Save the money buy the cheap Bosch version.
The little Festool planer whatever the number is, pass on that. Save the money buy the cheap Bosch version.
Why the need for an affirmational review ?
If you have a need for one, just get it and use it. Festool has a built in safety blanket with their no questions return policy.
Being there are few if any alternatives in the same class, I'd say you'll find it just fine if you have the need for its capabilities.
If you have a need for one, just get it and use it. Festool has a built in safety blanket with their no questions return policy.
Being there are few if any alternatives in the same class, I'd say you'll find it just fine if you have the need for its capabilities.
luvmytoolz
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2021
- Messages
- 1,792
+1 for the HL 850, I've had mine since the mid 80's roughly, and found the ergonomics and weight really suited to all forms of work. I used to hang an awful lot of doors, and the balance and weight were a benefit in getting straight lines. Also works really well one handed to do large round over work for things like the bottom step on a timber ramp walkway.
I've never changed the cutters, and mine has done a tremendous amount of work over the decades, although it does have a few very minor nicks that don't impact!
Definitely my favourite go to plane!
I've never changed the cutters, and mine has done a tremendous amount of work over the decades, although it does have a few very minor nicks that don't impact!
Definitely my favourite go to plane!
Stan Tillinghast
Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2007
- Messages
- 309
And THAT is why I’ve spent all the money on Festool tools. Every once in a while if I forget to have the CT hooked up or turned on, I am quickly reminded of that. I couldn’t do woodworking without the amazing dust collection capability of Festool’s system.
