FESTOOLS HL 850 E PLANER OPINIONS

[TOOLMAN169]

Hello member's. What is the best small planer / jointer out there.  How does the Festool HL 850 E  planer do when connected to Festools  bench unit. Since I have a small shop should I invest in a bench top jointer only and a bench top planer only.

 

[honeydoman]

a jointer and a planer are used basically the same but are for different applications.  a jointer squares up an edge to a 90 degree side.  where a planer can trim off edges, bevels etc and also with different planer heads you can make some awesome tops for mantels, tables etc.

I have the 850 and really like it.  I also will be using it for door hanging etc.

 

[chrisrosenb]

The 850 is a nice hand held planer & makes a nice small jointer when it is in the stand.
Having said that, I would not want to use it as my only jointer because it is very small as a jointer.
I would go with a bench top jointer.

 

[Bob Marino]

I agree with Chris. While I think the 850 is an incredible tool (I don't think any other hand  planer has that versatility) you would be limiting yourself to jointing small boards. Go with the benchtop jointer.

Bob

 

[harry_]

I am willing to bet that someone in here has attached an outfeed table to a stand?!?! [scratch chin]

 

[Bob Marino]

I am willing to bet that someone in here has attached an outfeed table to a stand?!?! [scratch chin]

I'd wager along with you, but that takes care of length, you are still limited to a 3 15/64" wide cut.

Bob

 

[greg mann]

I am willing to bet that someone in here has attached an outfeed table to a stand?!?! [scratch chin]

As a benchtop jointer the 850 would benenfit from a longer infeed table. As has been pointed out, as a jointer it does have some real limitations but I believe I have seen a photo of Jerry Work using the jointer fence, sans the table mount, in a hand-held application where he trimmed a table edge. I could not tell if he was creating a certain custom edge, like a bevel, or just using in place of a router and edge guide to somehow joint or trim the edge. Maybe he remembers what I am referring to and would like to comment.

 

[Michael Kellough]

All hand held electric planers have short infeed tables. Even worse, the cut depth
on most infeed tables is adjusted by compressing a spongy material which can result
in a deeper cut than intended. You can also tilt the infeed table relative to the outfeed table.
Does the HL 850 avoid this problem?

 

[Frank-Jan]

The HL 850 is also discussed in this review of planers for doorhanging (in conjunction with the bevelguide greg mann mentioned) link to pdf.
I read a few threads about it on the jlc forums some time ago,  the downside was that the bevelguide of the HL 850 only bevels in one direction (which happens to be the wrong one for planing doors standing on the scribed side) I saw a tutorial written by Gary Katz on how to modify it so it can bevel inward aswell. (I tried to find it at his site, but I think it was posted somewhere else, or it has been removed in the meantime)

 

[Gene Howerton]

You should take a look at the Rikon 25-010 planer/jointer.  I just bought one for my small shop and it fits my needs. 

It is basically a clone of the old Inca 570 model.  Rikon just started selling them again after not offering them for a few years. The only draw back is the short tables, but on the plus side you get a 10" jointer that matches the 10" planer all for $600.00.  I am in the process of building a stand for it now.  I plan on having the jointer outfeed of the table be 820 mm to match the height of my MFT 1080.  I also have an adjustable height saw-horse for the infeed table, that should make it able to joint longer boards.  I am a hobbiest, with a small shop and this just seems to be about right sized for me.  This unit along is probably cheaper than just buying the Festool Planer.

 

[Dan Clark]

The HL 850 is also discussed in this review of planers for doorhanging (in conjunction with the bevelguide greg mann mentioned) link to pdf.
I read a few threads about it on the jlc forums some time ago,  the downside was that the bevelguide of the HL 850 only bevels in one direction (which happens to be the wrong one for planing doors standing on the scribed side) I saw a tutorial written by Gary Katz on how to modify it so it can bevel inward aswell. (I tried to find it at his site, but I think it was posted somewhere else, or it has been removed in the meantime)

Frank-Jan,

I believe this is the tutorial: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/modifying-the-hl-850-angle-stop-or-fence-to-allow-for-back-beveling/

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Frank-Jan]

Thanks Dan, yes, that was it, sorry for misremembering the writer [embarassed]

 

[sainttjames]

You should take a look at the Rikon 25-010 planer/jointer.  I just bought one for my small shop and it fits my needs. 

Gene - where did you find the new Rikon? I've actually been waiting on this since last summer...and when I last talked to Rikon service in November they said they finally arrived...but I've yet to see anyone selling them...

 

[Gene Howerton]

I had my local Woodcraft store special order it for me.  When it came in the they called and I picked it up.  I had been trying to get an old Inca 570, but now have the Rikon unit.  It works great and is the perfect size for my small shop. [big grin]

 

[Spike]

I had my local Woodcraft store special order it for me.  When it came in the they called and I picked it up.  I had been trying to get an old Inca 570, but now have the Rikon unit.  It works great and is the perfect size for my small shop. [big grin]

Unfortunately the Rikon has no Tersa system like the Inca had. No Tersa no likey.

 

[mikeneron]

You should take a look at the Rikon 25-010 planer/jointer.  I just bought one for my small shop and it fits my needs. 

It is basically a clone of the old Inca 570 model.  Rikon just started selling them again after not offering them for a few years. The only draw back is the short tables, but on the plus side you get a 10" jointer that matches the 10" planer all for $600.00.  I am in the process of building a stand for it now.  I plan on having the jointer outfeed of the table be 820 mm to match the height of my MFT 1080.  I also have an adjustable height saw-horse for the infeed table, that should make it able to joint longer boards.  I am a hobbiest, with a small shop and this just seems to be about right sized for me.  This unit along is probably cheaper than just buying the Festool Planer.

Really, $600 is what you paid?  I just got a quote for $900.  I'm in Canada, so pretty tough to find it here.

 

[jmbfestool]

SITE work the 850 E planer works well. I use my EHL 65 E-Plus Planer to plane most doors unless they are really thick doors because its really light. When fitting wardrobes kitchens I always have my 850E set up its prefect for site and the extraction on it is very good!  I find it to heavy to use for planning doors unless you use the guide to help this is when I have the doors layed down. One of the features I like alot of the motor brake  all planers I have used take a while befor they stop so you could by accident cut the floor when you place is it down which I have done befor. The 850 E  stops befor you even bend down to place it on the floor.

Has any one modifiend the safty switch on the 850 e  because its rather annoying having to have to press the button in to then move the clip over to keep the planer on constant.  I often get fed up with it and leave the 850 E running  unless I know I wont be using it for a while.