HL850

[ScotF]

Well I have wanted to add one of these to my collection for sometime and finally got one to use in my bathroom remodel.  I needed to level some studs in my bathroom before adding CBU.  What I thought was going to be a complicated, drawn out process took me all of 20 minutes with this planer...simply amazing!  Before I knew it I was done and kind of disappointed that I did not get to play with it more .  And talk about smooth...one of the smoothest running Festools I own IMHO -- I put it up there with the ETS150 and the OF2200 for smooth...awesome!!! Oh, and it is fairly quiet to boot!!

I cannot wait for the angle stop and bench unit to get here -- decided to get those accessories with my Festool dollars.  Having this small little jointer will really come in handy for small pieces.  I am also going to be taking advantage of the wider rabbeting capacity on some molding as it will be smoother, faster and safer than using a tablesaw or router set-up to accomplish the same cut.  I will try and do a more in-depth review once I have had more time to play with it, but so far I am impressed. 

Scot 

 

[TurnagainD]

The bench unit and fence are pretty handy.  I made a simple plywood bench for an infeed and outfeed table and that has made it even more useful as a joiner.  I have not had the need to clean the base yet, I have had the unit for a year and bought it used.  The dust collection is great too.  You will probably look for reasons to use it now that you have it.

Kevin

 

[Bob Marino]

 

Scott and Kevin,

Agree with you regarding the HL 850. Although most hobbyists don't a need for this tool and it is not one of Festool's top best sellers, it is one of Festool's "hidden gems." It is a perfect example of Festool doing their homework, offering a unique and innovative tool, not another me too tool.

 Bob

 

[Kev]

 

Scott and Jeff,

Agree with you regarding the HL 850. Although most hobbyists don't a need for this tool and it is not one of Festool's top best sellers, it is one of Festool's "hidden gems." It is a perfect example of Festool doing their homework, offering a unique and innovative tool, not another me too tool.

 Bob

OK Jeff, step forward and show yourself ...

 

[Bob Marino]

OK Jeff, step forward and show yourself.


  Ooops, sorry bout that, Kevin. :-[ I guess I shouldn't post before the second cup of coffee.

Bob

 

[PA floor guy]

What are festool dollars.

 

[peter halle]

In the most recent FOG contest several of the prizes were Festool Dollars.  Basically a credit with Festool USA that allowed the winners to select their prizes based on the amount that they won.

Peter

 

[Cealan]

This is a fantastic planer & makes robust heavy duty work a breeze. I can see why its not a best seller as was already mentioned on this topic. My feeling on it is since i got the track saw i find it easier & quicker and it was taken the jobs this planer used to do. For any rebating i would use the router instead so have never found that option useful. Its beautifully smooth & i love the sensitivity of the trigger (other planers just take off) so i really feel safe using this tool were other 1s make me nervous. I find it great for bench work & the depth adjustment is great. It can get heavy when using over long periods, i have got raw hands using it & my hands arent soft. I bought it at the time over the 65 because of the wider blade made more sence to me (1 pass) on matherials. For me its great to have a beautiful tool & the control of the trigger (same with 1010 router) makes me feel in control of the tool & for me is a big safty conscious thing & worth it for that. If i was buying again now that i have the track saw i would look at the 65, just from a money perspective.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

The HL 850 is on my list. It's especielly the different cutting heads, the bench mounting unit and the edge guide that have my interest.. I wonder if anyone uses it to face plane rough boards like a #4 smoothing plane with a chamfered blade...?

 

[EV]

In the most recent FOG contest several of the prizes were Festool Dollars.  Basically a credit with Festool USA that allowed the winners to select their prizes based on the amount that they won.

Peter

Why don't we have "FESTOOL POUNDS" in the UK?????

Sounds like an awesome Idea to me.

Thank you FESTOOL UK

EV

 

[Phil Beckley]

[wink]......a little more patience.

 

[sancho57]

good to see ya posting here buddy

 

[Graphein]

Remodeled a first floor bathroom.  Stripped all fixtures and finishes back to framing.  Wanted to install floor drain in center of the room, but joists were crowned.  Snapped chalk lines on sides of joists and planed down to the lines.  Quick, and with CT 26 attached, very little basement cleanup.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I just bought a used HL850, first impressions is the thing is a workhorse. With the added benefit of texturing and adze effects it's very good addition to any kit. I'll be ordering a new standard head, and the rustic fine head as well as the angle fence depth and side fences, so
Festool is still going to be making additional sales even though the tool itself was bought used..
I wonder if I can make my own table for it as the accessory table is now discontinued... The mounting screws holes on the vertical sides and bottom  of the tool make it seem like a doable project.

 

[ScotF]

I just bought a used HL850, first impressions is the thing is a workhorse. With the added benefit of texturing and adze effects it's very good addition to any kit. I'll be ordering a new standard head, and the rustic fine head as well as the angle fence depth and side fences, so
Festool is still going to be making additional sales even though the tool itself was bought used..
I wonder if I can make my own table for it as the accessory table is now discontinued... The mounting screws holes on the vertical sides and bottom  of the tool make it seem like a doable project.

A search on You Tube have several designs that might work. Did not realize this was discontinued outside of North America too. That is sad news.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I just bought a used HL850, first impressions is the thing is a workhorse. With the added benefit of texturing and adze effects it's very good addition to any kit. I'll be ordering a new standard head, and the rustic fine head as well as the angle fence depth and side fences, so
Festool is still going to be making additional sales even though the tool itself was bought used..
I wonder if I can make my own table for it as the accessory table is now discontinued... The mounting screws holes on the vertical sides and bottom  of the tool make it seem like a doable project.

A search on You Tube have several designs that might work. Did not realize this was discontinued outside of North America too. That is sad news.

I can't find the accessory table anywhere! But will rig something up, perhaps with the help of a blacksmith.

After much thought I just went ahead and bought the fine rustic head and a new standard head as the one that came with the tool has some worryingly deep incisions in its surface that may compromise it's structural integrity. The cutting knife on the old head looks new so it will function as a reserve blade I'll chuck the old head. I also just bought angle guide as seems like a must have as do the depth and parallel guides.

I can't wait to get using it and all my other Festool more regularly . I'll be stopping at one of my regular maintenance jobs in a month so that gives a bit of extra time.. No lack of projects to build!

 

[aloysius]

I've discussed these inversion stands elsewhere:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...nch-unit-extension-table/msg480664/#msg480664