Planer advice

[Holzhacker]

After providing many years of good, reliable service, my Bosch planer died yesterday. I could just go out and spend $150 on another one but this seems like a good time to pick up a Festool. I do have a backup monster Makita planer; blades are hard to get and the thing is near 2' long.
So obviously I'm thinking about the 65 and 850. The small light 65 sounds good. The heavier 850 that can be mounted upside down sounds even better. I mainly use the planer in the field for doors, trims, edging, etc.; Typical site finish work.
Is the 65 powerful enough for the shop and harder rough work, say hardwoods and really grinding some stuff down? Is the 850 reasonable enough in size and weight to use in the field for doors and scribing 1x to whatever? Pro's / Con's? Has anyone with the 850 actually bought the stand and used it mounted or is it just fantasy?
Anyone with experiences please let me know. If I have time I'll swing by my local dealer tomorrow or monday and check them out if they have'em in stock.
Thanks, Markus

Edit by Shane Holland to correct model number (from 85 to 850)

 

[tbellemare]

I don't use my tools every day but I like the HL 850 quite a bit, and I mount it upside down on occasion. It is so smooth compared to straight blade planers.

It has a groove in the sole that makes chamfering an edge quick and easy. It also has the multiple profile heads so you can cause "rustic" qualities quite easily. I don't know about elsewhere, but that is a common desire among the well heeled around here. I guess they all want to be a Cartwright at the Ponderosa.

I haven't used the 65 much but I think it really depends on whether what you do requires you to use one hand on the tool or two. I wouldn't want to handle a door with one hand and the 850 in the other.

Tom

 

[Bob Marino]

  I would echo what Tom said. The 65 is certainly up to those tasks and will do them one handed. The 850  with the bench unit, turning it into a small jointer works very well, better than you might imagine for the shorter boards. As also mentioned, if you think you may have a need for the accessory heads, the 850 is the more versatile unit, the 65 is smaller, lighter and a one hander.
On both, dust collection is excellent.

  Bob

 

[tbellemare]

On both, dust collection is excellent.

It's funny you should say that, Bob... In general I agree... I once made a really stupid and time costly mistake.

I once set up my 850, with the upside down mount, and was running some stock through it. Everything was fine, I was making door casings. Then, and it took me a half-second or so to notice, I was disconnected!!!!

Oh man...

In those next few seconds, I blew so much stuff into so many places...

It's very important to be certain that you have a solid connection to your dust collector at all times. Please don't take it for granted, like I did, once.

BIG mistake...

Tom

 

[joiner1970]

I have the 65 had it for years and it will do you fine . The 65 also fits in a bench top mount if you need it to.

 

[Henning]

Beeing limited for the time beeing with a very small workspace, i've used the 850 as my only way of squaring and planing stock in the upside down mount. This summer i planed up a lot of oak for some outdoor furniture. Still on the original blade. Still great!
It's absolutely great!

 

[Tim Sproul]

Typical site finish work.

Edit by Shane Holland to correct model number (from 85 to 850)

Get the smaller planer for site finish work.  For me, weight difference in a planer is significant, unlike for a track saw.

Planer often requires multiple passes to "make the cut" where as a TS saw is almost always done in a single pass.

 

[Rob-GB]

I too have the EHL65 and the bench mount for it, it has proved to be worth every penny cent ;D For on the site work, doors and such very easy to use and has worked well in the impromptu times I needed a small jointer! The blade being helical produces a shear cut smooth finish that needs little further attention depending on the job. I like the 85 (850 for Shane's benefit [wink] but I like the poetry of 65 to 85 [laughing] ) for its added benefits but they need to be balanced with future usage. and at the moment I would not swap my 65 for the 85.
I suspect it will, however, find it's way into my kit. [wink]

Rob.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

If it helps, here's a quick video review of the EHL 65 planer from Justin Fink at Fine Homebuilding. He mentions the lack of bevel capability on the EHL. Well, that's why we have this thing called the TS. That's the right tool for putting a bevel on a door.

As always, if you're unsure of which you want Markus, you can always rely on the 30-day money back guarantee should you decide that you chose wrong.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I would get the 850.

I don't own either but, after seeing the 850 in action, that is the one I would get.

I think the depth adjust twist handle is sweet.

 

[Holzhacker]

Thanks for all the replies. I like Tim's thoughts on the 65. Knowing that the 65 can also be bench mounted is very helpful. Shane I did see that review you mention last night. The review actually made me lean towards the 850. Had to work today so maybe Monday I can swing by our local dealer and check them both out. Haven't decided which one yet.
The lack of a bevel adjust on the 65 bugs me. Rather have that option with a new planer. I just tape a couple formica samples to the bottom of the old Bosch, works nice. I like putting a bevel on the strike side of the door. Allows the door to have a tighter seam to the jamb and still close nice.
Thanks, Markus

 

[clintholeman]

I have an 850 and it is great to use - and the larger size seems [I don't have a 65] to be pretty handy from time-to-time.  In wood working - size often matters ;D

 

[tbellemare]

Knowing that the 65 can also be bench mounted is very helpful.

Am I missing something?

I don't have a way to bench mount this planer???

Tom

 

[Frank-Jan]

Festool does make a bench unit for the ehl65, but it's not listed on the festoolusa site. It's part number 488524.

link to it on festool uk site

 

[grobin]

Interesting as that makes the 65 a lot more attractive; although that's very dear.

Possibly off tropic and rather off the wall what I do is use my No. 62 Lie-Nielsen to start then finish with my No 6 or No 7 joiner .  I find that for what I do (the occasional door, cabinet etc.) that the hand tools are actually faster.  If I was like an acquaintance who once hung 30+ doors in a day that would be way different.

 

[ccarrolladams]

I have owned an 850 for some time. Honestly I have not used it as often as I should.

Our second day of Advanced Router class was Friday, 12 Nov in Las Vegas. Before we started that day Steve B asked us what else we would like to cover should time permit. All 7 of us voted to get into the 850.

Using that under the coaching of an expert like Steve was an education. Had nothing else happend during 4 days of classes that lesson would have justified the trip!

The quality of the finish cut with the 850 is very close to the results of my large shop joiner. Steve explained why the main knife for the 850 has a single blade. The reason is to improve dust collection and reduce noise.

 

[tDot]

Despite its' size, the 850 is a very easy planer to use.  With the optional fence, there is nothing else that can really compare to it.  I have easily beveled 1.75" old Fir doors (very hard wood) with a single pass.  I dont own the 65, but I've played with it a little and I dont think it can really compete for general use, about the only way I would take the 65 over the 850 was if I only used the planer for scribing.

 

[kdzito]

Holzhacker,

I used the TS55 to put a bevel on wood doors for the latch/strike side with excellent results.   

My 2 cents is that I've used the 65 extensively due to its lighter weight and really don't find the need for the 850.

Kurt

 

[Holzhacker]

So I went by my dealer today and played with the 65 and 850. I was leaning towards the 850 just based on price. For a $110 more why not buy big daddy instead of jr. At first I really liked the 65 because it is similar in size and shape to the Bosch. The 850 obviously is a lot bigger and somewhat heavier. I was leaning towards the 65 until I plugged it in and played.
Even though for my current purposes the 65 would be an easier machine, there was no way I could buy it. Two things really irked the hell out of me about it.
1- Two of use couldn't get the dust port attachment out to switch sides - not something I want to deal with regularly
2- The unbelievably horrible weight distribution. All the weight is on the back end, the front end weighs pretty much nothing. Maybe you other guys like that but for me it's a major design flaw. I just see the front end dropping off of work and taking corners off if I'm not paying complete attention.
I didn't like the front knob all that much either. It's a good thing the 850 was available. If not I would have walked out and gone to big orange and bought another Bosch. Sorry Festool if I had to have the 65 size, it would be the Bosch without a doubt. I did check out the big Bosch, and I chose the 850 over it.
Even though the 850 is bigger, the weight is distributed far more evenly. I found it much easier to handle even with the increased size. It's a stable machine, which is pretty important when riding along +/- 1.5"  I also like the knob adjust, handle and overall feel of the machine. Two of the greatest things I noticed right away were the lack of jump at start up and lack of loud piercing motor noise. Very nice to have a planer that doesn't screech.
The lack of a plug it cord is a bit of a bummer. Overall it seems to be built very well and built to last, except for one major disappointment. Maybe I'm being too picky but I think Festool should be ashamed of themselves for this. The bottom plates on the 850 are a disgrace, really. Those things are essentially the next step up from heavy Reynolds wrap. I tapped on them with my knuckles and thought that doesn't sound solid. Then I picked at them with my finger nail and realized I might as well be pricking on the end of a roll of tin foil. I will be amazed if they don't and really pissed if those things bend the first few times the planer takes a dive.
So from my standpoint, buy the 850. What hey what the hell do I know, Not much, You? [big grin]
Markus

 

[tbellemare]

Are you sure you got the whole planer?

I measure mine to be about 2.8mm thick.

Tom