Uses for the EHL 65 Planer

[fifo28]

Hey guys, making my first post!

I have a number of Festools and obviously love them.  I am considering purchasing the 65 Planer for some windows I need to install and I believe the planer is the only realistic tool that will do the job.  But I was curious what you guys used the planer for.  Seems like the standard response is doors.  Just curious if there were others.

Thanks

 

[johnnyinnb]

I build stairs and use it to trim treads and risers to fit, some times the nosing needs to be reduced to match the thickness of a laminate floor, the rabbiting edge is good for this. When I do the odd kitchen install the toe kicks need to be scribed to the floor, fillers on cabinets fitted to not so straight walls. I`ve used it to thin down a piece of plywood riser, normally makes a lot of dust but the ct22 takes care of that.

 

[paul_david_thomas]

I don't really use my FESTOOL planer that much. I've got an old Makita one that I don't mind battering at things.

I do have the table mount for my 65, which is useful when I wish to take a couple of mm of thin bits of timber - it's easier doing this than hold the timber AND the planer and swipe them together (and loose your finger).

I do find a little snipe when doing doors - perhaps I'm not holding it correctly ?

 

[jmbfestool]

Everything lol  it's must have tool you cant be with out a planer.  I put a round on a window board and a oak tread once with my electric planer. With bit of help of a block plane and sand paper of course. Also i had to do a secret door and i had to put a large angle on it i did it with my planer.

Jmb

 

[Holzhacker]

What to use a planer for? Anything. Anything you might use a jig saw or belt sander for. I would have a hard time working without a planer. Doors, windows, scribing fillers and trim for nice accurate fits, bottom of thresholds so the top meets even across the width along the tile butt seam, top of risers at a slight angle so they butt nice and tight to the tread, etc. You name it.
As mentioned on a previous tread my old trusty Bosch planer died and I needed a new planer. After checking out the 65 and 850, I bought the 850. Two major things wrong with the 65 for me. The 850 is now mounted in the bench unit and clamped to my MFT. I ordered parts and fixed my old Bosch so it is still the field workhorse.
I don't like the 65, but other Foggers love it and swear by it, so I would say go check it out firsthand and see what YOU feel, instead of just ordering online. For that size planer I'd rather spend $120 on the Bosch. However the 850 kicks the crap out of the Bosch.
Have fun shopping. [big grin]

 

[grobin]

The problem with a hand power plainer is that it is basically only considered for edge joinery.  But, it can be better than a thickness plainer for flattening boards or removing warp.  Frankly I find the balance a little funkey compared to the 85. I have used both courtesy of a friend.  But I got a woodriver No6 hand plane cheap and now use that. It is a lot more convenient and flexible. These planers are for folks who do field installs of 10s of doors a day not really for general work nor for folks that do windows per week.

 

[jmbfestool]

The problem with a hand power plainer is that it is basically only considered for edge joinery.  But, it can be better than a thickness plainer for flattening boards or removing warp.  Frankly I find the balance a little funkey compared to the 85. I have used both courtesy of a friend.  But I got a woodriver No6 hand plane cheap and now use that. It is a lot more convenient and flexible. These planers are for folks who do field installs of 10s of doors a day not really for general work nor for folks that do windows per week.

What About fitting a window? You might need to plane the window to get it to fit.

Jmb

 

[grobin]

Sure but folks only think doors.  As I pointed out these hand power planers can do a lot more.

Frankly the hand planes are more convenient and easier, unless you are a contractor who needs to do ή doors or windows a day.  As I pointed out there are a lot of things that can be done with power hand planer but equally with a regular hand plane.

 

[justinmcf]

i had a friend use the festool ehl65 planer for the first time today.

he has been in the building game for 30 years.
his initial reaction to the festool planer was wow!
how much will you sell this planer for!

after 10 hours use...
his feedback is pretty similar to my own experience.
yes, it is a beautifully balanced machine.
yes, it is quiet.
yes, it leaves a very nice finish.
but the one thing he was not happy about is that the blade is too narrow.
65mm is not enough.

i personally believe that festool could design a planer which is larger than the ehl 65 and smaller than the hl850.
festool has a small and large planer.
bring on the medium sized planer!

justin.

 

[jmbfestool]

i had a friend use the festool ehl65 planer for the first time today.

he has been in the building game for 30 years.
his initial reaction to the festool planer was wow!
how much will you sell this planer for!

after 10 hours use...
his feedback is pretty similar to my own experience.
yes, it is a beautifully balanced machine.
yes, it is quiet.
yes, it leaves a very nice finish.
but the one thing he was not happy about is that the blade is too narrow.
65mm is not enough.

i personally believe that festool could design a planer which is larger than the ehl 65 and smaller than the hl850.
festool has a small and large planer.
bring on the medium sized planer!

justin.

I agree!  The 85 is way to big to hold with one hand I have tried and i did manage but it was a struggle. Clamping a work piece is the best way to use the 85 or have in the bench setup. The 65 is so light I love it so easy to use with one hand. I would like it if they did a wider one but to keep the weight down I wouldn't mind if it only planed 2.5 mm.

Jmb