What are the differences between the various models of the HL850 planer?

[jbasen]

I have an "opportunity" to buy a used HL850 planer.  Tomorrow I will be able to find out the specifics on exactly which model it is.  However, I wanted to be prepared by understanding what the different HL850 models Festool has made and what the differences are between them.  I believe the earliest model was the HL850 E and I know the latest is the HL850 E-F-Plus.  I'm not sure what came in-between.  I tried to find this information on the Festoolusa web site but couldn't locate anything.

Thanks in advance for the help

 

[semenza]

    I could be wrong about this but I don't think there are any different models, at least not in the USA. Maybe it is just different sources using some or all of the letters?

Seth

 

[jbasen]

Thanks Seth.  I wasn't aware of any changes but I haven't been following the details of the planer until now. I'm just not sure what might have changed over the years since the HL850 was introduced.  I just want to make sure I have a clear picture of what I'm possibly buying.

Thanks again.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

No different models. You can buy different planing heads and Festool used to sell a base to allow it to work like a small jointer.

 

[jbasen]

Thanks [member=6605]ScotF[/member]

 

[Phil Beckley]

Hi
No changes over the years other than the base for inverted use was withdrawn......its a great piece of kit  [smile]
rg
Phil

 

[jbasen]

Thanks [member=41214]Phil Beckley[/member]

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

The Festool USA Ekat Spare parts catalogue lists three different versions of the HL850.

488382 HL 850 E 120

201144 HL 850 E-F CAN 120

490028 HL 850 E 120

I presume the CAN in HL 850 E-F  stands for Canada so maybe it has a CSA sticker on it or maybe a different safety brochure. I'm not aware of any major change to the HL 850 other than the switch to inch scales rather than metric scales.

There have been at least three different versions of the systainer case for the planer though. The classic systainer version changed systainer size and insert at one point, and I presume the planer now comes in a T-Loc systainer.

 

[Gregor]

As far as I got it the E (elecrtonic) was the original model made be FESTO, then came the EB (with a brake) from Festool and the E-F Plus is the EB with the fence and depth stop in a T-LOC.

The B(rake) is a nice security feature as it stops the spindle quickly, the fence is a fine addon you should think about.

But even the old ones are basically indestructible, as long as the motor runs, the depth adjustment (and the lock on it) works smoothly, the head itself is ok (blades are readily available but the heads are somewhat pricy) and the base isn't that corroded or heavily scratched (stopping it from gliding over the material)... it'll do his job for years to come.

I got a used 850EB cheap, it had 8+ years heavy commercial on-site work behind it (I got it from the guy after he retired and had a chance to talk to him when picking it up) and it still works like a charm, only downside for me was that it came in a classic systainer.

 

[jbasen]

Thanks [member=53905]Gregor[/member]

 

[aloysius]

There was an HL750 years ago:  fairly basic, no electronics to speak of, with another HL850E version marketed in parallel.  The former was discontinued sometime in the late 80s/early 90s, and finally the "EB" version with electronic braking was introduced in the late 90s.

So what has been already stated is both true & untrue.  The machine has been superficially unchanged for the past 30 years+, and operationally unchanged for about the last 20.

 

[onocoffee]

I had a similar question on the HL 850 E - was watching a video and noticed his 850 had the EB designation and in the US we have only had the E. Based on the discussion above has the E USA version always had tne brake?

 

[Frank-Jan]

It's not a "European" thing per se, more a 110v thing. From what I understood from posts on this forum years ago, it's like with the TS saws, and some of the routers, the component it would take to have a brake on the 110v version of those tools wouldn't fit inside the handle.