Which Festool planer?

[deepcreek]

I'm trying to decide which Festool planer would serve me best as a trim carpenter.

I have a Porter Cable port-a-plane that I use for doors, joining, etc but I'd like something with better dust collection.

Can anyone help me decipher out the pro's and con's of Festool's two planers?

Thanks!

 

[Julian Tracy]

I mainly use a Bosch - whatever is their largest model.  I bought a Festool HL850 last year and because I don't really do much door work, figured I'd sell it, but haven't yet arranged a deal with any buyer, so I'm on the fence about keeping it due to the ability to turn it into a small jointer which might be handy for kitchen fillers and such...

Thing is - it can't be used one handed, and that's how I mainly use the Bosch for scribing now, so having to use both hands doesn't feel normal to me.

Having said that, I saw Gary using it at an event for doors and he liked it plenty and mentioned the ability to adjust the depth as you cut with the Festool handle as a big plus, aside from the excellant dust collection.

I'd say why buy the small one - how much better can it be than the nicer Bosch models.  But the 850 may be in a class by itself.

I may end up keeping mine...

Julian

 

[speed]

i went with the '65 perfect for doors and scribing stuff, the 850 looks too big to use comfotably or 1 handed

 

[woodguy7]

I have both.  Had the 850 first then the 65.  Since i got the 65 the 850 has not been out the box.  It would be ideal for trim work.

Woodguy.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I use the HL 850 for doors also.  It takes some getting used to when you've been using the PC 9118 mod.126 for years, but like Julian said, you've got excellent dust collection and the "throttle" style depth of cut handle.  It is bigger and bulkier and you will have to modify the bevel attachment to swing the other direction for door work (posted on Gary Katz's website).  I specifically don't like the depth of cut scale.  It's not accurate to where the blade depth is, but once you have it set as a reference, you can work off that number as your baseline.  That's my only beef with it.

Oh damn!  It's September so this post doesn't count towards any goodies.  Deepcreek, you owe me a Carvex for being helpful.  [big grin]

 

[deepcreek]

Thanks for the feedback so far but I still haven't made up my mind between the two and buying both planers is not an option right now financially.  In fact, I may have to sell my PC Port-a-plane so whatever I get will be my go to portable planer.

I like the one hand operation of the smaller planer but I'm tempted by the notion of being able to use the rustic head with the larger one to rough up faux beams.  Has anyone used the profile heads successfully?  Just curious on how good they actually look.

Someone at Rockler mentioned having problems with getting the 850 to cut square and claimed it was leaving a taper.  They returned the tool to Festool and the new one did the same thing.  Thinking back on the conversation, I wonder if they were trying to use it as a surface planer instead of an edge joiner.

 

[woodguy7]

I have one of the undulating heads for the 850.  Only used it once & works fine.  I think Kreg did something with one & posted about it here.  Give him a PM & I'm sure he will share his thoughts.

Woodguy.

 

[Grant]

I use the EHL 65 all the time, its the best power tool I have ever bought!

I have a kitchen /cabinet business and when installing I am using the planer every day for trimming fillers, kickers, etc etc. I have done some carpentry work with this planer too and it handles solid timber doors really well.
Its easy to use one handed, left or right, and the increment adjustment is great.

The only downside is when planing full width MDF or timber on the face (65mm) the shavings come out pretty long and clog the hose. I use a CT 26 dust extractor with this on site.

I can plane MDF, particle board, or solid timber in a customers lounge room, and no mess..its and awesome system !

 

[tbellemare]

Thanks for the feedback so far but I still haven't made up my mind between the two and buying both planers is not an option right now financially.  In fact, I may have to sell my PC Port-a-plane so whatever I get will be my go to portable planer.

I like the one hand operation of the smaller planer but I'm tempted by the notion of being able to use the rustic head with the larger one to rough up faux beams.  Has anyone used the profile heads successfully?  Just curious on how good they actually look.

Someone at Rockler mentioned having problems with getting the 850 to cut square and claimed it was leaving a taper.  They returned the tool to Festool and the new one did the same thing.  Thinking back on the conversation, I wonder if they were trying to use it as a surface planer instead of an edge joiner.

I think you know RobZ. If so, you might want to talk to him. He had an old PC planer that he really liked. I talked to him recently about how he is growing fonder of his relatively new HL 850.

It has an angle unit so you can use it for doors, the various rustic heads for effects, and is a super-smooth beast. It also has a bench unit to make it a mini-jointer as was pointed out.

I've never had any problems with mine except when jointing some 1x pine with a 27mm hose. It clogged the hose. Oh, and I also made a HUGE mess once because I didn't attach the hose properly. It spewed all through a big stack of stuff. I call Operator Error on myself for that.

Tom