2016 planer options

General Discussion
1

I’m in the market for a planer, and find the current options a bit less than optimal.  Would love to get some of the wisdom of the crowds here to find the best, reasonable option. As far as I can tell these are the options:

 

 

Hitachi p20st mod

Good: cheapish, easy to get, parts are easy to find

Bad: lots of distain for them on this forum, people claim the build quality is “cheap”

Bosch 1594k mod

Good: people here rave about it, stock parts (blades) are reasonable to find

Bad: a bit pricey (a couple hundred off of a Skil 100), 1594k is no longer produced, mod parts are one of a kind, hard to replace if broken

Skil 100

Good: the classic, well known, “everyone should have one”, etc

Bad: not cheap, almost all need work, parts are a bit harder to find, finding one in good condition isn’t always immediatly possible

Accurate Planer (eg - a modern Skil 100)

Good: solid build, beautiful tool

Bad: OMG expensive, the one shaper I know who has one has had to have it repaired multiple times in a year, when I used it I found it to be way too heavy on anything other than longer boards.

Unmodified planer

Good: so cheap!

Bad: once you use a modified planer you can’t go back

So what do you guys think given those options? If you had to buy one today what would you choose and why? I wish I could find a mod’ed Hitachi p20sb, love that planer.

And while I’m here, anyone have a moded Hitachi p20sb they are looking to sell?

 

2

Hi, 

Hitachi P20 is a excellent planer for shaping if modified it: best for shortboards  and funboards, a little too small for longboards.

What do you think about Hitachi F30??? I love it when I shape longboards!!! 

Skil 100 is uncomparable with all plastic tool of today. It’s like compare a '60 big american car with ibrid Toyota Auris… not good, not bad, but too different. But now for city I use Toyota…

Accurate planer: I in my dreams every night as a fetish object but to much $$$$$$$ :frowning:

Unmodified planer: argument blasphemous!!!

I don’t know Bosch planer, I never used it…

3

The Bosch 1594k is available from CPO tools $159 plus shipping , it can be modified by Pete  ( on Sways ) to exceed all your planing needs $ (ask him )  plus shipping .

4

Any aussie people know of options, “Shapers” have modified ones here that for 600 plus last time i looked;(

5

Skate - half the cost of those planers is for the grit barrel. - and they are unmodified (atleast the otf depth)

6

2 Skil 100’s.

1 Bosch with all Pete’s mods.

1 Rockwell.

2 Hitachi P20"s

1 Craftman (my first power planer).

Only use my Skil’s and the Bosch. Skils are the workhorses. 1/4" cuts if needed. Shaped 4 boards this last weekend with my Bosch. So smooth. No rips, and right to the fine sandpaper.

For the money and quality I say go with Pete’s Bosch.

Here’s my review.

http://www.swaylocks.com/forums/bosch-shaping-planer-my-new-blue-shaping-tool

7

Barry, thanks for the notes. I sent you a private message about those two p20s you mentioned you have but don’t use. Let me know if you don’t get the message, I’m interested!

Best,

Nate