A Hitachi that i've not seen before???

General Discussion
1

I’ve been trawling the InterwebgoogleMcThingy to find a new planer. I’ve been surviving with a Bosch for many years using it for work (carpentry) and decided to plow a cheap second’s blank. The results where fine, but the edges of the shoe are sharp and the depth settings are nice and clunky. Just how I prefer them when working on doors and wood in general use.

I’d be better off, and happier using something like a Clark Hitachi!! So instead of buying one from my supplier, I decided to convert a regular Hitachi to suit me!!

During my search I found this (attached photo)!!! I’ve never seen this model on general sale anywhere else and was wondering what you guys think. Whether it looks like a converted model? Or if its one that anyones using out there and its any good???

Thanks in advence…

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…hey man, I ve got one…is an F30 A

many shapers around the globe have one

have the powerful of a Skill

in the late 80 s C foam adapted some, but changed to the baby version…

yes, you can adapt it (better if you cut the front shoe), or if you have very good skills, use it normal…

3

Isn’t that the larger Hitatchi that Jim the Genius uses in the Master Shaper Series?

4

…yes

5

well I suppose

cause in an old thread J Phillips said something about he s got one of this

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If I could find one of those, I’d buy it for myself. Unlike the Clark modified Hitachi"s, the one you found has the rear handle where it should be: low, so you get a good feel for the machine. Very much like the wood bodied handplanes which are still used in Europe and Japan,… and like the Skil 100.

I’ll never understand why the current power tool engineers have decided to move the operator’s hands up higher instead of keeping them low in front and low in back like they should be for control. The higher your hands are away from the cutting surface, the more tendency the plane has to tip from one side to the other, and the more “disconnected” the operator feels from the material he’s working on.

Hey you power tool engineers, go talk to some woodworkers or surfboard shapers before you design the next power plane!

There. I got that off my chest. Waiting patiently ( or maybe not so patiently) for the next version of the Skil 100.

Doug

7

Sorry to be a bit off topic but since planers are being discussed again, I didn’t want to make a new thread. Im working with a relitively low density eps foam and looking at this planer, website from RIDGID. It won’t be used to often so i like the idea of being cordless, but im just looking for a expert opion on the blade type(would a drum bit?? im not exactly sure what they are called, be better?) and if it will work well with the eps. thanks

8

Well, if you can get it cheap, by all means do…but for woodworking. Especially if ya do post and beam stuff or similar.

How come? 'Cos it’s not the dinky 3 1/4" wide item they use for whizzing out foam, it’s a 6 incher that’ll do a nice number on a healthy chunk of wood in one shot. A similar one at http://cgi.ebay.com/POWER-PLANER-HITACHI-6-5-8-BIG_W0QQitemZ130046367531QQihZ003QQcategoryZ61574QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem , described as about 15 lbs in weight, which is even heavier than my Rockwell 653.

I could be wrong, but Hitachi currently makes a jointer/planer in about that size, ask your friendly neighborhood tool repair guy if they used the same blades for both. Otherwise, finding spare blades might be a little tricky.

Hope that’s of use.

doc…

9

Doc, I’m afraid you’re mistaking the Hitachi F30A with the Makita 1806B (which IS 6 1/4" wide and very heavy, I used to own one for carpentry work and it was definitely unusable for surfboard shaping). The Hitachi F30A is only 3 1/2" wide and 4.5 Kgs. Here is the 1806B Makita:

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…and THIS is the F30A Hitachi:

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…but you’re right about the one on E-bay, Doc. I didn’t know that Hitachi had a carpentry model. Doesn’t seem to still be on sale, at least not on Hitachi’s site. Whereas the F30A still is.

12

Thanks for all the replies guys. My biggest concer is the size of the shoe (base plate) and if i’d have to trim it down and take the edges off. The Hitachi i’ve found is going for about $200 US, thats about £115, wheras I can get a Clark Hitachi brand new for £175. I’m thinking I’d be better off with a brand spanking new one as its gonna live longer and have the warranty etc!!!

I reckon theres a market out there for a tool manufacturer to produce a foam specific planer…Maybe DeWalt should have a go??? Most of my other kit is black and yellow!!!

Mahalo… Young Jedi

13

I have the F30 hitachi modified by clark in the late 80’s. Plows foam, but heaaaavy. Deflects stringerless EPS 1#. Best thing is theres a UK company that makes bi-sided replacement blades; lighter than the solid 3-5/8" trapeziod knikes which run hot and are special order. Most guy run drums for EPS, but no getting around the machine wt. I like a light tight planer for foam…narrow and short…especially for short boards. Time and time a gain I go with the high end Bosch for feel although it has trigger safety instead of a lock and a rear bed prop which hangs on edge cuts and should to be removed. Best is it’s optional rt/lf exhaust port and ease of round hose attachment. As far as the present day Hitachi PBS20 or what ever that dog is rightly called…Its a royal screw. A Cheap machine with $300 of minimal modifications…Get real.