Guys, I have checked the archives for information regarding planers and ended up buying a Bosch (model pho 2582 - that’s in Australia don’t know if you have same models in the US or other parts of the world). Anyway I was disappointed to find that it had a safety switch unlike my old Towa which had a button on the side of the trigger that you could push in to hold the trigger on ie. you don’t have to squeeze the trigger while planing. I decided to try and modify the switch (also noticed other posts in the archives talking about these safety switches - I think some guys even tape up the switch so its permanently on). I don’t know if this is old news to you guys but I found that if you take the switch mechanism out of the planer and pull off the cover plate with the safety button on it (held on by clips) pull out the button and spring and turn the button 180 degrees and put it back in the switch works like my old Towa planer ie. you can lock it on by pressing in what was the safety switch with the trigger depressed. No need to tape it up. Hope this helps.
…Yeah Russ!!!Thanks for the tip!I’ll go do that right now.I’ve had mine taped since I bought it.I’ve also changed my depth control knob(see in the photo archives under,“tools” check out my hitachi’s depth control knob ,same thing)on my Bosch…Thanks again!Herb
Herb - yeah I’ve seen those and always wondered does the depth control lever turn independently of the front handle? I’ve just taken out the stop inside the current knob so I can get about 3.5 - 4mm depth of cut. Otherwise haven’t modified that part yet but will do when I can scavenge the right parts. Thanks Russ. Let me know if spinning the the safety button works. It looked to me like Bosch had molded the parts so you could go either way depending on which way you installed the button in the first place.