well i finally got a planer and i am really excited to finally start shapeing, but i was wondering… i got a PL1682 its a 6.0 Amp about 15,500 RPM at full juice. I did some mods, i removed the “clicker” tabs, i removed the “depth-stop” tab, i beveld all of the edges for smooth passes on foam. I also removed the rear shoe “stop.” I loosend the adjustment nut and made the depth adjustment move up to a whopping 1/2 an inch (impratical i know but only in 1/2 turn to max depth!!!) I was already to start shapeing HOWEVER, it is a SINGLE blade planer, not the double like most other people use. Is this ok? will i tear foam with just one blade? The other model the 1594K is only like 40$ more, so maybe i should upgrade, but i cant return my current planer. So what should i do? I am only shaping bodyboards then later along the line SUP’s with my friend, and his dad. So a shapers barrel seems like a total waste for me.
Contact forum member PeteC. He's the ''go to guy'' in my opinion. You may be able to fit a two blade barrel to it. I too have a single blade planer, and have shaped a few boards with it. Slow, but doable. Not a bad thing for a novice to go slow, when starting out.
EDIT: For clarity I have both a short bed, and a long bed Skil 100. The single blade Bosch is so I don't have to use the Skil 100's on lumber, or doors. Out of curiosity I shaped a few boards with it. As I said it was slow, and it only increased my love for the Skil 100.
A few boards; Yeah they are workable. Heavier production; No. Not reccomended. Easily modified for depth adjustment on the fly. If they had another blade they'd be a hell of a deal.
I have the 1594K, and it’s a very good planer. It’s light enough that you can support it with one hand and just turn the depth knob with the other. On any Bosch, be sure you fill the grooves in the shoe before using on foam (rough up and use bondo). The PL1682 and 1594 cutter heads probably aren’t interchangeable, they use different drive sprockets. You could have the PL1682 cutter drum modified by a machine shop to add another blade holder (slot + 2 tapped holes), but that would probably cost more than the $80 or so for a 1594. Use the single blade until your volume of work requires an upgrade.
On changing the depth of cut, never modify beyond 3/16" depth. Besides being dangerous, the motors cannot handle it.
I think i am just goin to have tO keep the one i have. Then if i jeed an upgrade its ony like 150$ to get another planer, so no big deal. Kind of an odd question but where can i shape? I mean ouside seems just outright stupid and indoors almost seems worse. So…where do i go…