Not too long ago I decided to get a planer and mod it. I started this post to document my Hitachi P20SB from start to finish. I would love to also see other peoples DIY planers or any planer in general! Its funny how I now look at planers in almost the same way I would look at a beautiful woman or a bad ass car. A couple weeks ago I purchased a Bosch 1594k after the reccomendations of others and research I did on my own. I talked to PeteC quite a bit and will probably still have him do the mod but I really wanted to try it myself. I have never done anything like this before but I have always been a tinkerer. I am also creative, persistant and fiercely dedicated to perfecting whatever I put my mind to… so I figured I could do the same with a planer, even if I have never done anything like this before.
I found a new Hitachi P20SBK for a really good price and decided to purchase it. I remembered seeing some videos that Brian Pavlick had made on YouTube and went back and watched them over and over until my Hitachi arrived. Brian has made it possible for someone like me to attempt modding the planer on my own and the fact that he does it for so little money was a huge plus! Most of what I am doing is exactly what he shows in his videos. I am just throwing a little of my own ideas in there also. He uses PVC for the knob, which I also used, but I went to a small family owned hardware store and found some pieces that Lowes didn’t carry. I HATE Lowes, so I was stoked to find the pieces there and would rather buy from a family run buisness anyway. Brians idea was great and gave me the freedom to elaborate on what he already accomplished. I also rounded off the shoe and have since filled the groove with 5 mintute epoxy. Now this is where I might be crazier than most. I actually spent the better part of a day grinding and sanding and then WET sanding my shoe and base plate! I know I didn’t have to go that crazy but like I said before, I love this stuff and want it to be perfect. There is also a pic of the handle cut off and I will be doing that almost exactly like Brian did. I am sure they are all a little but different. I wanted mine to sit a little more vertical and cut it just a tad bit longer than he reccomends. Actually, mine looks to be more like the size of his original modded Hitachi.
Anyway, this is what I have so far. I will be posting more as I get more done. I would love to see what everyone else might be working on and welcome the comments. I know I am not the only person out there that is planer crazy, which is why I am dubbing this the “Planer Porn” post.
One of our Shapers up here just got his Bosch back from Pete. He’s pretty happy. If you can find one of those still on Anazon, Ebay or the shelf at Lowes. Buy it. They are out of production. Lowel
Out of production. Whatever is still out there on the Internet; Amazon or Ebay, various tool outlets that offer factory reconditioned. What’s left on the shelf at Lowes. That’s it.
Oh and there is no comparison between a $99 Hitachi and a Bosch of similar valu(ie $$$). I’ve used a Hitachi plenty while on Maui. I would just as soon have a Harbor Freight.
I bought every Bosch 1594K that Lowes in Orange Co. had in stock (about 1 per store) last Nov. They checked on reordering and Bosch told them the model was discontinued. Unfortunately, the replacement model (PL2632K) doesn’t fit the kits. However, there are lots of 1594’s now being sold on Amazon and other online tool outlets. For the past two months though nobody had them, so Bosch must have just released more warehouse inventory. Online sources only though.
The new PL2632K does have 2 blades, but it’s only available for the US market. Besides Hitachi, the only other 2 blade planer available worldwide is the Makita KP0810. After almost 7 years, I’m still working on a conversion for that one. After the slow sales of the the Bosch kits though I’m being cautious on the investment. I do like the Makita it’s very powerful and has a sliding shoe, but that Bosch 1594 is almost indestructible.
The Bosch 1594 kits are only available now as conversions, but the kit has been reduced to ridiculously cheap ($120 USD) for something entirely precision CNC machined from delrin and aluminum billet. A lot easier than the pvc pipe / corks / shaft collars / faucet parts / etc. needed to cobble the green one. It’s all about what you have when you’re done converting and how long it will last.
The purpose of the Bosch conversion was to accompany the Skil on bottom contours and maybe rail bands, and to provide a quality factory-produced planer for non-pro shapers who can’t afford a Skil. The objective of the Makita effort is to provide a planer to those outside the US who don’t have all the options we do here.
Here are some more pics of the Hitachi. Its actually almost done at this point but i dont have any pics of it yet. I’ll post them later this week. I also added a pic of the waves here in NJ yesterday. It was firing! I am also a photographer. You can check out my daily feed of NJ goodness at @dancirlin on Instagram. You’d be suprised how good it gets here. Cheers
Lookin’ good. The waves and the green machine. The handle reposition is a needed improvement on the stock planer. Like I said; used 'em alot. Adequate.
I’m in Central Jersey. Seaside area. Yeah, it was firing. The wind switched around 10am and it went from sloppy waist high to well overhead peaky bombs! The best I’ve seen in a while.
Still needs the steel stock for stability but overall it’s done. I’ll post some more pics after its together with the new bearings. Anyone know a good place to get bearings? I know Foam EZ sells kits but there are plenty of great companies out there that I am sure have better alternatives for the same amount of money or less. I way. I’m in no way putting them down. Let me say that I love the Foam EZ site and will continue to use it. I just would like to know what others out there might have used besides their kit. So if anyone knows of a good alternative bearing let me know.
