Well guys, in my searches of the darkest, dankest corners on flea markets, I have found a treasure for those of you wanting a planer for the entry level shaper. It is another Hitachi knock off, this is by the “American Tool Exchange”, a chinese product for $19.99. A far cry from the most desired Skil, but for the beginner this is the tool. If you never shape another board in your life, you won’t feel like you blew a grand on a tool that you couldn’t use. Jim the Scrounger