Replies

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Mar 20, 2007 06:30am | #1

   I am also interested in what Gary has to say about this.

   I have one-- a Bosch -- and am quite pleased. However, I use it for carpentry, not cabinet work. For example, I have an old barn where repairs have to be scribed and nothing is standard. I use the power hand plane to shape and fit boards and timbers -- and also to create angled window sills, thresholds for doors and the like.It is fast and effective for that kind of work.

   I used one to try to plane some oak lumber once, but it is very hard to create even thickness. I have used the Bosch to edge plane some other oak that had already been through a thickness planer. I had cut some downed bur oak on the property and am making a table with a pegged plank top and birch legs and stretchers in the bark. It worked wonderfully for that. I clamped four boards together and planed the resulting wide surface flat. However, they are NOT jointed. For the use to which I will put them, jointing is not necessary.

   Joe

1. 
   Dan18700 | Mar 20, 2007 08:48pm | #2

   So you consider it not so useful for fine work.  Would you say then, it might be used as a scrub plane?

   Thanks,   Dan

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Mar 20, 2007 09:35pm | #3

   Dan:

   Really, I do look forward to Gary's take on this, because while I am certainly a user, I am no expert. 

   That said, I think it might very well be possible to do some reasonally fine work with one if you have a lighter touch than I.  My Bosch has a very good depth adjustment that allows very fine cuts.  The only real problem I have had is in experimenting with planing wider boards with it.  It is not long enough to substitute for a jointer, and too narrow to make a really efficient planer.  It does very good duty as a scrub, and pretty good service as a smoother although the surface you get with rotating knives willl never be as clear and smooth as one from a traditional hand plane.

   I have some very old rough walnut that I have been thinking about doing something with.  I will use the Bosch as a scrub and smoother to see what I have before I make more plans. Depending on the use, and how it comes out, I might accept that surface, or I might not.

   Joe

1. 
   Dan18700 | Mar 21, 2007 04:50am | #4

   Thanks for your thoughtful insights.  They will give me a head start, and keep me from reinventing the wheel in this matter.

   Dan

2. 
   user-148830 | Mar 21, 2007 07:11pm | #5

   Dan,
   The first time I saw a power planer, the guy who was demonstrating it had only a thumb on one hand. This kinda threw me off my feed for awhile especially when it came to power planers.

   I know some carpenters love them for trimming door edges and they can do a nice job when the grain is wacky and prone to tear out. But nothing beats a hand plane for the quality of finish, smoothness, and sheer satisfaction of using a well tuned hand plane.

   It's always a question of why you're building: for money or for love or some mixture of both depending on the day and how late the job is. Best of luck. Gary