Bosch 6 Amp 3-1/4-Inch Planer

I was in need of a planer. I looked a several models and this seem like a good tool at a good price. I have been happy with it's performance. I'm glad that I purchased it.

I got mine used from a pawn shop for $40. Mine was made in Switzerland.

I like working with oak and refinishing old tables. A planer is a must. Some people will sand, and then sand some more, then sand again, going from 100grit, to 180grit, to 220grit. With a planer, you plane then go straight to 220grit. To get a smooth surface you can move the planer about as fast as you move a coorded circular saw through a piece of 3/4" plywood. Some people use circular orbitals, those have a tendency to leave an uneven surface. A planer always effortlessly planes flat. It's also great to remove old veneers because you can instantly plane deep. Paper thin shavings just curl up to the side if you don't use dust collection.

This model is plenty powerful enough for small jobs in oak. I don't know about all day use, planing an oak floor for example, I don't see why not, but a commercial floor sander is the way to go for that I'd say. The carbide blades mine came with stayed sharp for a full sized oak dining table top and edges. The blades can also be reversed, and sharpened. Replacement blades are sold at home depot and menards for around $10. You can adjust the depth you plane to paper thin, to about 1/8th an inch I would say. You can adjust the angle of the shoe. It's as easy as turning a nob. Mine came with a fence.

If you like fine, flat surfaces for woodworking or small floor repairs, I'd highly recommend a power planer, you don't even need a finishing sander, hand sanding is quick and painless after a good planer run.

Purchased this planer somewhere else on sale after reading glowing reviews about it.

Pros: Chip collection bag really works and it's a good size. Unit comes with spare a spare blade. Unit is not too noisy, easy to handle and the detents on the depth control are strong enough that I don't easily twist it to a new setting while using it.

Cons: After using it a few times the front shoe has twisted out of line with the body and blade so it cuts cock-eyed until I shift as I'm cutting to resting it on the rear shoe. It is currently out by approximately a 1/32"+ so there's a furrow on the right side of a cut. There doesn't seem to be an adjustment for this.

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