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This is a second that I've purchased in the last 20 years. Top qualityand extremely useful to trim surfaces like doors, shims, other woodwork.Would not do without one.
Purchased in May 07, love the planer, well balanced,precise depth adjustment, makita makes top shelf tools, amazon has unbelievable deals on high quality merchandise. I rarely buy tools elsewhere.5 stars.Tool was priced 30% higher at competitor. Used the extra money to buy the starrett protractor another gret deal.
It was smooth and no tear out. I bought this planner after first buying a "bargain brand". I don't know if it's the very same model as then, but they still make a Makita sander that looks like mine and it's going on 18 years old too. In fact, it planed so quickly, that I wanted to use it more to get a better feel for the tool, but the job was already done. Shallow passes repeated is usually best for a smooth finish, but I take larger bites when I'm planing for rough dimentioning. I like Makita quality.
The carpenters I knew, used to plane doors to fit after the house had settled and the doors started sticking. I first came upon this planer on a construction site over twenty years ago. I use it primarily to pre plane boards that have a twist or have excessive bow, before feeding into my surface planer or jointer. They seem to get the design right and stick with it. This planner worked great right out of the box. The depth of cut adjustment will determine wether you take a lot or a little off on one pass.
Oh, by the way, the very reasonable price makes this planer an excellent choice.
Certainly not the planer's fault. A true pleasure to use, and a great buy at the price. For cleaning up pieces quickly or removing material when doing remodel work, alterations or funky projects, it has proved invaluable. I got the post at a local lumber mill for pennies on the dollar because it was crooked and a little corkscrewed. The only thing I would say may be an issue is the side cover. The best remedy would be to not drop your tools from any height onto concrete. I am sure it says this in the manual someplace.This machine performs flawlessly.
Adjustments are easy, the surfaces are perfect, and the unit is constructed solidly. I have had this planer for over 3 years now, and it has been a great tool. I most recently I used the machine to straighten a 14 foot 6x6 post for use in building a loft in my shop. I am considering buying a larger unit to do different tasks, but will keep this one handy. I used to have problems getting straight cuts and joints, and I used the planer to clean them up (I am a lot better at this now, thanks to some tips, practice and better tools). With a little time and a little artistry, I got the thing straight enough to use as a support post. I have seen it break on other planers of the same model. I suspect it is better to replace a cracked cover than to risk having a dented metal cover contact and foul up the mechanical internal parts it is supposed to protect.
This breakage occurred from falling off a workbench onto a concrete floor, landing on the cover. I am very glad I bought this machine, because I love using it, and I keep finding things to use it for. I've never heard anything but praise for the little Makita planer. I regularly use the machine in its deepest depth setting, and it is always more than capable of cutting without bogging. Not bad for a modest little 3 1/4" hand planer.
I am not sure what Makita can do about this issue. I have used the unit to correct measurement mistakes and "adjust" features on work pieces and other projects. I work a lot with scrap, recycled, and found lumber, and have never lived in a house that was square anywhere. I have had absolutely no surprises or failures with this machine. I can also attest to having witnessed this machine in use at many professional jobsites and in many shops.
I have never had any problems with this unit, and highly recommend it. It is versatile, well priced, and dependable. I do not anticipate having to purchase another unless this one is stolen. It is the best at what it does, and I have found it capable of doing way more than I anticipated.
I have made a mountain of wood shavings with this baby, and it has proven to be tough and a true performer. That said, I would not hesitate to buy this unit again. I have used it to plane crooked doors, straighten lumber, remove excess material from a host of materials in many different applications. This planer has helped me fine tune constructed pieces to fit in the weird places they need to.
I use it occasionally, so I am confident it will last me forever. This is a great tool.
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