hand power planer purchase

[yukon cornelius]

im fixin to get a power planer. im looking in the $150 range. im leaning towards the bosch 6.5 amp 2 blade model 1594. it had great reviews online. I think my next choice would be the dewalt 5.5 amp. any ideas or other options?

[21incher]

I have a Bosch #3365 that I bought about 10 years ago that has seen a lot of use and I have had no problems with it. I originally bought it to level the face of a 4 ft high x 35 ft long wall of pt landscape timbers that had dried uneven and it ran for hours without a problem. The blades are also very easy to change.

[ScottAR]

I have the Bosch.  I use it quite a bit for finish carpentry.  The directional exhaust sold it for me.   These things make a lot of chips quickly and it's nice to point them somewhere besides all over you.  The chip bag is handy in the right place but fills up in a pass or two. 

My primary job for it is fitting doors in existing holes and scribing trim to fit irregular walls. 

Couple tips:
These things remove material way faster than say a belt sander.  Take more smaller bites as it's easy to take off too much. 

The height adjustment is on the front handle and has a lot of thicknesses listed.  I pretty much only use 1/32", 1/16" as I can count passes and keep up with how much I removed.   

[Lud]

Buy a cheapie at H.F.  30$ got me one to test and it's lasted probably 6-8 years............

[m wood]

I've got the Dewalt.  Been good to me for years.  Picked it up at an estate auction and I've worked it hard (log peeling) for many years now.  But it's your call.  They're DanG handy for multiple jobs.  I'd like a convex base planer next!

[yukon cornelius]

I located a bosch 1594 at lowes somewhat nearby. nothing is really near us. im going today and put hands on it and check it out. I have read a lot of reviews and they have all been positive. it rated #3 on some planer website I found behind 2 different Makita models. neither are in the same price range or available anywhere around us. i hope to be strippin logs tomorrow. i gotta make some money!

[LittleJohn]

I personally have the dewalt, very true about the amount of chips that thing make - and I always seem to be in the path of them.  I mainly use the planer when making outdoor wood furniture; get close with draw shave then finish with planer to get truely flat.

Like all power tools, cords are never long enough  :-\

[VT_Forestry]

I bought the Bosch 1594 several years ago and love it.  Whenever I'm looking at tools, I go Bosch first Dewalt a close second - in this case I suppose you can't really go wrong with either one  :D

[MattJ]

I have the mid-range Ryobi since I use it only from time to time.  Works well, easy to change and cheap blades that are carbide.  Directional exhaust and the kick-start feature that helps avoid gouging when starting.  Not too bad overall.

[yukon cornelius]

I ended up with the bosch and it is great! 8) it has really saved a lot of time peeling logs! im glad I got it!

[LittleJohn]

If you happen to run into large/hard knots I have found it best to cut off with a Sawzall or equivalent and then peel by hand or with planer.  Just kinda hard to knock off stubby branches and knots if they are not somewhat close to the log to start with