Electric wood planer advice?

[CageyH]

I have a few jobs lined up where a wood plane would be very useful.
I am thinking of buying an electric one to speed things up.
Does anybody have any advice on what model to get, and what to avoid?
Maximum budget is ideally €150 but I will increase it if required to get something that will give a good finish, and last a good few years.

I was thinking of a Bosch PHO 3100 at my budget. Just wondering if it is worth going for a Makita or something similar.

[struth]

Personally i wouldnt... A good hand block plane from likes of Stanley is the best option. Look after it and keep it sharp and it will last your, and your childrens lifetime.
Electric planes are only good for moving lots of wood roughly, quickly, but dont do a good job. Ive had a couple to try when i was into woodwork and tbh they caused more problems than they solved.

[CageyH]

I think I still have my father's Stanley no.4 in the garage, which will be use for finishing.
This is for removing a few MM at a time.

[struth]

Fair enough.. I guess any would do tbh....or if you want a nice tool you could get yourself a scrub plane. Lovely bits of kit those, but not cheap. I had a bosch and a b & d electric and there was little difference in practice, although the bigger bosch could remove more at a time. Trouble with them is you can produce as many hollows as you take off deep cuts that it becomes difficult to get it level again. As long as you start off the project and finish same way, and keep the speed the same it works fine for roughing.

[walpurgis]

Kevin. I'd strongly suggest looking for a planer with a blade brake. On cheap ones, the blade rotor can keep spinning silently for a while once you put the thing down and take the end of your fingers off in an instant if you grab it without thinking. Something I nearly did myself.

[struth]

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/index.php?option=shop&page=shop.product_details&product_id=306&l=uk&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&gclid=CILC_c_lhs4CFYWVGwodNVcFqQ

These aint cheap but probably the best electric one on market.

Or this

http://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/festool-one-handed-planer-ehl-65-eq-gb-110v.html?gclid=CJaUn5nmhs4CFUQW0wod1qQMFA

[CageyH]

Thanks Grant.
The first is a little more than I want to spend. The second is expensive in France.
I do like the blue Bosch equipment though. It's not designed with a finite lifetime in mind.

[struth]

No probs Kevin... My Gran always said buy cheap, buy twice lol

[CageyH]

I agree, which is why I have some thinking to do.

[Sovereign]

You will find that for what you need and in your price bracket, De Walt, Bocsh, Makita etc, etc are all very good, I have used them all. I have employed teams of carpenters for years and all of them use this these tools. Some use Festool which are commonly recognized as the best, but would not be necessary for your needs.

[karma67]

what are you doing that requires you take a few mm off at a time? doors?

[CageyH]

Doors and shutters.

I went to the shop today and bought a Bosch.
Could not justify the expense of a better one.

[Sovereign]

Doors and shutters.

I went to the shop today and bought a Bosch.
Could not justify the expense of a better one.

Bosch are excellent, and come with a whopping three year guarantee I believe

[CageyH]

Indeed it does.
One of the things that swung it for me.