I've got to tell you that I wasn't expecting much at this price, but I just didn't want to spend a whole lot of money on a portable, while my good planer is in storage, but I'll tell you I was pleasantly surprised with this sweetheart. First of all.... its not a 400.00 DeWalt, or 500.00 Grizzly so to expect this will do what they do is simply wishful thinking. Having said that, and prepared it wouldn't keep up, I was surprised to see this thing take some green 12" hemlock pretty darn good. I take about a 3/32" off at a time, and it handled it just fine! The machine was good to go right out of the box. Didn't have to adjust the knives, and by the way.... the knives are 2 sided meaning that when they dull, just flip them over. Its got a 10,000 RPM on the 2 knife cutterhead, and the motor is a 2hp 110V which is what I wanted seeing as how I don't have 220 outside.
Man, I wrestled with this for months not wanting to invest a whole lot of money but so many times I could have used some dressed lumber and just used a sander...........wow! Should have done this long ago!!!!
The boards I put through were stuck a while, but no way dry enough for any sort of trim. They are at about 18% moisture, and the planer did a fine job without straining. It was only when I tried to take of a bigger cut the machine shut down so I raised the crank, hit the reset and good to go. For what this machine can do? at the price they sell it for? Anyone can have nice dressed lumber at an affordable price.
I also got the adjustable scissor outfeed roller H5712. Is this ever slick! I can use it for the outfeed on the planer and not worry about snipe, but also for supports to the miter saw. Stock rolls with ease, and I've had some pretty heavy stuff on them. A few turns of the knob, and your at where you want to be. I really recommend having a set of these.
