Check out this older thread where I power planed a small log in order to resaw safely:

Power Planer uses

Not everyone would use their power planer for this operation but on a green Box Elder log it created a flat on the bottom (along with a spud) in less than a minute. A quick way to get the log ready for the bandsaw for a safe pass with a flat on the bottom rather than round. 3 more passes and I...

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That's great, thank you for sharing.

 

I have had a made in Switzerland bosch for … 25 yrs. Hasn’t been used a lot, but used hard when needed. I think the bearings are finally going bad. Great tool for fast flattening. IMHO this is one time a cheap tool is a good deal … you get the item close to final dim, then use a more exact tool.

 

I ended up using an old Skil brand electric planer. I'd never used one before. Dang, that thing is sweet for stock removal, I'll have to be on the lookout for one. I didn't realize how good they are for some things.

Did it look like this one? I've had it since the '80s and had no idea what they cost now until I scanned it through Ebay. (400-$800 on the average. Who woulda thunk it).

 

No, it was mostly plastic, but still older. WOW though. Thanks for sharing.

 

I picked up a used Ryobi on Marketplace for $25.00 to take the high spots off some floor joists, had planned to get new blades but what came with it worked like a charm.
Like a belt sander it takes a bit of getting used to it, can do a lot of damage in a hurry if not used properly.

 

Picked up the Craftsman flavor not to long ago...learning curve is there to use. Had a good amount of scrap both hard and softwoods. Believe I have it down now and I tell you...makes a huge difference on store bought lumber both edge and face planning. Will be picking up a benchtop planer once business gets off of the ground, but meanwhile this thing is a most needed tool in my arsenal.

 

I am pretty good with a belt sander, so I took to the hand planer pretty quickly. It was very similar in the technique used.

 

Yeah … both can quickly wreck the project if you aren’t careful.

 

The old Skil 100 models are HIGHLY prized by surfboard shapers and those who would think they were. A Skil in very good condition can get $1000 in the right setting. There are guys who specialize in cleaning them up, changing blades, bearings and making them nice and shiny.

There is another old brand (forget the name) that is the near equal, but not nearly so highly valued.

Some professional surfboard shapers keep several of them on hand.

Woodnthings and Ravenwoodworks24, the Craftsman planer I had was a miserable, gutless POS, gladly sold for $25 in an old sports bag. I think the buyer wanted the bag more than the planer, but money talks and the planer walked. There are easily a half-dozen brands out there now, not counting the Chinese copies of Makita (I had two of those, $40 vs $125). The Chinese copies were identical to the Makita model and the drive belt was interchangeable, fortunately.

 

There is another old brand (forget the name) that is the near equal, but not nearly so highly valued.

Porter Cable Versaplane was the best for trimming doors. Not sure if it was used for surfboards.

 

Rockwell 653 was second to the Skil 100. Both all aluminum construction and relatively heavy compared to today's smaller lighter planers.

Hitachi P20 was good too but discontinued IIRC.

 

I appreciate this discussion. I'm learning stuff.

 

Skil 100 on local craigslist for $700, apparently missing the label and the dust chute. It's a "spare" for some guy who shapes/shaped surfboards. Seems there were two versions which differed in the motor amperage rating. One is 5.5 amps, and that's all I know.

 

I don't know how the other models work as I have never used them. But, with the Skil-100, you can remove the chute to direct the chips to the left or right. And, I still have all the accessories that came with it when new.