"T." wrote in message
...

Anyone here actually used one of these? Did you like it? Any
comments on using one? Depth adjustment work well, without
self-adjusting? Any problems with control?

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For what it's worth you can have my opinion. I have a Bosch with a maximum
planing width of 82 mm (a tad over 3 inches) up to that width it is great.
However, if I try to plane anything wider than that I have real problems as the
side/outer edges of the blade leave a nice sharp (although undesirable) track.
No matter how I try and no matter what depth setting I use I will get this, and
'ironing' it out is (for me) impossible. So, If I am messing with a rough 4x4
post I will end up with something that is not square and really has no flat
sides. OK for bench legs and the like but I wouldn't want to try to use it on a
table-top.

If the wood is narrower than 82mm then all is fine once you get the hang of
shifting weight as you near the end of the board. Just like a real plane really.

It is also without doubt the messiest tool in my garage. If I forget to put the
bag on (which works BTW) I will, within seconds have created a snow scene that
Disney could be proud of. (also, with a Bosch you get to choose which side the
chips/shavings fly out of, forget to check that and you end up wearing all the
snow.)

One comment about the Bosch, which may hold true for other planers, is that the
front handle is also the depth setting dial so it is possible to start a run on
one setting only to find you ended it on another.

Incidentally, I have a theory that might go some way to eliminating the track
marks on wider boards, and that is to re-shape the blades so that there is no
outer edge, again rather like a real plane (#4 smoothing type as I remember from
school). If anyone has tried this or has any comment I would be happy to learn
from it.