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4.5 / 5
Reviews
"Graceful power" Submitted on October 22nd, 2008
5
5
5
3
Pros: Powerful, long power cord
Cons: Flimsy chip deflector plate
Comments:
I bought this planer to recondition about 26 8x10 Red Oak timbers for a barn renovation. There is not many other tools that compare to this except for the HEMA ZPH-30 - costs about twice as much. The Makita KP312 is worth every penny as it saved easily a hundred hours of belt sanding labor. Other contractors that have borrowed this planer from me, have been impressed by its power. It's fairly heavy but its a workhorse. It feels beefy but balanced when you heft it onto your workpiece. I've found the best way to avoid fatigue with this tool is to use your legs, not just arm strength. The tool is heavy but that weight helps keep the planer from hopping up and down or chattering along the surface to be planed. If working with timbers, shim them up on 12" blocks on the floor, and push the planer forward by leaning your legs into your elbows for a steady push forward. Otherwise, after 2 or 3 passes along a single 16 foot long 8x10 timber, you'll be exhausted. This is not a critique of the tool by any means, just some operating advice.
The blades are reversible and easy to change. Even when planing dirty wood that was dragged through some mud, I found the blades lasted as long as to be expected given the extra abuse. The machine has so much power that with sharp blades, or even blades nearing a change - it left no burn marks. You'll know it is time to change the blades when the planing becomes noisier.
Average Rating: 4.5
Features
5
Performance
5
Reliability
5
Value
3
Pros: Powerful, long power cord
Cons: Flimsy chip deflector plate
Comments:
I bought this planer to recondition about 26 8x10 Red Oak timbers for a barn renovation. There is not many other tools that compare to this except for the HEMA ZPH-30 - costs about twice as much. The Makita KP312 is worth every penny as it saved easily a hundred hours of belt sanding labor. Other contractors that have borrowed this planer from me, have been impressed by its power. It's fairly heavy but its a workhorse. It feels beefy but balanced when you heft it onto your workpiece. I've found the best way to avoid fatigue with this tool is to use your legs, not just arm strength. The tool is heavy but that weight helps keep the planer from hopping up and down or chattering along the surface to be planed. If working with timbers, shim them up on 12" blocks on the floor, and push the planer forward by leaning your legs into your elbows for a steady push forward. Otherwise, after 2 or 3 passes along a single 16 foot long 8x10 timber, you'll be exhausted. This is not a critique of the tool by any means, just some operating advice.
The blades are reversible and easy to change. Even when planing dirty wood that was dragged through some mud, I found the blades lasted as long as to be expected given the extra abuse. The machine has so much power that with sharp blades, or even blades nearing a change - it left no burn marks. You'll know it is time to change the blades when the planing becomes noisier.
