DeWALT 20V MAX Brushless Planer (Tool Only) EXPIRED

Agree with OP's sentiment towards Makita planers. The brushless 18v Makita planer is awesome but it costs quite a bit more than this DeWalt.

May I ask what people use these for? I thought this not good enough for (fine) woodworking and carpenters working construction don't really care about board defects like bows and stuff.

Quote from sirDavid : May I ask what people use these for? I thought this not good enough for (fine) woodworking and carpenters working construction don't really care about board defects like bows and stuff.

I've planned some subfloor to get a even lay. Bottom or tops of existing old doors that I couldn't fudge anymore. It's a great cheaters tool lol. There's a bunch of things to use it on when you have it. Fake out corners instead of sanding for a while. Anything really.

Quote from sirDavid : May I ask what people use these for? I thought this not good enough for (fine) woodworking and carpenters working construction don't really care about board defects like bows and stuff.

Had same questions until recently:
Construction part: I used a bosch planner to remove high ridges on a few deck joists before laying down deck boards. It is much more convient/efficient than a chisel or a jigsaw (tried both before pulling out the planner).

Wood working: Planned off ridges between jointed boards before fine sanding -- DIY wood worker though, I did not finish a 99.9% level table top, just need a flat table top.

Quote from sirDavid : May I ask what people use these for? I thought this not good enough for (fine) woodworking and carpenters working construction don't really care about board defects like bows and stuff.

I use them I a few different aspects.

For instance, about 2 weeks ago I got a good amount of water damage to an outside door (hurricanes) and it made one of the jams swell up horribly. And with the price of lumber, I decided to just shave it down, and reseal it until the wet season passes (around November) and/or it cools off a bit (around the new year lol).

I've also used these on my hardwood flooring. It's Florida... nothing will stop my shop flooring from welling up on the edges where my boards join... so I I figured I have 3" thick solid wood flooring, so I just flattened it, and resealed it.

Lasty, and this is my favorite use, is for when my workbench is beaten to death. I can shave off ⅛" from it every few years and make it look as good as new. Plus I don't need to redo the dogholes, or remount and of my vises. I can also use it to shave down my old leg vises, and tops of my wagon vises, and make them look as good as the day I built them.

You might think "Wait, how thick is your bench??" And then answer is what I was told when I built it "Too damn thick". Lol. But I'm a sucker for castle joints, and I want my workbench to outlast the Great Pyramid lol. (Plus I had a small mountains worth of bowling alley lanes at my disposal back then... and when you get thick hardwoods that have aged that well, you keep that for yourself.

So for fine, or finish woodworking... they are adequate for many tasks... but my $$$ maker when using them, is in making aged barn beams. (Mugatu voice) Barn beams are soooo hott right now!!! And people will throw money at you to make them. It's ridiculous... but I'm just the builder, and I make what the client wants. 😀

My name is IncompletePerfect , and thanks for coming to my TedTalk lmao!!!

Quote from UpbeatKnob539 : Agree with OP's sentiment towards Makita planers. The brushless 18v Makita planer is awesome but it costs quite a bit more than this DeWalt.

Yeah... I made the mistake of buying the brushed Mak 18v and my rotator cuff decided to let me know it didn't like it lol.

Have you tried the curved Makita? It's funnnn!!!! I'd like to get the giant makita hand planer, but I fear it'll just lead to my wife walking in on me getting pulled around like some stop motion scene from an old Red Green episode as Benny Hill music plays in the background. Lmao

Quote from sirDavid : May I ask what people use these for? I thought this not good enough for (fine) woodworking and carpenters working construction don't really care about board defects like bows and stuff.

I recently put up a plastic fence on a edge of a concrete slab. The plastic posts will slip over a 4x4 wood post but if you use a galvanized Simpson style post anchor and screws, it won't slip over. I planed about an 1/8" off two sides, then screwed thru the Simpson tie, and then the plastic post would slip over. Worked great.

Quote from johnpkelly81 : I recently put up a plastic fence on a edge of a concrete slab. The plastic posts will slip over a 4x4 wood post but if you use a galvanized Simpson style post anchor and screws, it won't slip over. I planed about an 1/8" off two sides, then screwed thru the Simpson tie, and then the plastic post would slip over. Worked great.

Can you do the same with circular saw?

Quote from hotneutron : Can you do the same with circular saw?

Possibly. I already had the cordless planer for projects.
When I did the fence project is where it came in handy when I wasn't expecting to use it.

Review:

We've had this for almost a year now. I also have their top tier thickness planer (different beast entirely, also many times more expensive and truly amazing) and can say both are 10/10 for their roles.

• Excellent grip, very well balanced
• Extremely powerful. Against white oak, it felt like pine.
• Easy blade changeout
• Brushless is a nice modern perk
• Battery in back offered no disadvantage. I had a 5aH battery in
• Cordless is SOOO MUCH BETTER compared to corded.. with a hand planer in particular, it helps so much. Some tools are just fine corded, this one is not one of those tools
• Easy on the fly depth adjustment

Price:

I got DeWalts newest flagship hammer drill, a fast charger (retails about $80), an 8aH battery, DeWalt tool bags, and this with it's guard for $300. To me that was a really really fantastic deal. If you can wait until Lowes/Home Depot roles out their sales again, you might be able to get one.. if I evenly split everything, I think this would come out to maybe $80? I cant do the math right now but regardless, even cheaper than this.

If you don't need a bundle like I got or cant wait, I truly think DeWalt in general is excellent. I see their tools all the time on YouTube channels, woodworking magazines, construction sites, etc. They're a bit cheaper than Milwuakee and not sold out to a holdings group based in China, they're still completely American owned which is such a nice bonus when going into a battery eco system. Outside of DeWalt, Makita to me is the runner up. Excellent price point, excellent quality, large lineup. Milwaukee if you want to support a Chinese based holdings group and you really like red.. and want to pay more than DeWalt (frankly their tools do look a bit nicer but not worth the trade off)

Quote from sirDavid : May I ask what people use these for? I thought this not good enough for (fine) woodworking and carpenters working construction don't really care about board defects like bows and stuff.

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Most anyplace you would use a larger hand plane.... If you set up a jig, you can even do table tops or anything too large for a stationary planer. That said, like with most sanding jobs, I have never needed one where there was not a power source and use the corded Makita that new, has become expensive. I see no reason to wear out batteries when a cord is readily available with more power.

These does not come with dust bag. Cost about $40 on fleebay. Also sold on Amazon for about the same price.

Excellent tool. I've owned this for adout a year and it is durable and accurate. Highly recommend if you are already in the DeWalt ecosystem