While rebuilding my patio house and transforming it into a media room, I had the need of a power planer to retrofit new windows and to install a wood sub floor over an unlevel concrete slab. I have had good results with Bosch tools so I opted for the Bosch 3 1/4 inch planer. (I am not a fan of cordless tools as I not good enough about keeping those machines charged; plus it is just more clutter. A corded machine is always ready and doesn't have so many loose parts to keep track of.)

I fired up the Bosch planer straight out of its box. I started on some floor joists which needed 1/16 to 1/8 of an ease. With a sharp blade this baby eats through pressure treated lumber like a gang of hungry termites. It has a quiet yet strong 5 AMP motor that turns at 18,000 RPM. This tool made the chips fly easily and cleanly. A side chip collector catches perhaps 20-30% of the chips, but this is usual and heavier chips do not easily get blown to a planers outlet. I was also able to plane some very hard Australian Jarra. This planner did a fast job of smoothing out this very hard timber.

This is not a difficult machine to use. I didn't bother with the directions, as set up is as simple as dialing in the depth of your cut with a large top selector knob. The setting could be a little easier to read, but most times, I set the tool to a thin depth and make multiple passes, checking level and I go. The unit comes with an edge guide fence, but I have not had to use it for my purposes. An extra blade is included with the tool and changing the blade is not too difficult. (Take the opportunity to blow out or dust out the tool and clean any built up gunk while you are changing the blade)

Simply put there is no better way to level out sub floor joist than a power hand planer. You can easily remove and uneven joins or long thickness boards. The Bosch power hand planer makes this type of job fast and easy. I wish other tools worked as well! If you have been waiting to get a power planer, and are reluctant to get rid of your old manual planer, this Bosch planer will make you wish you had made the switch much sooner. This tool is also reasonably priced. For occasional use it fits the bill just right.


Recommended: Yes