Festool HL850 Planer Tour and Demonstration

Having had a number of requests from viewers to look at this planer I have managed to borrow one from Festool UK. It is now packed up and ready to be collected. This is an interesting machine and very well made.

[@CrookedSkew]

Thanks Peter for a good demo on a much lesser known planer. It's hard to find good, reliable information. I appreciate it!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

The HL850 is a brilliant machine and is typical of the quality that Festool produce. Cheers. Peter

[@markjarman7819]

Peter that’s on of the nicest homemade fences I have seen. Like you say super😊 regards and a very merry Christmas to you sir.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Mark, Many thanks and I wish you and your family a very happy and safe Christmas. Cheers. Peter

[@25musicmaker]

I own one for several years now and I think it's the most versatile planer one can get.☑️

[@derrycoleman4837]

I have this plane since 2004, still as good as the day I got it, best plane on the market.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Derry, Excellent. Yes, it is very well made. Peter

[@davidhull1610]

Couldn't agree more...mine has been brilliant.

[@garyhorton6652]

Thank you Peter once again inspired me to up my game. I purchased one to make some large crosses for our church. It came with the straight blade but I added the rough blade which made the crosses look as though they were hand hewed. I did add a board to the fence but nothing like the furniture grade one you made. It is a beautiful and powerful machine!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Gary, That sounds like a great piece of work you have done. Cheers. Peter

[@adamaubrey-rees9825]

Hi Peter. Couldn't help smiling at some of your mistakes, welcome to the world of electric planers. I bought the Makita cordless in the end because if any tool needs to be cordless it's a planer. I expect Festool have this in the pipeline although dust extraction still tethers you. Great video as always.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Adam, Many thanks - planers are quite power hungry and I suspect that presents a challenge. Cheers. Peter

[@meghancass3187]

I've had two corded Makitas in the last twenty five years and they are excellent planers for site work. I just bought the Festool a few days ago because a client wanted the hand hewn look on some rafters and beams I'll be installing. I hope the Festool is as good as the Makitas have been. I've never found dust extraction to be an issue during framing as I simply use a leaf blower at the end of the day. Indoor planing however...

[@jemo_hack]

Nice one Peter, I was getting impatient at @9:15... hopping to say, you can just add a pice of wood to the fence! Then you brought it up 😅 It’s a very well known by the Makita users! That beast is so nice... the rebates for hardwood is just such an awesome feature! You need side and top surface contact not to byte into the corners. Great content!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jose, Many thanks. Peter

[@jason-hh6lu]

I knew you couldn’t resist when you used that a few weeks ago. 😂 nice video Peter.👍🏻

[@NewBritWorkshop]

You got that right!

[@barryirby8609]

I have that planer I bought at a going out of business sale for a timber framing company. Don't be jealous, but I got the scallop head but not the straight one. Bought it separately. Have not used it much but I'm ready for the opportunity. Working on a big slab table and that may be my chance. Thanks for posting.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Barry, I would loved to have been able to demonstrate that. Cheers. Peter

[@andyfann01]

The extend fence idea is amazing!!!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Andy, It really helped - I did not put it in the parcel to go back to Festool just in case I get a machine for myself ! Cheers. Peter

[@MrPatdeeee]

A great Job Peter. Thank you for showing us this fine tool.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Pat, Many thanks. Peter

[@Sol-hl2rj]

Excellent review Peter. I really liked the fence you made, very professional looking - you should take orders..:) That is, if you’ll make one for the EHL 65 too, as it’s the one I have. I’ll certainly try making my own fence, it will make it so much more useful.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

It does help. Peter

[@roberthiday3342]

What do you think of the EHL 65 vs the one that Peter displayed?

[@chrisbroe3826]

Well done! I like this video! Thank you!

[@MINGLE2008]

Thank you for sharing this video.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

My pleasure

[@danthechippie4439]

Hi Peter, I thing in the case of the rebate, once you make your initial first pass you can remove the fence and simply place the planer against that edge for every other pass

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Dan, Yes, that is the way to do it. Many thanks. Peter

[@danthechippie4439]

Hi Peter, I noticed that festool make two planers, the 850 you demoed here and a smaller one. I'd love to see a comparisment video between the two. Can thd smaller one do everything it's big brother can? Cheers

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Dan, Festool UK have decided not to support any of my video work any more. So, I am unable to help. Cheers. Peter

[@danthechippie4439]

@@NewBritWorkshop hi Peter, I didn't know that, sorry to hear that they must be mad. I understand your reaction.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

@Dan The Chippie Hi Dan, I was really hoping to be able to make videos of some of their new kit, particularly the battery Kapex and the battery extractors. I have had over 600,000 views on my various Domino videos alone and over 168,000 views on my single video about the CT26. I think I have about 90 videos featuring Festool kit and many more where the kit is used on projects. When I sold my big heavy woodworking machines in 2010 I spent 3 months doing market research to look at the right way forward and concluded that Festool had the perfect concept with their "system" approach. I have never regretted that decision and still love using their tools. Cheers. Peter

[@robertfrost5020]

I find it incredible that this tool hasn't been improved in the power tool market. It is the most fundamentally important woodworking tool - there are so many easy ways to design a tool to give the convenience of a power tool with the fine finish of the hand planer. Extruded Aluminium is machined to incredibly fine tolerances - so why not have different size lengths that attach that adapt the length of the plane from a number 4 to a number 5,6,7,8 or 9? Add some brass weights that slide on the top of the extruded aluminium as well for the feel and mass? Spin the speed of the motor up to a router for finer finish? even have automatic sharpening blades - run the motor in reverse and place it on a diamond plate sharpening stone .... recalibrate the depth adjustment afterwards and you are off. Make a shooting board that doesn't wear out with extruded aluminium and you can do anything. My Grandad had a jigsaw ... to cut rough sizing ... and everything else was hand tools. With a really good plane you can make rough cuts and make fine furniture with the plane and some hand tools. Its such a fundamental tool!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Robert, It will be a cost issue adding so much more to the planer. I suspect that most people would still buy the basic kit. If you use this machine it can produce excellent results which only require a light sand to finish off. Peter

[@dixie002]

Thanks Peter..

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Glenn, Many thanks. Peter

[@dave1812]

Why does the Planer not have the Festool Power Plug?! Don't know if you can answer that question, but it seems really strange.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Not sure. Peter

[@markflajsner9944]

Just got myself this Festool HL 850 EB Plus planer, was very happy until I noticed that the platen was a little damaged, so shall send it back for a new replacement. Thank you for your helpful introductory comments. Seasonal greetings.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Oh no!

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Peter, could you please show us how to recreate the fence you made?

[@joelhuntress6736]

Hello from New Hampshire, USA I really enjoy your channel. How is this planner at making a bench top flat. Say you’ve made a bench from glued up timber and you want to plane it flat. I have arthritis and can no longer push a hand plane for more than a few strokes.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Joel, I will try and sort something out. Peter

[@66meikou]

Joel, If you have arthritis,you would be far better off finding a local millwork place and asking them it they have a wide planer or a wide panel sander. I would bet that the cost to true a benchtop would be less than 1/2 the cost of the planer. Besides, with the portable planer you'll always be guessing.

[@danthechippie4439]

I've used that plainer and ifs a great piece of kit. Don't know what it cost as it was supplied by the employer. Peter have you seen the new sys power hub that makes all your corded tools effectively cordless? Love to see you review it

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Dan, Good to hear from you again. I will see what I can find out about that new power source. Cheers. Peter

[@danthechippie4439]

@@NewBritWorkshop hi Peter, that be great, I look forward to it. I always enjoy your reviews

[@TheDzordanoBruno]

Hello Peter, i have this planer few years and i love it. But i have few questions: 1. How plane lumber that is wider than 85mm? I struglin with transitions, 2. How plane table to be flat? 3. How to use it. Just tips and tricks. Dont show us special heads:)) Thank You a take care. Bye, bye

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jiri, The wider stock is just a question of moving the machine over and accepting that there will be a slight difference in cutting depth which should be overcome by sanding. Peter

[@garvielloken3929]

nooice!

[@robbiefarr2778]

Hi Peter could you possibly look at using this for flattening stock? I know the tool isn’t really designed for this but does it perform the task? Thanks in advance, Robbie.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Robbie, I am not sure that it would be an easy technique to master but it should work. Peter

[@FierceSleepingDog]

Cool machine. But my Makita planer gets used once every 5 years or so. Can't justify one of these. But very nice....crazy expensive....but nice.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Thanks for sharing

[@iamwhojesusis]

can it be used to take gelcoat from a boat hull

[@NewBritWorkshop]

I would not think so - best to take advice from a boatyard. Peter

[@garywheeley5108]

Is this still available Peter? Seems festool have discontinued some lines ?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Gary, Yes, the UK Festool site no longer lists it but there may be a dealer with one in stock. Peter

[@oschomesolutions5457]

why do I get so much dust and chips? I have changed to a new planer and extractor ALL FESTOOL and still get a fair amount of debris?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Check that you have switched the little lever fully for left or right dust extraction. Also, try and use a 36 mm hose rather than a 27 mm hose as the machine really does produce a lot of debris. Peter

[@muttleydk]

a jobsite tool with a wire.. wow amazing.. tbh, all jobsites should have cordless now

[@NewBritWorkshop]

I am sure that it will come at some point. Peter

[@stuartnurse9390]

I think you should buy it Peter and I’ll take your Jet hh off your hands

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Thanks Stuart.

[@rolandkeys8297]

The blades for this plane are £26.40 at Axminster and not the £14.00 as stated. I really feel that you should have checked this being that you have such an affiliation with both Festool and Axminster

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Roland, You need to check the prices before typing - go to the FFX site. Peter

[@bombaypj81]

@@NewBritWorkshop keep up the great videos.

[@rolandkeys8297]

Hi peter I looked at FFX and only found blades for the Spiral blade - HW 82 SD £24.55 or strait blades. If you had said that the tool you were demoing use straight blades or the EHL65E blade £16.94 I would agree, But looking at the Festool websight the EHL65E blade is not listed as a replacement blade for this tool only the 82 series blades. The only blades that I could find that were specific for the HL850 planer were at Axminster at the price I stated of £26.40. If I am wrong I truly apologist but FFX is not a sight/ company I have ever dealt with and in your videos you have shown an affiliation with Axminster tools.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Try Anglian Tool Centre: www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk/festool-484515-hw825sd-planer-blade-82mm-pid36808.html