Harbor Freight Planer Review | 4R NORTHWEST

My Review of the Harbor Freight Thickness Planer.
I would definitely recommend this planer, its a great tool at a great price point and harbor almost always has at least a 20% coupon to apply to your purchase.Coupled with their 90 day return policy, you can't go wrong!
Thank you for watching!
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[@davidkitchens3404]

*Been waiting😉 to get one for awhile **MyBest.Tools** Love it and easy to use. Braced pieces and ran thru on edges. Solid😄😄product. Still using my hand💯 planer.*

[@colemahaney4208]

Hate the music ,would rather here the planer

[@Flipping_Assets]

Price?

[@bobbg9041]

Anyone have a Model number on this, Mine was a returned unit, I didn't get the owner's manual safety lock for the switch or magnets I have an idea but not sure how to change the blades! I use a safety lock from a differnt switch works fine. Wile you paid 250 ish for your's I gave 100 bucks for mine. it didn't have a box or anything. Harbor freight used t keep the information online but they took this one down. I'll go one further I also own a belsaw that's 50+ years old I can buy parts and download any information about it still.

[@ragnar1439]

Y

[@javierbiaggi3072]

I bought one of this from a friend who was a contractor for $50. He got it new from HF 7 years ago. It is all bang up and abused in an unbelievable way; rust everywhere the base plate looks like " hammered"?, old knives but man he turn this babe on and planned beautifully with an imperceptible snipe despite the abuse. My o my I can belive what came out if that rusty, all bang up, piece junk, good for an anchor. I am restoring it to make me proud and to thank him for the service it rendered to that ugly cruel man that treat it like that. This piece of "HF junk" as many refer to it in this and many other reviews is a jewel on its own right. I wish manufacturers design and construct good machinery in a very accessible price. Must of us will never get in our dreams a middle price machinery for our modest shops even some of us excel in the craft so I thank Harbor Freight for making us machinery that we can afford. Now they change their policy and we can't buy anything from them from Puerto Rico so we don't have any access to their products nor spare parts but It was great while it lasted so many of us pray and hope the policy change soon. ¡Happy dusting to everyone!

[@noblefishing7203]

I’m not Knocking Harbor Freight. What I’m saying is that the idea of buying a Mite saw or Table saw sounds like a win with its attractive low price. However , as much as these tools start out ok , they don’t last long. To each his own . I’ve purchased a Dewalt table saw and a Dewalt Mitre saw from The Home Depot, and now I have power tools that do their job .on a consistent basis.

[@stoneyj1a1]

How's it working today??

[@cameronwong7608]

great review... pretty much sealed the deal for me that I'll be buying one of these this weekend. just liked and subscribed!

[@4rnorthwest]

Thanks so much I'm glad this review was a help! A couple of things I wish I'd have mentioned in the video: This is not a finishing machine, it is a dimensioning machine. though it does its job well some snipe is almost unavoidable on all entry level machines and finish sanding is required. That being said you can run slightly longer material through than is intended for use so you can cut off the ends of the board where there is any snipe. a little tip, on most material not using the machines full width capacity can be fed through at an angle so the blades get used across the length of the blades, this will help mitigate snipe but more importantly it will insure even wear across the whole blade length instead of just wearing down the blades in the their centers. So have fun and don't forget your 20% coupon too! cheers.

[@colesutra]

Can you confirm or comment on the validity of an anti-snipe technique I've seen several woodworkers use when planing several boards for a project? I've seen several woodworkers run boards in parallel with each other (as width allows), slightly offset lengthwise. IE: start feeding one board in, let the board get halfway done, start feeding the next board in alongside the previous, and so on. An out-feed table of some type is usually used. The main idea being that it keeps the rollers and cutting body from deflecting at the beginning and end of each board, barring the first and final boards fed through the planer (sacrificial boards, I'd assume). I realize the if you're doing only one or two boards, this isn't a useful technique, but if there's any credence to it, I can see it being handy for jointing faces of scrap or reclaimed 2x4's for turning them into a butcherblock workbench.

[@4rnorthwest]

heres several ways to mitigate snipe. snipe will usually occur within 2-3 inches on either end of your board. the easiest way is to account for this by allowing a given amount of sacrificial length in the material you're planing to thickness. that being said thats what these tools are, thickness or dimensioning tools not finishing tools so sanding to your desired finish also helps a great deal. another method is to run another board directly behind the first board you're feeding in. this will keep the feed rollers at height as they move off your primary board immediately onto the following board. few machines are going to be perfect under the $1000 mark and even then... but this machine with the a fore mentioned techniques does a fine job and for under $300! one should be so lucky to get into a thickness planer at all for that price! good luck and have fun. Thanks for watching!

[@mattedwards4533]

I got one to do one job. I didn't think it was worth much. Strangely the thing won't die? I have had it for years and it has well paid for itself. It is worth the money and then some.

[@mmgross144]

Do you have any vids on your Ryobi table saw?

[@deltapine1]

I don't understand reviews like this. You took it out and tried it and good to go! Why not do a review after a few months of good use to see how it holds up over time and a fair amount of abuse?

[@georgeterry8685]

I agree

[@4rnorthwest]

I agree with you too! BUT this was an unboxing after all. There are other videos showing use after months or years of abuse. The machine is an entry level machine the likes of base model Ryobi, Dewalt, Wen, and Grizzly ( actually its an exact copy of the Grizzly coming out of the same factory in china with a different paint job! In closing, Keep your blades sharp and your cut depth under 1/16" per pass and it will last for years! Thanks you watching!

[@107retired]

For the large majority of us doing small to moderate home projects, an unboxing review like this is part of overall pre-purchase research and is a very valuable part of the larger process. Give the rest of us a little more credit!! These videos are invaluable and appreciated.

[@Timinator62]

I've had mine for about 4 years, I've planed everything from Pallet Wood to huge slabs of Walnut, works just like it did the day I bought it....

[@mmgross144]

Great video and music! Thanks for showing snipe control and giving the tool a fair shake! I think that I'll subscribe!

[@4rnorthwest]

Thank you so much for watching! People love complaining about tools from harbor freight. But It’s like I always say, 9 times out of 10 it’s operator error and the tool is just fine.”😂 These are entry level tools that make the barrier to entrance in woodworking affordable! Why spend 2 or 3 times on heavy duty equipment if you’re a hobbyist or just starting out and not sure if it’s something you’ll stick with. That’s silly! Tools are like religion really, their are those that are extremists and zealots and believe anyone that disagrees with them should burn in hell! The. There’s the rest of us, we’re nondenominational and are happy if it works and happy to work with it to make it work. Thanks again!

[@4rnorthwest]

Thank you so much for watching! People love complaining about tools from harbor freight. But It’s like I always say, 9 times out of 10 it’s operator error and the tool is just fine.”😂 These are entry level tools that make the barrier to entrance in woodworking affordable! Why spend 2 or 3 times on heavy duty equipment if you’re a hobbyist or just starting out and not sure if it’s something you’ll stick with. That’s silly! Tools are like religion really, their are those that are extremists and zealots and believe anyone that disagrees with them should burn in hell! The. There’s the rest of us, we’re nondenominational and are happy if it works and happy to work with it to make it work. Thanks again!

[@DeadZone318]

Great review, thanks!

[@4rnorthwest]

DeadZone318 well thanks for watching! I don't believe they make this same model any longer BUT their replacement made by Bauer seams to be every bit as good as this one you've seen here. The standard HF coupons don't apply to the Bauer brand tools but at less than $300 for a solid lunch box planer and all the tricks to using them you can't go wrong.

[@cutt1293]

Just found your YT channel. Great review, I think I'm going to grab myself one of these. Also, you've got a new subscriber to your channel.

[@guyh.4553]

Thanks for the review. I've been hemming and hawing on getting one of these vs a handheld planner. I think that this is the way to go for what I want to do. I love the "infeed & outfeed" tables! I like the new Bauer brand. Do you know if HD/Rigid has a planner other than WEN? Great job!

[@4rnorthwest]

Guy H. Well I’m glad this old video is still helping folks out there! So here’s a little breakdown: this and other brands with a (more or less) direct drive motor are all entry level machines commonly referred to as “lunchbox planers”. Some have slightly different superficial features but all perform the same task. The difference in these entry level machines is some businesses can afford better quality control at the factory. What does that mean? Simply put, these machines all come out of the same 2 factories in the major manufacturing districts of China (which isn’t a bad thing, actually one could argue it’s a good thing!) So budget brand names the likes of Central Machinery, Bauer, Wen, etc. saves you a bit on the name brand price tag. Now the same size machines labeled Ridgid, Porter Cable (available at Lowe’s), Dewalt (owned by Black & Decker), are popular trade names who’s popularity is reflected in the price tag! Which also means they have to stand behind their product. Which in turn means they will spend more on quality control at the end of a product line at the factories! Which costs money. Which means a more expensive machine. Customers might call this extra cost a “piece of mind”. THAT being said (some breakdown huh) with the money saved at HF and their 90day return policy its hard to find a reason not try them out! Hope that helps a bit. Thank you for watching!

[@A10egress]

Great video. Now I think I will have to get one. they are cheaper then the others. How has it lasted over time?

[@4rnorthwest]

Thank you! and thank you for watching. This model is actually no longer carried by HF and has since been replaced by a different manufacturer name, Bauer. (its the same machine with a different paint job BUT it now comes with fold down tables!....thats a good thing.) Ive since change several machines in my shop having little to do with quality so much as trying different machines as my needs change. However Ive seen this machine i use for over 5 years with multiple blade changes and it hasn't skipped a beat! From everything I've researched concerning the Bauer planer now carried at HF it is a great little planer! Also they commonly have coupons for this planer dropping the price by $50! at $250 for a "lunchbox" planer and their 90 day return policy you can't go wrong! I'll tell you like I tell most people, 9 times out of 10 its operator error and the tool is just fine.

[@bigpaul5528]

4r northwest, great video thank you. I am about to set up a shop to make pallet furniture and this would be a great planer for that purpose. Quick question, if you set up a jig on the entrance and exit to keep the wood upright, could you plane to sides of pallet boards?

[@4rnorthwest]

thank you Im glad you enjoyed! to answer you question, in theory yes. Your talking about running the pallet boards on edge grain which yes the planer can handle without incident BUT i wouldn't recommend it as snipe will become an issue which would most certainly interfere with edge joining your boards. I plan on doing a video soon on cutting a straight joinable edge on longer uneven or bowed reclaimed material such as pallet wood which is NEVER straight! So honestly you"d be better off face grain planing keeping in mind that this is a dimensioning tool and you"ll still be finish sanding. On thicker material you"ll be able to run on edge grain, something in the 2" plus range. even then for me I rip join all my uneven stock on one of my radial arm saws set up for ripping against a 16' C channel fence. ANYWAY! hope that helps. I believe this planer is being phased out for the new Brand they're carrying which Bauer and in my opinion is a better machine. good luck and thanks for watching!

[@bubba99009]

Did you compare this one to the Bauer branded thickness planer they sell for a few bucks more? Not sure if there's anything there that justifes the extra $$ or not. www.harborfreight.com/15-amp-12-12-in-portable-thickness-planer-63445.html

[@4rnorthwest]

im afraid im not familiar with that make/brand of machine. It's also sold at Harbor Freight? I visit my local HF frequently and have not scene such a model. what area are you in and which HF are you visiting? you've peeked my interest and I'll have to look into it and see what this other option is that we"re dealing with. Thank you for watching our little review and I'll let you know what I find and offer my two cents on the matter!

[@4rnorthwest]

Hey there bubba99009, I had a chance to check out that Bauer thickness planer you asked my opinion about. Apperently some of the Central Machinery branded item offed at HF will be changed over the Bauer brand equivalent. The difference in this case are a few as follows that I noticed; This new model will receive up to 6" thick material. the CM model only handles up to 4". This is a 12.5" wide model and the CM model is I believe 12". minor half inch difference. The Bauer model has folding in feed out feed tables that are adjustable. the CM model does not have these. The Bauer also rises on two center threaded posts connected to the height adjustment handle. The CM model actually operated on all four posts which were threaded! there has been no major advantage Ive noticed to either design. The Bauer does come with several what I would consider uprgrades compaired to the CM model I reviewed here. and for only $30 more I'd say its worth it. besides, we all know you're gonna use that 20% off coupon so I think its well worth the work it will do! Have fun and thanks for watching!

[@escaflowne33055]

the 4 post design is superior though. a lot less snipe. soon the Bauer stuff will be included on the list the 20% coupon will not apply. just like all the other "branded" stuff.

[@4rnorthwest]

Ya my local HF just started carrying the Bauer brand and to my knowledge thus far they will not be honoring the regular 20% off coupons. that being said for under $300 they seem every bit as good as the base models at Lower or Home Depot. keep yourself in sharp blades and set your cuts less than 1/16 deep on each pass and you should be just fine. By "you" I mean anyone planning on getting one of these models or its replacement the Bauer.

[@kennyc388]

What justifies buying Harbor Freight junk? Can't afford quality?

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

4r northwest ..i seen other videos of people with the high dollar planers and supposedly master wood crafters but didnt know to use in feed and out feed tables to minimize or eliminate sniipe.... good job bro. question are replacement blades available at the harbor freak store (freak is not a typo)

[@4rnorthwest]

Thanks my good man! So apparently HF will be changing out the Central Machinery branded power tools for the Bauer branded equipment. As for blades yes they do carry replacement blades. Your planer of course has blades already installed and those blades are double sided! so when they wear down or chip its time to flip them around around and reinstall them. That feature is pretty standard on planer blades. Be sure when you do flip your blades you do them both at the same time to prevent uneven wear to the blades for consistant cuts. scroll through he comments and you'll see some other answers I gave for helping to mitigate snipe. One way is to remove a 32nd or less at a time. It seams like not much but it makes a world of difference on these "portable" planers and worth the results! thanks for watching!

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

gotcha chief new sub... check my channel out.. i do project videos if you like sub... i do intend to expand my channel to include cooking furniture builds maybe some retro gaming...theres thoughts of a real poormans car build and a from scratch rat rod build and a not so tiny tiny house build

[@chou1234chou]

4R NORTHWEST ll

[@CoopDog70]

Thanks for making the video, I'm on a budget and was thinking on getting this one.

[@4rnorthwest]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed. on most plan thickness planer in the $500 or less range snipe is almost unavoidable. That being said there are plenty of little tricks to reduce MOST snipe. That being said these and others like it are thickness planers! with decent blades sure they'll produce a nice surface but higher grit finish sanding should always be in the plan. These are great for getting a lot of stock to the same thickness dimension before finishing. don't forget to use at least their 20% coupon when purchasing, they come out all the time! Cheers and best of luck!

[@CoopDog70]

Hey Thanks Man!, good to know, and I always have a coupon on hand at Harbor :)

[@cjphillips6648]

great videos

[@4rnorthwest]

CJ Phillips well thank you much! And thanks for watching!

[@noblefishing7203]

The reality is anything sold at Harbor Freight is risky. Don’t waste your hard earned money on mediocre tools.

[@4rnorthwest]

Thanks for the tip/warning and for watching! That risk is certainly a real possibility. But like any risk it should be weighed. Is it in balance with your intended use, amount of use, your budget, etc. Its true that many tools at HF are in an "entry level" category and Harbor Freight makes no bones about that! Is that bad? Depends on who's answering the question! But for entry level tools and the barrier to entrance in a number of trades becoming far more affordable, coupled with an excellent return policy of 90 days plus optional/affordable 1 and 2 year warranty deals, they're hard to beat! Maybe Ive just gotten lucky with every tool I've purchased there? maybe, but unlikely. But 9 times out of 10 they're worth a try and for that 1 out of 10 you can return it no questions asked! Not everone can afford to play the game with brands like JET, Grizzly or Delta etc. The argument here is, Not everyone has to. And for them its a no brainer. You're not required to agree with me and honestly Im glad there are those who don't! It would be boring to operate in an echo chamber where everyone just agrees with each other. So I appreciate your opinion and it is valid. Thanks again for watching and commenting.

[@vargr]

@@4rnorthwest Another good thing is that if the tool does not work or work correctly you can exchange it or get a refund of the full price as long as you have the receipt for the first week. No store trial before the exchange/refund like most other stores. I know this because I did that, refund, with one of their sliding miter saws, it would not cut a straight line to save it's life. I got the refund, added money and got the Hercules miter saw, and I love it's smoothness of use.

[@darkcwboy]

Any thing sold anywhere has its risks. Harbor Freight has a good better best pricing. You buy the cheapest tool their yes you get what you pay for. I bought several tools from them some not so great some of them still working till this day. Ive had some knock offs out last some name brand tools.

[@1990notch]

Name brand tools that are made in China are often no better than harbor freight tools. Actually, a good number of harbor freight mechanics tools are made in Taiwan. Unless you can afford to buy snap on, Mac, etc., you will be buying Chinese made tools. Husky, Kobalt, craftsman, mostly made in China. Ridgid power tools are mostly made in China. Milwaukee still seems to be pretty good, maybe not as good as when they were all American made, but they're all made in China and Milwaukee is now owned by a Chinese conglomerate. I've gotten mediocre tools of a name brand enough times to know you have to be able to discern what quality and good engineering is, regardless of brand names.

[@danbow7503]

The rule i think is this.. if you're going to use it occasionally.. harbor freight. If you're going to be in a production business... go big write it off on taxes.

[@textbooksurvival9960]

Oooooooo nice

[@mysticjbyrd]

What would you think about the bauer at hf for $230 vs Wen at Home Depot for $240?

[@4rnorthwest]

theyre both entry level tools and a good bang for the buck. you'd be surprised how much you can get done with then. theyre both top feed rollers only and prone to snipe for which there are plenty of ways to minimize. one of those ways is taking off no more than 1/32 of an inch per pass. (i do less than that) it doesn't sound like much but for what these are designed it does the job well and you can't go wrong for under $300. the next up is over twice the price by Dewalt and uses a heavier 3 blade cutter head and a bit more power. But again, if you're not using it every day fr hours on end the Bauer and the Wen will do just fine! Hope that helps and thank s for watching.

[@mysticjbyrd]

thx, I bought the 3 blade 13" wen from walmart for $225 w/ my discount. It was on sale and only $10 more than the 12.5" 2 blade version.

[@4rnorthwest]

john handcock sounds like you scored! and a 3 knife head for under $300?! cant beat that with stick!

[@jeffhudson8075]

The Bauer planer at my local hf is $309!!!

[@heru-deshet359]

Now HF is selling a Bauer 15 Amp 12-1/2 in. Portable Thickness Planer. Why do they keep changing brands so frequently?

[@4rnorthwest]

Heru- deshet who knows!🙄 it really is the same damn machine with a color change, a silly new name. Although from my initial look at the new model release they do appear to be solid little machines, they added the folding extensions decks which is swell n junk. Keep in mind a planer is a dimensioning tool and anything going through them will need sanding and finishing. But they're a great addition to pretty much being a human being period! besides, the price is right!😉

[@heru-deshet359]

Thanks. :)

[@mattieb7636]

Music is from Cabela’s outdoor adventure on the ps2 lol

[@MrBluegrassfiddler]

No proof that snipe is cured on this video. Just blather about it. NO PROOF THAT SNIPE IS REMOVED. There is no way to eliminate snipe with this Bauer model. I HATE IT !!

[@4rnorthwest]

MrBluegrassfiddler you're absolutely right! I have blasphemed and will go forth into the hinterlands to die now. While I do that, next time you're DIMENSIONING stock, (that's what a planer is, a dimensioning tool by the way NOT a finishing tool) cut you're stock about three inches long and account for waste. OR send scrap wood through next and just ahead of the material you're planing, same with the rear. These are two of the easiest ways among a dozen to mitigate snipe. All "lunch box" planers are mostly the same and come out of the same two or three factories in China with different paint jobs and slightly different features. But otherwise all comparable. So don't get mad! Get even! Watch a few more videos and try again, you'll be glad you did. Whatever the case, thanks for watching! Good bye cruel world 😥

[@LarryB-inFL]

Apparently this tool is no longer available from Harbor Freight.

[@georgeterry8685]

Yeah now it's a brand called "Bauer"

[@4rnorthwest]

You're are right sir! It's now been taken over by Bauer brand which is a replacement for many of there "higher end" power tools and in my opinion is a slightly better design. and the cost difference is worth the design upgrades. Thank you for watching. Though the brand has changed this video is still relevant to the general functions, use and quality of the past and present planer they carry. Thanks for watching!