Makita KP0810 3-1/4" Planer

PRODUCT PORTION OF REVIEWI purchased the Makita KP0810 planer after purchasing a Bosch 1594K at the local dark blue and white-lettered home improvement superstore. After taking one good look at the alignment of the front and rear shoes on the 1594K, I boxed it back up and returned it for a refund, un-used. I have spent too much time working on what I needed this tool for to turn a misaligned planer loose on my work, and do not believe I should have to disassemble, re-align, and reassemble a premium-brand, brand new tool right out of the box before I can use it.The KP0810 is much nicer all around, and has all of the features that originally attracted me to the 1594K - dual tungsten carbide blades (included), a spring-loaded standoff at the rear to keep the planer blades clear of the work until you're ready to plane, and dual exhaust ports so you can pick which side you want chips to exit from. A bonus is the lock-on button, so you can lock the tool on for a longer run and focus on the planing work without having to keep the trigger squeezed.As noted in other reviews, the alignment and overall machining quality of the shoes on the KP0810 is a cut above - precisely machined and very smooth, and I could not find any misalignment of the shoes or blade assembly whatsoever. Also, the Makita factory box has a special multi-layer cardboard cutout in the box to keep the shoes' planing surfaces surrounded by cardboard in transit. My package arrived with one corner crushed in slightly but the planing surfaces were undisturbed.I've not had occasion to use the guide fence yet, so I can't comment on it's angles or how the planer runs with it attached, but it is made of very heavy gauge metal - nearly 1/8" thick - definitely not flimsy.Doesn't come with a hardshell case. That's one slight disappointment for me - I like to keep my tools protected. Will use the cardboard box for now and see if I can find a case for it later. I do accept that you're paying for the better quality tool with the Makita KP0810.One other item that may be worth mentioning - the dust/chip exhaust ports. I've only found a couple of possible solutions for vacuum hoses or adapters. This is covered somewhat in the questions area of the product page here (and responses), and once I've had a chance to find a good vacuum solution (other than buying a $600 Makita XtractVac) I'll post what I came up with.AMAZON PORTION OF REVIEWI am including this in my review because I bought it from Amazon, and thus it is a relevant part of my purchase experience.Amazon FAILED to meet their "guaranteed" delivery by 6/14 commitment -- a Friday, so I lost an entire weekend of time on the job I needed this tool for. I ordered the tool on a Wednesday within the "order within the next X hours to get it by Friday" timeframe, but they didn't get it shipped out in time to make it.The tracking number was in UPS's system late Thursday night (shipping label created) but as of early Friday morning, UPS did not have the package yet. I began contacting Amazon via web contact form early Friday morning. At 12:37pm local time Friday (in Louisville KY), UPS finally got the package from the warehouse. We requested phone contact after 3 web contacts produced nothing meaningful, and when we saw the 12:37pm tracking update, knowing there was no way it would get here Friday. When Amazon called, we even offered to pay the extra shipping charges if they would just send us another one out. The phone support person claimed she had checked, and that none of the warehouses were capable of shipping it overnight. Yet you can go view this item RIGHT NOW and choose next day service. How do you expect me to feel about that?Can't and WON'T are 2 different words.So at the end of the day, NOBODY at Amazon in 3 web/email contacts and 1 phone call Friday would do the 1 thing that could keep me on schedule: Overnight me another tool for Saturday Delivery. Amazon had 4 chances Friday to act to get my tool here 1 day late vs. 3 days late, and blew us off 4 times.The lesson I learned here about Amazon?If you really need it by a certain date, buy it where a guaranteed delivery date MEANS SOMETHING. Clearly this is NOT the case at Amazon. Yes, they usually DO get it out on time, and you get it in time. But if they don't -- the attitude at Amazon seems to be "if we drop the ball, too bad for you." In the future, I'll be sticking with more reliable vendors for anything I have to have to meet a deadline or stay on schedule. I won't be able to extend that kind of trust to Amazon anytime soon after this order.

I really like Makita tools and this planer is better that I expected.Well designed, runs smooth and cuts fast.I used it to on some old red oak, only cutting 1/16" at a time but it had plenty of power.

I didn't have to do any research comparing one planer to another because I knew that Makita makes one of the best planers. This is the only Makita product I own since I have other tools that excel in their particular area of usage. The Makita planer proved to me years ago that it was exceptionally well made & did such flawless work. This model does an exceptional job of removing material as well as leaving a smooth planed surface. The chip dispenser is convenient since you can divert the material to your left or to your right without discarding it upon yourself. Hand placement is comfortable & allows you complete control to guide the planer. Easy adjustment for planing depth for the removal of material. Nice long cord is always a plus.

WELL MADED & DUABLE! I started a rehab of my kitchen and found three layers of old lanolium with black tar sticking to a wonderful white oak floor. This tool was my last ditch effort to restore the floor. It is a wonderful tool. I only used two blades and one belt to accomplish the task. It was ineffective to use the small bag that attached becasue it added to clogging it or blew off given the size of my job. After a few failed attepmts with the small bag which I am sure would work with on actual wood working projects- I removed the bag and it worked like a knife thru butter- kind of made a cotton candy effect with the shredded laniloum blowing out the side- but well worth the clean up. A+A+A+A+ equipment

Nice planer! I had an old Craftsman planer that I inherrated from my dad & it was loud, didn't always cut straight, would break the rubber belt that drives the blades on really hard wood & I couldn't take it anymore so I purchased the Makita & man, what a difference! It was like going from a KIA to a Cadillac! I didn't realize how wore out that craftsman planer was until I used the Makita. It was so much quieter, cuts old petrified wood, new wood, nails, (that was an accident & it chipped my blades) & feels good in your hands. Smooth. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star is that I don't like that it doesn't come with some kind of chip collect bag or at least a diverter shield on the chip outlet hole on the side of the planer. It just tends to throw those chips all over your face & everywhere when your planing wall studs for example. I'm in the process of ordering a bag now & a new set of blades for it. Just would be nice to get a bag or vacuum hose attachment to keep chips from flying in your face.

Not much to say here, except that this is another fine example of Makita quality. I was able to take 4-6" of wood off the top of a 48" diameter tree stump (to make an outdoor coffee table) in about 90 minutes. The finished surface was smooth and level, and the Makita saved a ton of work.One thing I like about the KP0810 vs. the KP0800 is that the depth adjustment knob is much clearer on the 0810. The tick marks are much easier to see, and have a very positive "click" into each position. It's a minor item, but one of the things that makes the tool a joy to use...especially when the sawdust has really been flying and things start to get messy.

Nada

I hate writing this negative review, I spent extra money thinking I would get a great planer.When the planer arrived I ran it on a small board and it looked OK. Had it been tested on a wider piece of wood the problem would have been revealed. The blades can not be zeroed and it cuts deeper on one side than the other.Having spent hours checking and rechecking the blade alignment, the problem cannot be resolved.Waste of money and time. Not to mention the project it ruined.Had I discovered this problem a few days earlier I could return it.