Makita 1806B 1200W 170mm Planer

I have had one of these for twenty years. it just self-destructed while planing some oak. It has hundreds of hours of hard work logged. It is heavy. It is a job to switch blades. It really ought to be re-designed to take double-sided easily-replaceable blades. On the plus side, it planes over six inches in one pass. If you are a timber framer, you will need something like this a lot. I want to try the new Triton 7" (much less expensive) and see if it is a sensible replacement now that the old Makita has bit the bullet.

Excellent cutting, nice long electrical cord. Depth gauge is a bit unclear and overall pretty heavy....in fact very heavy.

This is one of the well-thought products. Kind of in between the lightest 3-1/2" to the heaviest 12" portable planners. With this, I don't have to make two single passes to cover the whole width of stocks up to 6". Parts are solid and robust. Performance-wise, this product works in all it's planning thickness options. The only thing I would have Makita done differently is the case. Would be nicer if there's an option for a poly plastic case like those with Milwaukee power tools instead of the wooden box. With the provided wooden box, you still have to be careful carrying because one misstep and drop, and this whole heavy and expensive investment might simply pop and scatter.