Ridgid Cordless 18.0V Power Planer

[SHADOWFOX]

Folks,

I woke up pretty early this morning because I was going to do outside trim of my house.. Went to the HD Spring Hill store in Dundee IL and before heading to the building materials, I did my usual browse at the power tools department and WHAM there it was a yellow tag on the power planer $79.00.. I immediately tap my wife shoulders and asked her what price she sees because I want to make sure that I am not dreaming. She said the tag said $79.00 originally $199.00.. I told her that I know I have reached my max on tool purchases but I told her she can nag me later but I ain't passing up on this one, she said go ahead and buy it. Bought it, there were three boxes so there's two more left. Not really sure if this is nationwide or just at this store. Item shown on the receipt is 648846051024.. Good luck!!

And to think I almost bought one on ebay fo $65.00 and does not come with the 18.0V battery and charger..

Have not had time to post earlier because I have been busy doing the trim so I spent most of my day going up an down the ladder.

[Doug Jones]

Good score,,,

"nag me later", love the way that sounds.

[marktnguyen]

Would this still be useful if I already have a 12" planer?

Mark

[ScottGolden]

I just checked thier web site and they have it listed there for 99.00 dollars.

[jtrcy]

It's at local Detroit area stores for the same price.

As for the above question about it's need if you already have a 12" planer - they are two diff. animals.

I have the Bosch 18 volt cordless planer and would not be without it as it's very handy for perfecting jamb extensions, fixing bowed studs, etc.

I see a handheld planer being more useful for a builder or remodeler rather than a woodworker.

JT

[marktnguyen]

JT,

Thanks. I don't do contruction very much so I guess I won't get much use out of it.

Mark

[mpc]

It's on clearance in SoCal stores as well. One had the display model on the clearance table with battery, no price. I was tempted... but passed... dad's got a similar Makita corded tool that he swears by but I just don't see myself needing this animal very often. Then I went to a different HD to what they had on clearance and found 3 new-in-box ones for $79. They come with a hard shell plastic case, edge guide, single bay charger, battery, and blades. There's 2 left in that store now. Still don't know if I really need it but the price was too good. Heck, that's what the 18V batteries go for alone. I now have 3 of those 18V "HC" batteries, a single and dual-port charger, etc. since I just bought the closeout 4 piece battery tools set a week or two ago.

Uses I can see for this hand planer:
trimming doors to fit
trimming countertops to fit irregular walls
basically anything where you have lots of "edge sanding to a scribed line" over a large range.

marktnguyen - this thing is totally different from a thickness planer. That will handle much larger stock obviously, but thickness planers also make the cut surface of a board parallel to the opposite surface as it passes through the planer. This thing rides along the top of the workpiece, trimming a bit off... it doesn't "know" where the opposite surface is though so it won't help getting parallel faces on a workpiece.

mpc

[pdxman1]

Home Depot in my area is selling 12 packs of coke and diet coke with $5 off $50 coupons inside for $2.99. So, buy a 12 pack first and get another $5 off the planer.

[bpottinger]

I saw two of these for $79 ea at the HD on Tylersville RD on north side of Cincinnati.

[cwsmith]

Okay, I looked at this tool late this afternoon. Sounds like a great buy, considering it was originally $199 and now is $79. I do see where I might get some occasional use out of it, but not necessarily enough to make a "cordless" worthwhile. I was looking at the specs and it sounds rather good, but I question the blades. They appear to be single-edge high speed steel and it says "2-blade set". So, not sure if that is one set of blades and no extra. Does anyone know?

A few weeks ago, I was looking at the Ryobi corded hand plane. It has slightly higher RPM, sells for $69 and uses double-edged carbide blades and comes with an extra set of blades. Surely the Ridgid may be the better tool for the professional, and although I see some immediate need (I am in the midst of remodeling and will be replacing all of the old doors in the house with new panel doors), I probably will only use it rarely after that. The concern certainly isn't the price as much as it is the genuine utility of "occasional" use, and what appears to be a blade advantage on the Ryobi.

So, anyone care to offer an opinion. I'm more of a fan of "corded" tools than I am of "cordless", especially considering my batteries will be dormant far too long.

Thanks in advance,

CWS

[MBG]

I found one at my local HD for $79 - they even gave me 20% off w/HF coupon! I bought it for the tool but I also have the Ridgid 18v cir. saw, hammer drill, and light combo. So it will be nice to have a third battery and a charger for home and one for the road.

I have some rough sawn oak that is wider than my jointer - this will come in very handy.

Mike

[TheRic]

I picked one up the other night. I already have the Ridgid 5 piece Combo pack. Figured the extra battery and charger was worth the $79.00, I did buy a 12 pack of coke, so I got another $5.00 off. There is also a $5 coupon for Papa Johns, and CVS in the 12 pack. Don't have either one in my area.

Now I have to get it registered for it's lifetime warranty and I'm all set. Even through the batteries and charger have a lifetime warranty I figured having an extra would not hurt. If something happens to the charger and I have to send it in I won't have a bunch of dead batteries while waiting for the charger to get fixed. And you know it will die when you need to use it the most!

[phrog]

Anyone Tried This Planer Yet

Just bought one of these (thanks Silverfox for the headsup) but I haven't opened it yet. Trying to find any reviews before opening it. Have any of you guys tried it out yet or has anyone seen any reviews? Love the Ridgid Jointer/Planer I bought 3 years ago. Hoping this will be as good. Thanks.
Richard

[Andrew Benedetto]

I have a makita corded but on the Ridgid steel blades ? Any user reviews?

[cwsmith]

I'm sure you guys will think I'm nuts, but after a few phone calls and quite a bit of comparison, I decided the "cordless" Ridgid just wasn't the tool for me. In spite of it's rather remarkable "$199, clearanced at $79" price reduction, the Ryobi "corded" model was a better fit for me at $69.00!

Reasoning was that for occasional use, I don't want to have to concern myself with recharging a battery (or sending it in for replacement under the LLSA). My only two cordless tools are 14.4 volt, not 18-volt. The Ridgid uses single-edged, high-speed steel blades that nobody seems to carry, including my local Home Depot. The case is huge, because it needs to house the planer, the battery, and the charger. (I am aways "space-challenged" it seems.)

The Ryobi has 15,000 rpm, as compared to the Ridgid's 11,000. The blades are carbide, double-edged, cost $7 per set less than the Ridgid and I can buy them at the local Sears. The Ryobi also has the ability to switch the chip exhaust from right to left. While the case and motor materials may be superior on the Ridgid, it doesn't appear to be so and the shoe materials appear to be identical, albeit the finish on the front shoe (of the Ridgid) seems better.

So, from my perspective, the only advantage for the long haul may be Ridgid's LLSA and it's "cordless" portability, of which I have no current need.

CWS