Choosing the best planer for your budget, woodworking needs, and personal preference can be a tough decision. If you have never worked with Makita tools before, you might be curious as to how their planers hold up.
The Makita KP0800 Planer is powerful for its size considering it runs on 6.5 amps with 17,000 RPM and a two-blade cutter head. Though corded, it weighs only 5.7lbs making it perfect for transporting. It planes 3 ¼” wide and 3/32” deep with an optional angle guide and fence locking capabilities.
Many people like the Makita KP0800 Planer because of its quieter volume compared to many other power tools, though it still makes enough noise to draw attention. It is not known for its ability to work with fine woods, so avoid ultrasoft wood and use it with hardwoods instead. Also, make sure you purchase the dust extraction nozzle and a dust bag to go with it. Let’s take a closer look at why many people think a Makita Planer is a good option.
Jointers and Planers are one our main go-to tools for woodworking which we plan on discussing in detail. You can watch our past workshops on YouTube here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
What Makes the Makita KP0800 Planer Any Good?
There are a lot of different decisions that go into choosing the right planer for your woodworking job. Ultimately, with many people being loyal to certain brands or what they know, it can be tough to branch out. So, if you are just looking into a Makita Planer (specifically, the kp0800 model), you might be hesitant to try something so new to you. Fortunately, this model is consistently praised for its power as well as its transportability.
The Makita KP0800 Planer is consistently rated well in terms of cost, power, thickness capacity, blade durability, noise level, optional angle guide, and fine depth adjustment. While you have to purchase a separate dust collection nozzle and dust collection bags, this model is otherwise well-praised.
Whether you have been in the woodworking business for a long time, or you are looking to up your woodworking game, you will want a tool that is reliable, practical, and fits the budget. The Makita KP0800 Planer seems to do just that for many people. Consider these categories in what to look for in a planer, and specifically how the Makita KP0800 Planer compares:
Cost
Cost is obviously going to play a large part in any decision when it comes to your hobbies or business. Fortunately, the Makita KP0800 Planer fits the bill when it comes to a low-cost tool for your woodshop. Along with a lower initial price tag compared to other larger planers, this smaller corded option still packs a punch with the power it can provide.
Not only that, but you want to get your money’s worth in the products that you choose to invest in. With this option, you will be satisfied with the money well spent considering it is capable of achieving almost all of the small planing projects you have in mind. Just be sure to consider the additional costs of a dust collection nozzle and dust bags that you will need to purchase separately as well as any blades or other parts that need to be replaced eventually.
Power
Power is where the Makita KP0800 Planer is often so surprising considering how small of a tool it truly is. When you can hold something in your hand as comfortably as you can with this model, you do not typically expect to see such high-quality results. However, the Makita KP0800 Planer pulls through.
Specifically, the Makita KP0800 Planer provides you with 17,000 RPM with 6.5 amps providing it with enough power to get through a tough piece of wood. Along with that, it uses a two-blade cutter head with double-edged blades so that you can use this in a forward and backward use- something that is often overlooked, yet highly coveted, with this type of tool.
This is a corded model meaning that it is not completely free for transportability, but considering it only weighs 5.7lbs, you will be able to move this easily across all types of worksites and locations to be able to achieve the planing project you have in mind. This provides you with the capability of bringing this model of planer from your workshop to a contract or worksite, for example, which is highly appreciated by the professional woodworker or builder.
Thickness Capacity
Thickness capacity is another area that you need to pay close attention to when choosing a planer. A planer that is not able to cut off much of the desired portion of wood is not really going to serve you well. You want a product that can cut deeper for more efficient planing.
Fortunately, the Makita KP0800 has a thickness capacity of up to 3/32” deep (and can plane at a width of 3 ¼” wide). This is a pretty standard thickness capacity for a tool of this size, so this goes back to the point of how important the power is on a tool like this. And, since this model has that taken care of, you can rest assured that your hardwoods will be planed out in no time.
Blade Durability
Blade durability is another area that you should check when looking for the right planer. With the Makita KP0800 Planer, you will find a two-blade cutter head. They are known to work well, especially against hardwoods, but will need to be replaced regularly. Unfortunately, some have complained that the quick change blade option on this model is not as quick as they would like, so you will have to finagle with your tool a bit.
With that said, just be sure to keep an eye on the blades that you are using. Dull blades can end up botching or damaging your project as well as the tool itself. So, it is important for your safety and the safety of your woodworking projects to keep the blades sharp.
You might also find that you need to apply pressure when going forward and then backward when using this tool. If you notice this even after a while of working on your project, it is probably time to check the blades. Still, you can continue this practice to ensure an even plane.
Noise Level
The lower noise level is something that has been found by many to be a surprising and yet oh, so satisfying component of the Makita KP0800 Planer. Now, your family no longer has to listen to you going to town on a piece of lumber. Instead, you can move outside and know that they will only hear a smaller buzz- something most family members will appreciate immensely.
This has been said about many Makita products, including this particular model of planer as well as their other products. So, if you are looking for a power tool that will not disturb the neighbors, this brand seems pretty reliable in this area.
Dust Extraction
While the dust extraction on the Makita KP0800 Planer is known to do a sufficient job, you will have to purchase the dust extraction nozzle (as well as dust extraction bags) as a separate accessory- a major downside for many consumers. Still, most people find that knowing this ahead of time mentally prepares them for this additional purchase.
It is not so much that these parts cost an arm and a leg (they do not) but the fact that they do not automatically come with the machine that throws people off. Even so, the dust collection and extraction process with this planer is a high-quality option to keep your tools and your woodworking shop in safe and clean conditions.
Precision
The ability to find a planer that works well is a must, but one that has enough power and also sufficient precision is imperative if you want to not only purchase but keep the product for years to come. Fortunately, the Makita KP0800 Planer has the features to provide a powerful and precise cutting job on a variety of types of lumber.
For example, if you are working to bevel door edges, you can use the optional angle guide to help achieve accurate edge work that becomes critical to the structural soundness of this type of woodworking project.
Another feature that is included is the fence lock. While this has become more common on other planers, it is important to note its significance in this regard. Once you lock the fence into place after adjustment, you can rest assured that your angle (let’s say a 90-degree angle) is maintained as you begin to cut away at the layer (or layers) of wood on your project.
Keep in mind that this planer is not particularly known for high-quality work on fine woods, so it is important to consider the type of wood that you are working with. The harder the wood, the better this model of planer will perform with accurate, powerful, and precise cutting capabilities achieved when ultrafine types of wood are avoided.
And, if you ever have concerns about whether this model of planer (or any model of planer for that matter) will work on your wood, you can always test it out on a portion that will not be visible once you have completed your project. This, among many other strategies, can help you to achieve the long-lasting results that you hope to achieve with your woodworking endeavors.