Review of the Harbour Freight bench top planisher.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:27 pm

First off the price was only $39.95 so I did not expect very much.

I had to make some shoulder cops for a client, to go with his helm.
After dishing into my doughnut, I pulled out the little planisher and put it together.

The anvils had to be re-faced as the machining marks were quite deep.
No big deal, as I polish tools all the time.

The holder for the bottom anvil will not sustain the constant air hammering. It keeps slipping down.

I mounted the machine 90Â° to my work bench and placed a piece of 3/16" steel under the bottom of the support.

That seemed to hold the anvil support in position a little better.
I will rethink the mounting method.

I used 16ga mild steel and surprisingly, the little machine worked quite well.
I will have to give it a two thumbs up for the money.

Hal

PS: There is no planishing Zen with an automatic machine.
Wear your hearing protection.

Dierick · Post by **Dierick** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:01 pm

How well do you think it would hold up to long time use? Is it worth buying one and using it for awhile, or just building one that will last forever?

My experience with HF tools is that they work really well until they fall apart in your hands.

Patrick Marshall · Post by **Patrick Marshall** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:17 pm

For that price it just might b e worth getting. Thanks for the review Hal.

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:29 pm

It should last as long as the cheap air hammer. :wink:

If you have the means to build one yourself I would recommend building it.
There is a certain satisfaction from building your own machines.

However I could not buy an air foot switch for what this machine cost.

Several years ago I threw this together from scraps.
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/h ... hammer.jpg
I used it quite a bit too.

Hal

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:44 am

Hal,

Mind telling us what size air-compressor you are unig to power this and how well it performs?

Thanks,

Sean

The Iron Dwarf · Post by **The Iron Dwarf** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:27 am

have you got a link to it Hal, I could only find the $99 one with the stand at $39.95.

Pitbull Armory · Post by **Pitbull Armory** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:03 am

Funny enough I use an Alan Engineering Air Hammer, the model is called the Pitbull. I use a small air compressor. The same one I used to frame houses with years 6 years ago. The trick is to use a large holding tank between your compressor and the hammer. This makes the hammer actually work with a small compressor but its still not the best set up.

Take care

Pitbull

Aergis · Post by **Aergis** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:51 pm

have you got a link to it Hal, I could only find the $99 one with the stand at $39.95.

It's no longer on their site. If you have a local one, go and see if they have it. It's called the Mini plannishing hammer. They only had 1 left at my local store, and it was 49.99 after the new year.

Aergis · Post by **Aergis** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:53 pm

have you got a link to it Hal, I could only find the $99 one with the stand at $39.95.

It's no longer on their site. If you have a local one, go and see if they have it. It's called the Mini plannishing hammer. They only had 1 left at my local store, and it was 49.99 after the new year.

The Iron Dwarf · Post by **The Iron Dwarf** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:36 pm

I think the one Hal made in 2005 looks a lot better than the $99 from HF

and I think the nearest HF to me would involve crossing a lot of water to get there :wink:

Review of the Harbour Freight bench top planisher.

Review of the Harbour Freight bench top planisher.

Hi there