Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 9125 3-1/4-Inch Power Plane Kit

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A must for interior and exterior slab door replacement. Most competitors' planers tend to slow and 'bog' down when using maximum cutting depth -- especially with hardwoods. This is my second PC Planer for home shop use. Like most other Porter-Cable power tools, this on is unparalled. Sorry DeWalt...

I've owned this tool now for about 3-months and have used it a quite a bit. I bought it to plane out bowed wall and ceiling studs prior to installing sheetrock (which is pretty tough duty because the wood is old, dry and hard).

Even pressing down hard at a full 1/8" depth, this unit cuts through wood and knots like a beaver. The motor keeps the blades spinning at full speed without bogging down.

Keep in mind that using a plane (manual or power) requires some practice and skill to perfect the outcome. You just don't slap it down on the wood and start cutting. Most attachments such as fences and guides will help provide some alignment assistance, but you'll still need to develop the skill. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find that it is a real time saver and provides far superior results over other triming, chiseling and planing methods.

Recommendations: * High Power - this is a must-have feature, anything less will be a source of endless frustration. * Heavy Weight - this is one of those times when you don't want light weight. You will need the mass to maintain constant travel and to keep the tool down on the work. * Parts Availability - Power planers are not very popular, so don't buy some goofy off-brand. You may need parts later such as replacement blades. * Safe(ty)... - Eye and ear protection is an absolute must with these tools. Not only do wood chips fly everywhere, they make a loud high pitched screech during operation.

I,m a long-time finish carpenter and have used the Dewalt and Makita planners as well as this contraption. This one's a dud. What's with pushing a button to pull the trigger? That's fine for Harry Homeowner, but odd angle starts are next to impossible. And that little ridge at the top of the handle is annoying and painful. Perhaps I missed something when rabbeting with the Dewalt, but with the PC you are advised to move the blades; what a pain. The Dewalt has a strange, not altogether likeable foot on the base for setting the thing down while the motor spins to a stop. No such feature on the PC. It is also poorly balanced. The Dewalt was user-friendly right from the box. If it weren't the boss's tool and the only one on the job I'd send the PC back. The only strong point is that the fence slot seems more durable than the cheezy holes in the thin plastic housing found in the Dewalt. Hold out for the door plane, is my advice.

I'm a home DIYer and bought this for fitting new solid pine doors into the existing jambs. It takes time to get the hang of it and avoid leaving a wavey surface when going across the whole door. The adjustable beveling fence on this planer is cheap and does not offer any support nor accuracy. Forming a 3degree bevel on the door is near impossible (I had to cut a jig with a piece of 2x4 screwed to the fence); in fact the fence will not set to 90degrees. Look at the Bosch or if you can spend the extra $250 for the PC 9118.

I purchased this power planer to trim 10 replacement doors in my home. I just used it for the first time this morning. For the price the tool performed well. If I were a professional carpenter I would recommend buying a better, precision tool. For the handy man this will more than do the job. The quality construction of the tool, the solid tool box and easylight weight use, made this a pleased & satisfied purchase for me.

I am a big DeWalt fan, but I must say that I have been most pleased with the last few Porter-Cable products I have purchased. The planer is no different, a very well made product indeed! It should be noted by the buyer that this particular P/C product is made in Italy.

I purchaced this planer based on the company and it's reviews. It does a fine job with one major irritation. The depth adjustment knob has a spiriling circle on it that takes 2 1/2 turns to complete from zero to max depth of cut. You turn the dial to get to a specific depth, the problem is that can't tell where you were from the last cut as the cone has several depths showing along the way that all align with a "set" point. I was always turning it back to zero following the spiral to the point I wanted for a specific depth. The depths were acurate once you were sure of where you were. I sold it and purchased the Dewalt. It has a pointer and 300 degree rotation from start to finish and marks at 64's of an inch increments so you know where your at all times. There is no problem fine tuning a cut with either planer, but when the pointer can't tell you what depth your about to cut, time is wasted playing with it to get where you want to be.

I have owned this planer for a couple of years, and it has been very helpful when I get in a tight situation and just need to take a little wood off. It can also take a deep cut in the wood, removing a large amount of wood with one pass. It is a light weight tool, and very powerful.

Powerfull and precise. Not a tool for a novice. Blades are on the blind side of the tool with no gaurd. No place for one. If you know why you need it, you'll be very satisfied with this tool. I really like the v-grove on the front plate.