Product Review: The Bosch 12V Brushless Cordless Planer

It's a compact and powerful little tool, but it's no toy.

1 MIN READ

This review originally appeared on the Tools of the Trade website.

The new Bosch 12V brushless cordless planer is no toy. This little planer is built well and feels quite stout.
I have been initially impressed with its ability to plane down southern yellow pine lumber as I flatten an old wall.

The tool comes with a dust collection bag and an option for using a vac or dust extractor as well. Dust collection is quite good with the vac hooked up. I’ve found that the dust collection bag will clog at the inlet tube if you are trying to remove too much material at once. The spring-loaded rear kickstand has much too stiff of a spring; it’s difficult to get the kickstand to fold down easily. While the planer works with any of Bosch’s 12V batteries, the higher Ah options like the 4.0-Ah or 6.0-Ah batteries are best for obvious extended run-time capacities.

Model: GHO12V-08

Price: $179 bare (with blade-change wrench, bag, and vac hose adapter)

Available: Now

Specs:
14,500 rpm with constant speed circuitry, it monitors and maintains speed under load for consistent performance

  • 2.2 In. of planing width and a single-pass planing depth of up to 0.08 (2 planer blades)
  • On-board storage compartment for holding a spare planer blade
  • Can create rabbet cuts of up to 0.7 In
  • Switchable right or left shavings extraction
  • Can plane up to 33 Ft. of one-inch-wide hardwood per amp hour (Ah)
  • 3.3 pounds (tool only)
  • 10″ length

About the Author

Travis Collins

Travis Collins grew up working alongside his father, a master carpenter, absorbing everything he could about the trades. In high school he remodeled homes while also working for a marine construction company building docks & bulkheads. While in high school Collins took every woodshop class elective he could where he learned furniture making. While in college at Florida State University, Collins taught woodshop at the Master Craftsman studio (and also helped build the Bobby Bowden stained glass window that sits in the stadium). After college, he managed multiple high-end custom automotive shops doubling as a mechanic and was a self-employed trim carpenter. Collins is currently remodeling his 1941 home while testing tools. To see the latest tool news, reviews, and tips, follow him on Instagram @TOOLSbyDesign.

Sidebar Single