Global Machinery Company 420W - Manual (Page 3)

OnlineToolReviews.com - GMC (Global Machinery Company) PPM Palm Planer - Detailed Review
reversible so you get double the life out
of them over a normal single-edged blade
set.
The power controls are located in easy
reach of the thumb and forefinger. The
switch lock release button is located up
top (with the chevron markings). The
power on/off button is located below and
lateral to this. To power up the tool the
top lock switch must be push down/
forward and held there while the lateral
on/off button is pressed to power up the
tool. To turn off the tool you simply
release the on/off button. The lock switch
does not have to be held down/forward
once the tool has been turned on. Both
switches have a rubber mold grip for
better grip/control.
The PPM's body features a mix of light
weight magnesium (belt drive cover, front
control area) hardened plastic, and
rubber overmolds for grip and comfort
throughout. Despite the light magnesium
and plastic casing, the tool doesn't feel
like a toy. It still weighs in at 1.9kgs,
which does seem to be a comfortable
weight in the hand. Not too light to feel
flimsy and vibrate excessively in use, and
not too heavy as to make it
unmanageable (and dangerous) with
single hand control. The whole tool
features a smooth, slimline design. The
motor housing, which is also where you
grip the tool in the palm has a rounded
barrel shape that easily contours to the
curve of your hand as you grasp the tool.
In fact, the tool is very comfortable to
hold and use.
A fully cast metal base is machined flat
and was verified to indeed be flat by my
shop straight edge. The fixed rear base is
solid and flat while the adjustable front
base features numerous (3) V-grooves to
allow edge chamfering to be achieved.
Each V-groove is milled at a different
depth too for versatility, to mill a specific
depth chamfer, or to use a different
groove each time to even out blade wear
by not using the same part of the blade
with each pass. In terms of depth
capacity, the PPM can remove up to
The cutterhead
Grooved front plate for chamfering
and edge work, flat rear plate for
accurate results.
PPM shown planing a door edge
Knocking off the sharp corners
using the chamfering grooves
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