Back in 2012, Hikoki boffins brought us the P18DSL cordless planer.

 

And not a day too soon!

Of all the cordless gear to show up on site, planers were among the

most welcome.

 

Why?

Well a couple of reasons:

 

1) When you’re fitting (or snagging) a stack of doors, chances are

they’re all over a building — with or without 5 flights of stairs! And

there’s only so much merit to sneaking in a few reps with a hefty

transformer 💪 👎

 

2) Planers are perhaps the most prone to cable nicks and cuts of all

power tools. So safety clips are a feature of most corded models these

days. But a mains lead can still be something of trip hazard 👀

Mobility is the norm for site carpentry tasks. And the Hikoki P18DSL is

still on the go… over a decade later!

 

• Same weight (3.3kg)

• Same No Load Speed 16000/min

• And same smooth performance when you’re up against the clock 🕒 👊

 

So let’s look at what makes the Hikoki P18DSL a steady choice of

brushless battery planer. Year in–Year out…

 

 

Why the Hikoki P18DSL is one of the best 18v cordless planers in 2024

The initial challenge for battery planers was packing a punch. While staying at a decent overall weight.

And at 3.3kg + battery, it first felt like product designers were pushing their luck.

Until you remember the weight is downwards for most planing operations.

And for those exceptions (like the tops and bottoms of doors) you’re not really planing for long. Also, the P18DSL is well within the weight of other top brands.

And just as fast on site tasks.

You could split hairs over a few seconds faster, or slower in controlled workshop tests. But for most tradies those type of reviews occur in static conditions.

On site, a planer needs to come to hand and perform among a bunch of tasks. And here’s a few real benefits when working with the P18DSL:

 

• Rapid release break on the trigger — lets you work fast and put the planer down safely with zero fuss

• Precise depth dial — gives you full adjustment up to 2mm. No clicks, no compromise with whatever fraction of a mm your task demands

• Compact design — makes the Hikoki P18DSL easy to manoeuvre. Yet no less powerful than other leading brands.

Other features of the P18DSL planer are fairly standard: a safety clip on the base to protect your blades/work surfaces. Battery power indicator, chamfer groove guide along the base, a rebate guide (which allows for fixing of a longer wooden strip), re-sharpenable blades — and of course, a standard shavings bag that fills up all too quickly!

But most importantly the P18DSL feels the part when you pick it up. You know you’re in full control — and planing is certainly a task that leaves no room for awkward movements.

So on that note…

Hikoki P18DSL Planer: Is there room for improvement?

 

Yes — as with most leading cordless planers. There’s a notable aspect that merits design focus…

If you’re left-handed, the shavings ejector could be a hassle on some tasks. A dual waste selector (left/right) would be better for future models.

Also, it’s not a heavy duty planer. 

So if gutsy timber mowing is your main chore, the P18DSL would most likely take too many passes. Although you can go a bit beyond 2mm with the dial — and the mains version P20SF has a 2.6mm settings display.

Meanwhile, we await a 36v Hikoki planer for vigorous scenarios. 

But for doors, and general smoothing/shaving work — with minimal sanding touches, if any — the P18DSL makes the grade. Whether for subtle settings or site

stamina; it’s there to enable your most precise work.

In a way that lets you focus on woodworking results, rather than the planer itself. 

So invest in a Hikoki P18DSL and don’t look back — unless it’s over years of trusty service!

 

 

Get the Hikoki P18DSL on Amazon today:

👉 https://amzn.to/3CnAUqB

 

All original reviews