RIKON Power Tools 25-130H 13-Inch Planer with Helical Head

When shopping benchtop planers, I read lots of reviews. Helical heads are viewed as superior to 2 or 3 knife configurations. Rikon is one of the few companies offering helical head cutters in the 13" size. So far, the performance is excellent and is easy to use. I am happy with the purchase and would recommend it for anyone who is regularly planing hardwoods and doesn't have space or budget for a free standing, larger unit.

The steel cutters only have two sides but should be carbide with four sides. RIKON should be embarrassed over their replacement cost of cutters. I just took off another star thinking of the cutters costing 4X what other cutters cost. Make it right the first time so they don't upset the customer.

This planar is excellent. It’s very well built out of metal (slightly heavy), but it makes the planar much higher quality. The noise is much lower than a planar with blades rather than the helical cutting bits this one has. The cutting bits do so well, very little sanding is required after planing. Overall, it’s worth the price

Overpriced and it's not helical is a spiral head meaning that cuts like a straight knife never buying anything from Rikon i feel like i got scam do some research and don't make the same mistake i made you better off getting the Dewalt and later investing in a true helical head and install it.

It is an ok planer It is over priced. they say it has Helical inserts. this is not true. it does have inserts but they are not in a helical pattern.the high speed inserts wear out very quickly. I'm on my second set in about 7 months of very limited use. Woodworking is only a hobby for me.the other problem with the inserts is that you can only get them from Rikon. no one else makes them. to replace them with carbide cost almost have the price of the planer itself. I should have investigated more before I made this purchase.I would not purchase this planer if I could do it over again.

Unit works great. Planes all sorts of wood.

All I can say is NICE does a great job

Great planer.

The unit is nice except for one major weakness. All the gears and sprockets (for raising and lowering the cutting head) are plastic. I bought this unit from the Amazon Warehouse, which means it was a return used unit. It arrived with the head lowering plastic spiral gear stripped. I sent it back and bought the larger Rikon 25-010H planer and the first thing i checked were the gears and sprockets; all metal, thank goodness. I have much more confidence that this unit will last.