Abstract: A power planer having a base, a carriage assembly and a height scale. The carriage assembly includes a cutterhead that may be adjustably positioned relative to a datum that is defined by the base. The height scale has a rotary scale that rotates in response to movement of the carriage assembly relative to the base. A value of a displayed portion of the rotary scale is related to a distance between the cutterhead and the base.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a carriage assembly and a carriage elevation mechanism for translating the carriage assembly. The carriage elevation mechanism includes a plurality of threaded guide posts and an elevation mechanism that employs a plurality of threaded structures that are threadably engaged to the guide posts. A locking mechanism is also provided to inhibit movement of the carriage assembly along the guide posts.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a base, which defines a reference surface, a cutting blade, which defines a cutting plane, and a setting mechanism may be employed to prevent a distance between the reference surface and the cutting plane from being adjusted to a dimension that is smaller than a height dimension that is selected from a group of predetermined dimensions. The setting mechanism includes first and second stop members, one being coupled to the base and the other being associated with the cutting blade. One of the stop members includes a plurality of differently dimensioned sectors or contact points that may be selectively positioned inline with the other stop member to inhibit movement of the cutting blade toward the base if the dimension therebetween is equal to a dimension associated with a given one of the contact points.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a base, which defines a reference surface, a cutting blade, which defines a cutting plane, and a setting mechanism may be employed to prevent a distance between the reference surface and the cutting plane from being adjusted to a dimension that is smaller than a height dimension that is selected from a group of predetermined dimensions. The setting mechanism includes first and second stop members, one being coupled to the base and the other being associated with the cutting blade. One of the stop members includes a plurality of differently dimensioned sectors or contact points that may be selectively positioned inline with the other stop member to inhibit movement of the cutting blade toward the base if the dimension therebetween is equal to a dimension associated with a given one of the contact points.

Abstract: A sensing mechanism (12) for detecting user contact with an active portion (26) of the power tool (10) is provided. In addition, a safety mechanism (14) for preventing prolonged user contact with the active portion (26) of a power tool (10) is provided. The safety mechanism (14) is configured to actuate upon receipt of a signal from the sensing mechanism (12). According to a first aspect, the safety mechanism (14) is arranged to rapidly displace the active portion (26) away from a user extremity. Alternatively, according to a second aspect, the safety mechanism (14) is arranged to rapidly urge an extremity of the user away from the active portion (26) of the power tool (10).

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a carriage assembly and a carriage elevation mechanism for translating the carriage assembly. The carriage elevation mechanism includes a plurality of threaded guide posts and an elevation mechanism that employs a plurality of threaded structures that are threadably engaged to the guide posts. A locking mechanism is also provided to inhibit movement of the carriage assembly along the guide posts.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a carriage assembly and a carriage elevation mechanism for translating the carriage assembly. The carriage elevation mechanism includes a plurality of threaded guide posts and an elevation mechanism that employs a plurality of threaded structures that are threadably engaged to the guide posts. A locking mechanism is also provided to inhibit movement of the carriage assembly along the guide posts.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a carriage assembly and a carriage elevation mechanism for translating the carriage assembly. The carriage elevation mechanism includes a plurality of threaded guide posts and an elevation mechanism that employs a plurality of threaded structures that are threadably engaged to the guide posts. A locking mechanism is also provided to inhibit movement of the carriage assembly along the guide posts.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a novel base assembly, a carriage elevation mechanism, a cutterhead assembly, a carriage locking mechanism, a setting mechanism, a height scale mechanism, a material removal gauge, a motor, a dust collection mechanism and a power take-off mechanism.

Abstract: A portable power planer for planing the top surface of a workpiece. The portable power planer includes a novel base assembly, a carriage elevation mechanism, a cutterhead assembly, a carriage locking mechanism, a setting mechanism, a height scale mechanism, a material removal gauge, a motor, a dust collection mechanism and a power take-off mechanism.

Abstract: A vegetation cutter having a mulching blade system including a cutting blade and an independent vortex inducing blade. The cutting blade performs no vortex inducing function but rather only operates to cut vegetation. The vortex inducing blade is designed strictly to provide vortices at the outer ends thereof, and does not perform any cutting function. The vortices operate to even more effectively suspend vegetation trimmings within a volute cutting chamber of a deck of the vegetation cutter such that the trimmings can be cut several times by the cutting blade before being deposited back into the vegetation over which the cutter is traversing.