Handheld Power Planer Recommendations?

[Donald Alles]

I am about to purchase a handheld power planer to work the top of a 4" thick live edge stump slab (soon to be a coffee table). The sticker simply said "Hard Maple". It is.
Does anyone have brand recommendations for me? I've seen the price ranges and would like to spend $100 or less. Any thoughtful advice is appreciated!

[John Lankers]

I have a Bosch that I used maybe once in 10 years. I'm not aware of any handheld power planer suitable for anything but rough carpentry work. Unless you are going for a very rustic look I would not use one.

[Joe O'Connor]

I have a makita that I've been happy with. I don't use it often.

[Tom M King]

I have a couple of Makita's. One I keep for rough work, and the other I keep good blades in. They're probably twenty years old or older. I don't use them that much, but they come in good sometimes. I'm not sure how well even the one with sharp blades would do on end grain.

[Chris Fournier]

I use a DeWalt and have used it for tonnes of slab work including end grain hard maple - no fun. It's always been ready to work though. The finest cut possible with a sharp set of blades on the end grain and you might really want to consider a router sled and ball mill as an alternative.

[Bill Ryall]

Bosch or Makita. I have both, used both extensively and have been very happy with both. I've used both in applications like you just described. However, you may want to consider a router and straight bit in a flattening jig for this operation. it will take longer, but you will likely get a better result.