what is the best planer thicknesser

Best Thickness Planers

Full Answer

Why would I need a thickness planer?

A thickness planer serves three unique purposes that other tools do not: 1) It makes the second face of a board parallel to the other face; 2) It smooths rough stock; and 3) It reduces stock down to the exact thickness you need. Here’s some advice: save up for one.

Do I really need a thickness planer?

Having a Thickness Planer or Benchtop Planer is not mandatory in woodworking, and this will all depend on what you do, if you regularly work on trimming boards, then it’s the best investment you will make for woodworking, it simply makes finishing and thicknessing wood with sheer ease and finesse. Here is a dilemma that we hear often:

Can you use a Planer as a jointer?

Yes! A planer can be used as a jointer by following a few woodworking techniques. The trick is to create a jig or sled with a stopped at the end which will hold your board. Make sure that the stopper is not above the final thickness of the wood. Place the lumber on the sled and place shims at the gaps below to keep it stable.

How to properly use a wood planer?

Step By Step Instructions on How to Use a Surface Planer

1. Identify and educate yourself about the setup of the surface planer. A: Familiarize yourself with how the surface planer operates. ...
2. Test how the machine works. Once you have learned how the surface planer is set up, the next step is to test the machine. ...
3. Wear ear protection once you are ready to operate the surface planer.

Which wood planer is best?

BEST OVERALL: Dewalt 13″, 3-Knife, 2-Speed Thickness Planer.BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Craftsman Electric Benchtop Thickness Planer, 15 Amp.UPGRADE PICK: Makita 2012NB 12″ Portable Planer.BEST FOR ROUGH WOOD: WEN 12.5″, 15-Amp, 2-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer.BEST LIGHT-DUTY: PowerTec Benchtop Thickness Planer, 15 Amp.More items...•

How wide do I need for planer thicknesser?

So thickness planers in the 20-inch to 25-inch range are overkill for most woodworkers. And if you don't plan on thickness planing wider boards at all, or your space is limited, then a benchtop thickness planer with a 12 or 13-inch width will work for you.

What is the best Dewalt thickness planer?

Dewalt DW735 2-Speed Thickness Planer Our opinion is that the Dewalt DW735 is the best benchtop thickness planer among the two, and anybody who've used or seen the two will think the same as well. First, it's got a higher width capacity of 13 inches, which means you get to plane wider boards with it.

What is the widest planer you can buy?

1. Dewalt DW735X Benchtop Thickness Planer Review- Editor's Pick. The DW735X has a 13 inch width capacity which is the widest you're going to get with any portable planer. Equipped with a 3 knife cutterhead, the DW735X produces a very smooth finish on boards that go through it.

How thick of wood can go through a planer?

Most twelve-inch planers will plane stock up to six inches thick; eighteen-inch planers take nine-inch-thick stock. Planers of these sizes typically have between one and a half and three horsepower.

Is a thickness planer worth it?

If you really want to get into woodworking, a thickness planer is worth the cost. Once you have it, you'll never regret the expenditure, because you'll be in control of your stock thickness like never before.

Is DeWalt 735 worth it?

After running 3 projects worth of lumber through this planer, we're impressed. The DeWalt DW735 is a perfect upgrade from the lower powered benchtop planer, and very effectively bridges the gap to professional shop machinery.

Can you put a helical head on a DeWalt planer?

UPGRADED CUTTERHEAD-The TJATSE 13" Helical Cutterhead is designed to replace the straight knife cutterhead on the DeWalt DW735 and DW735X Planers. Takes the performance of your Dewalt planer to the next level and cuts smoothly through your wood planing projects with ease.

Is DeWalt planer good?

DeWalt DW735 – A Quick Look Although this model is a bit expensive and heavy, it is a great tool if you are looking for a more advanced planer for your professional use. Thanks to its impressive knives and dust collection system, this planer gears high power cutting abilities that are also durable and efficient.

What is the biggest plainer?

Polar Life Haus logs are planed using the biggest log planer in the world. With maximal width of 600 mm and maximal thickness of 600 mm, it can handle even the sturdiest logs in one go.

What is snipe on a planer?

What is Snipe? Some planers (sometimes jointers and drum sanders too) have a really annoying habit of digging in deeper at the beginning and/or ends of boards. This phenomenon is called snipe. It can be a very minor dip that only becomes visible when applying finish, or it can be severe as in the photo to the left.

Which is better planer or jointer?

A jointer does two things really well: it makes one face flat and makes one edge square to that face. Jointers can't make the opposing face parallel to the first, and they can't reduce boards to an even thickness. On the other hand, a planer has more functionality than a jointer.

Can you run a board through a planer on its edge?

I often run boards on edge through the planer--but not as a jointing process. I joint first, saw to rough width, then plane (on edge) to finish width. I don't usually do anything wider than 2" or so. 3/4 material in that width range is not a problem, but you have to start with a straight and square edge.

How wide of a jointer do I need?

An 8-inch wide jointer allows me to joint wider boards than a 6-inch jointer, and 8-inch jointers usually come with longer infeed and outfeed beds, adding more support to the lumber. And 8-inch jointers are usually affordable enough for hobbyist woodworking shops.

Can you run a board on edge through a planer?

I find it a great convenience to be able to machine-plane boards on edge, and all you need is this simple three-piece jig. I use melamine-faced particleboard to make the side walls and base of the jig because it stays flat and is slippery smooth.

What size hand planes do I need?

My personal recommendation for a first hand plane is a number 4 or 4-1⁄2 because with a smaller sole it can take shavings readily almost anywhere on a board. If it comes time to joint a long surface, place a straightedge on the surface of the board.

Can a benchtop thickness planer be used to flatten wood?

If a workpiece is warped or curved, it can’t be straightened or flattened with the help of a benchtop thickness planer.

How do I avoid tearing out the grain while using the planer?

Grain tear out occurs when you use the benchtop thickness planer in an opposite direction to the grain of the wood. All you need to do is to ensure...

How do I prevent sniping with the planer?

Sniping refers to the planer shaving off the end of the workpiece, and to prevent this, run a piece of scrap wood through the planer a few times be...

What is a planer thicknesser?

A Planer thicknesser is basically a machine designed to permit the planning and smoothing of large sections of both hardwood and softwoods to the required size needed for the project. Thus, with the best planer thicknesser you can trim the surface of any wood and as a result, get a smoother and finer finish.

How much material support does a planer provide?

Besides, the planer comes with large infeed and outfeed tables providing 33-1/2 inches of material support. Other than that, the planer’s material removal gauge and extra-large thickness scale help ensure every pass is accurate. All in all, the planer is powerful and efficient enough to manage deep cuttings efficiently.

How many RPM does a Dewalt benchtop planer have?

It also contains a three-knife cutter head that spins at 10,000 RPM to provide 96 cuts per inch.

What is a Craftsman benchtop planer?

The CRAFTSMAN benchtop planer is ideal for dimensioning lumber to the required thickness, and even planes glued-up materials. Luckily, the motor makes it powerful enough to be used for both hard and softwood material removal.

How much does a 6552T weigh?

WEN 6552T 13 inches is a well-known unit from the manufacturers. Weighing only 66 pounds, this is a great thicknesser that is made to perform a good job for many years. This planer provides an unbelievable seamless finish on a worn-out wood.

How much does a 179 CPi planer weigh?

However, the 179 cpi is used to give the material a finer finish. You would find this planer sturdy and portable enough weighing only 92 pounds. The unit provides a maximum cut depth of 1/8 inch, a depth capacity of 6 inches, and a width capacity of 13 inches.

Why is width important in wood planer?

The width capacity of the machine is important since not all machines have the same width. So, the width of the wood with which one will be working is an important factor while choosing the planer thicknesser.

DEWALT Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch (DW735X)

Three knife cutter head of the thickness planer delivers 30% longer knife life and makes knife change faster and easier

VEVOR Woodworking Benchtop Jointers 6inch with 1650W Motor,Heavy Duty Benchtop Planer Precise Cutterhead 2000rpm ,2 Push Blocks Fence Depth Scale,Large Aluminum Work Table for Woodworking

Perfect for Job Sites or Small Shops: Ideal for those with a small shop or limited space on the job. This benchtop jointer is designed for transforming old, weathered, rugged, worn wood, bamboo, into smooth and clean pieces. The modern desktop appearance can be transported effortlessly.

Planer Folding Table for DEWALT DW735 Planer, Provides Additional 9 inch Support on Each Side of the DW735 Planer

Package - Includes two 13 inch x 9 inch tables and all hardware needed to install the tables on the Dewalt DW735 planer.

Know your needs

Before you begin shopping, make a list of all the features that are important to you in a planer thicknessert. This will help narrow your search and prevent you from getting distracted by features that don’t matter to you.

Research online reviews

Reviews can be a great resource when choosing a planer thicknesser because they provide information about each product’s good and bad aspects. Reviews are written by people who have used the product, giving an honest perspective on what works well and doesn’t work so well for everyday use.

Look for a warranty

Warranties are a great way to ensure that your product will last for years. A good warranty will cover wear and tear, breakage and other issues arising from normal use. If you want your planer thicknesser to last for years, look for one with a good warranty.

Compare Prices

When comparing prices, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. Cheap products may seem like a good deal initially, but they often break down quickly and don’t last long. If you want your planer thicknesser to last for years, look for one with a good warranty and high-quality materials.

What Are the Best Thickness Planers?

After analyzing the product description, seller’s feedback, and customer reviews on amazon.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Cpooutlets.com, and others, we have found the following products as best. They are also cutting a good sale on the market. Please check out our list-

What is the most important part of a thickness planer?

The most important parts of a thickness planer are the motor, the knife, and the cutter head. So, the motor spins and gets the rollers moving. These rollers feed the wooden board into the cutter head.

How much RPM does a Makita 12 inch planer have?

2012NB 12-Inch Planer from Makita features a 15 AMP motor with a no-load speed of 8,500 RPM. This machine works like an animal when planing dense woods like rosewood. Though it says, the model features the quietest (83 dB) operation in its class but still be sure to have your ear protector (headphone style) on. Otherwise, it’ll wear down your hearing in no time.

How thick is a Makita 2012 NB planer?

Even if you skip the first one, please don’t skip this one. Pay for something that’s well built. 2012NB 12-Inch Planer from Makita has an above-average 6-3/32 inches maximum thickness capacity, which could help you avoid running back and forth to the bandsaw. The 2012NB has a feed rate of 28 feet-per-minute, with an easily-adjusted cutting depth setting for precision planning. The shortest piece to run through the planer is 5 1/16 inches.

How many panels are there in a wood planer?

One look at the body of this tool, you will see that there are four different panels here. Infeed and outfeed tables come built into this planer, and owing to these, your wooden boards will get an incredible amount of support. The stable working panels will be a breath of fresh air, and planing wood will no longer be a frustrating task.

How many watts does a planer blade use?

A very high-powered planer runs the blades with a full capacity of 1800 watts. There are two knives in this blade setup, though. This is something that might put you a bit off because the wood will not be that smooth when it gets pulled out of the feed.

Why does my wood planer snip?

This happens when the planer trims off too much from the ends of the wooden plane that is fed into the system . The snipe leaves tiny marks on the wood, ruins the look of the end product, and is a very annoying problem to deal with.

What is the best thickness planer?from lumber.org

If you work on bigger jobs in various locations and will use it regularly while onsite then a benchtop plane is the best thickness planer for you. Portable benchtop thickness planers are ideal for professionals working on multiple sites.

How thick can a benchtop planer be?from bobvila.com

If you won’t be using your benchtop planer that often and are a bit short on space, you might appreciate the fold-up infeed and outfeed tables that make storage a bit easier. These tables do sacrifice a bit of rigidity over solid cast bases, however. The CRAFTSMAN can handle materials up to 12 inches wide and 6 inches thick. For boards up to 8 inches, there’s a maximum depth of cut of up to 3/32-inch. Beyond 8 inches, depth of cut will vary.

How many cuts per minute on a 13 inch planer?from bobvila.com

This 13-inch, two-speed thickness planer from DEWALT has a 15-amp motor that creates a 10,000-RPM cutterhead speed and two feed speeds (96 and 179 cuts per minute). It has a 13-inch-wide capacity, as well as a 6-inch height capacity. The tool has a three-blade cutterhead and features DEWALT’s fan-assisted chip ejecting for hooking up to your dust collection system.

How thick can a wood planer handle?from bobvila.com

Your planer’s capacity, or allowance, is the major factor determining its capability. While manufacturers label most planers with ranges between 12 and 13 inches (plenty for most woodworking hobbyists), this metric doesn’t tell the whole story. For example, a 12-inch planer can handle a board 12 inches in width, but that does not say how thick a piece of wood the planer can handle. This metric could be quite helpful to know, so look for a planer that can handle materials as thin (height-wise) as 1/4-inch and as thick as 5 or 6 inches to get the most use out of your planer.

How does a benchtop planer cutter head affect the wood?from thetoolsquare.com

It affects the noise level of the benchtop planer tool. How much you’re going to spend if you plane a nail-embedded wood with your tool.

How many RPMs does a Craftsman planer have?from bobvila.com

It has a 15-amp motor that produces cutterhead speeds up to 8,000 RPMs. Thanks to its two-blade design, this provides 16,000 cuts per minute, which is enough for most light-duty hobby work.

How much does a Dewalt planer weigh?from lumber.org

This is why it is ideal for the professional or heavy user. It is also rather hefty, coming in at just over 100 pounds.

What is a benchtop planer?

A benchtop planer ​works just like the bigger floor model thickness planers, only at a lower capacity.

Why is a surface planer important?

It’s also called a surface planer because you can use it to remove the rough or old surface of wood, exposing a smooth and new surface suitable for fine woodworking projects.

Why use a helical cutterhead?

Because the inserts of the helical cutterhead are made of carbide, they also last far longer than the straight knives of a straight knife cutter head. Another important advantage of having a thickness planer with a helical cutter is that it reduces the noise produced by the planer.

How many cuts per minute on Powertec PL1252?

You get one of the smoothest finishes on the lumber you plane with this Powertec PL1252 because the cutterhead produces as much as 18,800 cuts per minute on the stock.

What is the purpose of the automatic carriage lock on a sandpaper cutter?

Features an automatic carriage lock that helps lock the cutterhead in place to prevent sniping at the ends of the boards. A fan assisted dust ejection helps vacuum chips and sawdust off the cutter-head and out of the machine, to keep the cutterhead free from any hindrance that may bog down the machine.

How wide can you plane lumber?

With a ​floor model, you can plane lumber as wide as 20 inches and above, whereas the highest or widest you can get today in terms of width capacity for benchtop planers is 13 inches.

How wide is a cutter head?

Cutter head blades are double edged, thus can be reversed when one edge gets dull. It has a width capacity of 12 inches and a depth capacity of 6 -3/32 inches. Features a fully adjustable depth stop to eliminate mistakes and for repeat cuts. Cutting depth is fully adjustable with a maximum cutting depth of 1/8 inches.

What is thickness planer?

A thickness planer will work to shave off the outer layer of a wood piece to reveal a healthy, smooth finish and it can prove to be one of the more useful acquisitions for your current or future workshop. Thankfully, we have an explaining table and clarifying reviews that will give you an easier way out when you’re trying to pick between the many specifications, so scroll further for more information on this useful machine.

Why is the Planer Indispensible in Woodworking?

As you might think, a workshop is not complete without at least a tool that can level wood. Back in the day, woodworkers would have to rely on the smaller, handheld tools whenever they needed to level a piece of wood or create multiple identical pieces of furniture, for example. Luckily, an ingenious man thought of the electrical planer, and ever since, this operation has been simplified significantly.

How many cuts can a DW735X cut?

Thanks to its ability to provide two different speeds, it’s up to you to choose whether to set it to 96 cuts at a time or 179. Don’t worry about the mess it might create, because it includes a 4-inch chute and a 21⁄2-inch hose adapter so all the dust will be collected before it can reach the air. However, this doesn’t mean that you can outlook the safety equipment, namely eye protection, as it is mandatory while handling wood-cutting machinery. The manufacturer has your back in case anything goes wrong with your tool. If the performance isn’t to your liking, you have 90 days to return. A 3-year protection period is also offered.

How fast is a PL1303?

Getting even and smooth boards has never been easier than it is when using the PL1303. This 63-pound piece is powered up by a 15 Amp engine and what that means is the cutter head can reach up to 10,000 rotations in 60 seconds, providing an impeccable cutting speed of 30,000 cuts in just as little time. With this speed, long projects will be a breeze, and short projects will feel like they never happened in the first place. The feed rate operation for this model is 26 feet per minute, bringing the cuts per inch at 96.

What is the advantage of using a portable wood saw?

The main advantage it gives is the possibility of purchasing any type of wood from a lumberyard, without thinking that it might be too bumpy, as it allows you to shape it to size. Workers prefer to use the portable version, however, you should keep in mind that a wide space is needed to properly operate it, regardless of its portability.

How to keep sawdust away from a workbench?

Keep sawdust away from your workspace by doing a thorough clean-up with the use of a cordless leaf blower. These can provide enough battery life to finish the job and you won’t need to worry about keeping a cord from getting stuck around a workbench or other tools you have laying around.

How much speed does a plank cutter have?

Speaking of which, this machine is fitted with two knives that rotate at 8,500 RPM with enough strength to cut into any type of wood. At this rotation, it delivers an impressive speed of 17,000 cuts each minute. Although the motor is very powerful, it remains silent, creating only 83dB, so if you use ear protection you surely won’t be disturbed while working.

Who makes the best thickness planer?

Some of the best thickness planers on the market are made by companies such as DeWalt, Makita, and WEN.

What makes a thickness planer different?

A thickness planer is a powerful tool that lets you shave off thin layers of material from timber or lumber.

What is a Makita 2012NB?

The Makita 2012NB is a 12-inch planer that scores top marks for portability and convenience.

How many amps does a Makita have?

It will also have a motor large enough 15 amp motor that can smoothly shave back even the densest of woods, both Makita and Dewalt stand out when it comes to both performance and value in a portable, powerful machine.

What is the best tool for cutting large material?

The best options by far are the DeWalt DW735X, the Makita 2012NB, and the Cutech/Wahuda Tools 40200HC-CT. The DeWalt DW735X is an excellent choice for those that need to make large cuts in wide materials.

Can a portable thickness planer be used for high volume work?

For most non-crucial applications, a portable thickness planer will do just fine. Of course, they aren’t as accurate as thickness planers, nor will they be able to handle high-volume work.

Do you have to know how to use a thickness planer?

Thickness planers are fairly straightforward tools, but you do have to know how to use them to ensure safety and quality results. As with all power tools, you have a higher risk of injury if you use a thickness planer without knowing the proper safety and operational procedures.

What is a thickness planer?

Thickness planers, or planers for short, are one of the most convenient and useful machines in woodworking. They make bringing stock to a specific thickness extremely easy. Something that could cost hours with the hand plane takes mere minutes with a planer. That is what makes it a great machine for anyone who prefers to focus on creating something ...

What is the best planer under $500?

The best planer under $500 is the DeWalt DW734. It is really the only option at this price, as it is much better than the competition, and upgrading to a better machine will cost you quite a bit more.

Why do you need two separate jointer planers?

And even on the best designed machines, with really quick turnover speeds, this still takes some time. If you have two separate dedicated machines, you can set up a much more effective workflow. For hobbyist woodworkers this is a nice quality of life feature, but for professionals it could even mean the difference between turning a profit or loss (in extreme cases).

Why do you need two separate machines?

Having two separate machines takes up quite a lot of space, and by combining them, you leave space for other tools and machines. In terms of workflow, the advantage is for separate machines. Jointer planers need to be converted from one task to another.

What is the best sub 350 planer?

The best sub-$350 planer on the North American market is the WEN 6552T. It is one of the most affordable planers out there, but it also has some nice features and specs that set it apart from the competition.

How many inches can a 2200 watt planer handle?

Besides the overall better design, it offers two more clear advantages over benchtop planers, namely power and size. It can handle boards up to 15 inches, and the 2200 Watt motor is also a bit more powerful. It lets you take cuts of 1/8″ (~ 4.7mm) in a single pass, although this is still not recommended if you want a nice finish quality.

How much does a DW735 cost?

One thing to note is that although the base model costs around $580, it doesn’t include the infeed and outfeed table, which are (in my opinion) really not optional. They cost about $50 (and even more separately) and bring the price of the DW735 closer to 650. Quite a few people complain about the stock blades becoming dull really quickly, so investing in some higher quality replacement blades might be a good idea.

What are thickness planer blades?

Thickness planer blades, also known as knives, come in two styles: straight and spiral. Each has a set of pros and cons. Straight knives look similar to long safety razors. They bolt onto the cutterhead (the spinning barrel inside a planer) to slice off layers of material in one quick pass.

How thick can a wood planer handle?

Your planer’s capacity, or allowance, is the major factor determining its capability. While manufacturers label most planers with ranges between 12 and 13 inches (plenty for most woodworking hobbyists), this metric doesn’t tell the whole story. For example, a 12-inch planer can handle a board 12 inches in width, but that does not say how thick a piece of wood the planer can handle. This metric could be quite helpful to know, so look for a planer that can handle materials as thin (height-wise) as 1/4-inch and as thick as 5 or 6 inches to get the most use out of your planer.

Why use a benchtop planer?

Using a benchtop planer also makes it possible to reveal the beauty of the grain hiding inside an old, weathered piece of wood —one of the most significant benefits of the best benchtop planers. Keep reading to understand the features ...

What is the speed of a cutterhead?

Many planers use pulleys and belts from the motor to spin the cutterhead. Look for speeds above 8,000 RPMs for the best results. Cutting speed refers to how many times the blades strike the surface of the board per minute.

How many passes to cut 5/8 inch wood?

Bringing a hardwood board from a 1-inch thickness to a 5/8-inch thickness, for example, could take five or six passes. You could measure the board’s thickness before each pass and make adjustments to the cutterhead using your tape measure or a combination square—a time-consuming process. The better option is to use a built-in gauge and depth stop to work your way down to the intended thickness more quickly.

What is the cutting depth of a planer?

Cutting depth refers to how much material a planer can remove in one pass. Generally speaking, the more powerful the planer, the more material it can remove in one pass and the larger the depth of cut. However, pieces of wood that are much thinner than the maximum capacity that the planer can handle (width-wise) may draw less on the motor, allowing the blades to remove more material accurately and smoothly than if the piece was very wide.

What are the drawbacks of a straight knife planer?

One drawback to a straight knife planer is that it provides somewhat rough and inconsistent results. Because a large amount of surface area comes in contact with the wood at once, the friction can slow the motor down at each swipe, causing choppiness and ripples that must later be sanded off the surface.