best thickness planer

Makita 2012NB Benchtop Thickness Planer, How To Choose A Benchtop Thickness Planer, this guide here for heavy duty industrial units, prevent sniping at the ends of the boards, Which Dewalt Planer Is The Best DW735X vs DW735 vs DW734, The Best Jointer Planer Combo Machines for Planing Rough Lumber, Jointer or Planer Which Tool Should You Get First, The 5 Best Portable Benchtop Jointers for Woodworking Projects, the type of cutter heads in the ones available. The shorter beds on some combo machines may not allow for as much support, and while you would get a wider jointer than normal (12-inches wide is common) the planer would be the same size, and 12-inches is more narrow than many planers, like my old 15-inch stand-alone planer. You have to choose one that is sturdy and rigid enough to withstand vibrations as you mill rough stocks with it. Straight knife cutter heads are usually made with high speed steel, and thus theyre cheaper compared to helical cutter heads which are made with carbide steel. Of all the benchtop thickness planers produced by WEN, the PL1326 is the priciest of them all, but its also the best one yet. Planing (milling) lumber involves movement of different powerful machine parts and cutting of lumber in these parts, which results in vibration. *Scroll down to this section to see the best stand-alone thickness planers. But higher motor horse power also makes it easier to plane harder woods, like tropical woods, that may bog down a thickness planer with a weaker motor. You just rotate one little blade 90 degrees rather than replacing or resharpening the whole HSS knife. On the other hand, replacing the straight knives of a straight knife cutter head can be a huge pain in the behind. So, you can set the depth stop at 5 inches, and you wont be able to crank the cutterhead less than 5 inches. A helical cutterhead / spiral cutterhead is also quite a bit quieter than the traditional knife cutterheads. All steel construction makes it a very durable machine. For years I struggled with the old style of cutterhead that had three long knives. Thats why it is undoubtedly one of the most important woodworking machine tools you need in your workshop. First its important to understand that not all used power wood planers are the same. The mustard yellow machinery told other woodworkers that you were serious about making furniture or musical instruments. Its quite pricey compared to the competition. Itll handle mostly any thickness planing job. Does not include a dust port, but you can order one for it. Now I own one, and I love it. The Dewalt DW735 and Dewalt DW735X both feature a 2-speed gear box, a more rigid cast aluminum base, and a 13-inch capacity, which is an inch wider than many other benchtop thickness planers. Most benchtop model thickness planers will only allow for about 12-13-inch wide boards, which I find limiting because I like to build furniture with wider boards so I dont have to do so much gluing & clamping. But I would advise you to purchase the Byrd Tools Shelix helical cutterhead. Quite difficult to set up or assemble, especially if your first planer machine. The Dewalt DW735X is simply a version that comes with an infeed table, outfeed table, and extra blades. This can lead to more serious thickness planer snipe on your boards. Its a 2-blade cutterhead with a maximum speed of 9,400 RPM. Here are the width capacities of the 10 reviewed in this article. A benchtop thickness planer is usually underpowered compared with larger wood planers, which may make it difficult to thickness plane very hard and figured woods. Cut quality and lower cost of maintenance are two more advantages of a helical cutterhead over a straight knife type. Helical style cutter head runs quieter and produces better cut quality. Hence, the portability comes at a price which can be overlooked because having a heavy duty planing machine might prove to be too expensive and not ideal especially for a simple hobbyist or DIYer who uses it sparingly. Thickness Planer Style (benchtop vs. stand-alone vs. combo), Scroll down to this section to see the best benchtop thickness planers, Scroll down to this section to see the best stand-alone thickness planers, Scroll down to this section to see the best combo thickness planers, like this popular Dewalt dw735 thickness planer, My Felder AD-941 planer / jointer combo machine, this Dewalt dw735 benchtop thickness planer, Here you can find helical cutterheads made especially for that wood planer, See Dewalt DW735 and DW734 planers at Amazon, See Dewalt DW735 and DW734 planers at WoodCraft, See Dewalt DW735 and DW734 planers at Rockler, See the Makita 2012NB 12-inch planer at Amazon, View Martin and Robland planers and pricing at the Martin website, View Powermatic planers and pricing at WoodCraft, View Powermatic planers and pricing at Rockler, View Powermatic planers and pricing at Amazon, View Oliver planers and pricing at the Oliver website, a forum user review of the 16-inch Laguna wood planer here, View Laguna planers and pricing at WoodCraft, View Laguna 16-inch ShearTec II 5HP planer and pricing at Rockler, View Laguna 22-inch ShearTec II 7.5HP planer and pricing at Rockler, View Grizzly planers and pricing at Amazon, View JET wood planers and pricing at Amazon, View JET wood planers and pricing at WoodCraft, View JET wood planers and pricing at Rockler, read my article & see my video about it here, Felder AD 941 16-inch jointer/planer machine here, see some of the Felder woodworking machines here, Rikon 12 Planer / Jointer at Rockler Woodworking, Jet 12 Planer/Jointer Combo w/Helical Head at Rockler Woodworking, JET 708476 Model JJP-12HH 12-Inch Planer/Jointer with Helical Cutterhead at Amazon, Grizzly G0634Z 12-inch Planer/Jointer with Spiral Cutter head at Amazon, Products for Wood Finishing, Sanding & Scraping, How to Choose Wood Lumber for Woodworking | 7 Easy Steps, How to Square, Flatten, and Dimension Rough Boards with Hand Tools, How to Make a Mortise and Tenon Joint with Woodworking Hand Tools, Privacy Policy, Rules, Terms & Conditions. At the top of the machine is the height adjustment crank to easily set the depth of cut. The answer is that it all depends on a few factors. I personally dont have a problem taking more passes with lighter cuts, because wood tends to tear out more when taking a heavy cut. But please take my word for it. These wont get dull quickly and you can even reverse them with they finally do. not super hard wood), then a benchtop thickness planer with slightly lower horse power (like this popular Dewalt dw735 thickness planer with 2.17HP) should work great. This allows you to optimize cuts per inch for both dimensioning and finishing of the lumber surface. Its a 6 row helical-style cutter head with 26 high speed steel (HSS) precision sharpened inserts. The whole machine is rigid and heavy weighing just about 80 lbs, which thus prevents any form of wobbling during operation. Its caused by not having good enough support on the infeed or outfeed tables (or no infeed or outfeed tables at all). Some traditional woodworkers skip buying a power jointer (and flatten the first face and edge with hand tools) but still use a thickness planer. Grizzly manufactures a large range of benchtop and stand-alone thickness planers and jointer-planer combo machines. It also features a 4-post threaded support for the cutter-head to improve the stability and accuracy of the machine when making cuts. Equipped with a 3 knife cutterhead, the DW735X produces a very smooth finish on boards that go through it. Like the previous model, the WEN PL1326 has a width capacity of 13 inches and a depth capacity of 6 inches, allowing you to plane the widest boards possible on a portable machine like this. Here are a few places you can check prices on these Dewalt thickness planers: Makita is a brand name that Ive trusted for many years, and this portable Makita 2012NB thickness planer is another good option if you want to stick with a portable thickness planer. Of all the benchtop thickness planers listed here, the Jet JWP-13BT is the only one that comes factory fitted with a helical style cutterhead. You can see some of the Felder woodworking machines here and you can watch their video featuring their different planer / jointer machines: Felder also makes the Hammer series of jointer/planer combos that are more than enough for most small-shop professional and hobbyist woodworkers, and less than half the cost of the Felder line. The price tag is quite a bit higher than the DeWalt planers, at around $750. This drastically reduces snipe and makes the planing process easier and more accurate. A version of the Dewalt 735 was one of the first thickness planers that I used. Heres a video that shows some common tricks to reduce snipe, especially on benchtop thickness planers. First you have to loosen and remove the damaged knife, then you have to replace and align the new knife with the rest of the knives and this can sometimes take a lot of time to replace depending on the type you have. Helical cutter heads on the other hand does not feature long straight knives that runs the length of the cutterhead. I cant say which is the best wood planer for you, because that depends upon how you work wood and what size your shop is. I havent used a Martin or Robland planer, but have heard great things about the machines. As you send the board through multiple times, the board is planed to a perfectly uniform thickness along the entire board. Also, it can be used on jobsites by contractors, because its portable and can be moved easily by one person, unlike big floor models which are meant to stay in the workshop. I havent used a Laguna thickness planer, and dont know anyone else who has, so Ive included a forum user review of the 16-inch Laguna wood planer here to help you in your research if a Laguna planer interests you. Some parts will need replacement after some time. After you have flattened one face of a board on a power jointer, then that board can be taken to a thickness planer. Portable thickness planers are designed to be taken onto a job site, as well as to be used in a workshop. I havent used DW734, but it has good reviews. But if you dont mind keeping your thickness planing slowed down, and you will mostly use non-tropical hardwoods and softwoods (i.e. It has a maximum cutting depth of 0.1 inches, with the 2 blade cutterhead spinning at 9000 RPM, thus helping you get a quality and smooth finish on your boards. This is the style of thickness planer that youre most-likely to find in a professional woodworking workshop, and its the type Ive had for years (until recentlyIll talk about my upgraded combo planer / jointer below). Heres a quick overview of how the process works: The boards first face is flattened on the jointer, along with squaring an edge: And then the jointer table is flipped up to reveal the thickness planer: Lets look at some of the pros and cons of this type of wood planer: As mentioned above, a combo planer / jointer machine is a great option for someone who wants the powerful features of a stand-alone wood planer and jointer, but doesnt want to dedicate the space for those large machines. Many woodworking tools create a lot of sawdust and a benchtop wood planer is a very good example. Here you can find helical cutterheads made especially for that wood planer. Of course, they had a lot of rust! Powermatic woodworking machines used to be manufactured in the U.S.A. but after being acquired by the company that makes JET woodworking machinery, many customers have complained about a decline in quality control. And a 16-inch jointer/planer combo would handle almost any project you may have. In this article Ill help you choose the best thickness planer for the money, whether youre a beginner or an experienced woodworker. Some thickness planers like the Dewalt DW735X and the WEN 6552T come with a fan assisted dust collection port that helps to blow out chips and dust out of the machine. So should you buy a new thickness planer or a used thickness planer? It comes equipped with a 15 amp motor so the you can plane both hard and softwood with it. However, the same quality control issues that I mentioned above for Powermatic planers applies to JET. While the Dewalt DW735Xs means of mitigating snipe is automatic. This led to less time spent handplaning and sanding. The small cutters of the helical cutters produce little wood chips which can be easily sucked up by your dust collector. Benchtop thickness planers come with the cheaper knife-style cutterheads, rather than a helical cutterhead (explained in section #5). You can see all the wood planers and pricing at the Martin website: Powermatic has been a well-respected brand name among the companies that manufacture machinery for pro woodworking shops and hobbyists with money to spend. Some people call it a floor model planer. But if you dont want to spend time rehabbing an old machine, and you like the idea of having a helical cutterhead, then go for a new thickness planer or a used thickness planer that is more modern. A powerful 15 amp motor keeps the cutter head running. The Martin brand is on a similar level as the Felder and Format 4 brands (mentioned above) and is out of most woodworkers budget. Thickness planers come with two different types of cutterheads, ones with straight knives that run the length of the cutterhead, and helical cutterheads (sometimes called spiral cutterheads). With a depth capacity of 6 inches and a width capacity of 13 inch width capacity, you can really plane wider boards with this machine when compared to other portable planers with 12 inch or 12.5 inch width. Oliver is a higher-end consumer / pro workshop brand of woodworking machinery. These payments are very helpful to us, and add no additional fees to our users, so we are grateful for anyone who uses the affiliate links. Thickness planer snipe is where the cutter head takes off too much wood on the first 3-5 inches and last 3-5 inches when the feeder grabs the board. Are you looking for advice to help you choose the best wood thickness planer for your money? 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. It has a width capacity of 12 inches, a depth capacity of 6 -3/32 inches and a maximum cut depth of 1/8 inches. But with the following guide, youll know whats important and whats not. The DW735X has a 13 inch width capacity which is the widest youre going to get with any portable planer. A vacuum port at the back provides easy access to connect a shop vac to get rid of chips and sawdust produced. Just like the other machines reviewed, this Craftsman CMEW320 benchtop planer comes equipped with a 15 amp motor for maximum power and speed. Laguna has traditionally been a manufacturer of higher-end woodworking machinery, and in addition to their portable benchtop planer (see it here) they have a line stand-alone wood planers that range in bed size from 16-inch to 22-inch, with horse power between 5HP and 10HP. Because stand-alone wood planers (and some combo planers) usually have much more robust features than the benchtop planers, including wider cutting capacity, more powerful motors, longer and stronger infeed / outfeed tables, superior cutterheads, and more. The helical cutterheads leave my figured boars beautiful, with no tearout and minimal machine marks. In my opinion, not having a helical cutterhead is a major drawback. In fact, you dont have to replace the carbide inserts the first time they get nicked, you just have to loosen the nicked inserts and rotate them 90 degrees to reveal a new sharp edge, and youre as good as new. One of the only portable thickness planers that come equipped with a 2 speed gearbox which allows the user to change the feed speed from 96 cuts per inch to 179 cuts per inch. The width capacity is just 12.5 inches while the depth capacity is 6 inches, but you can carry out lot of projects with it especially if youre a weekend warrior or contractor who needs a portable machine for jobsite use. There are some ways to reduce or prevent thickness planer snipe. We run our website based on principles of integrity, and dont recommend any product that we wouldnt use ourselves. Here is a video that I created about my Felder AD 941 jointer / planer combo machine so you can understand how higher-end combo planer / jointers can be an amazing solution: *Scroll down to this section to see the best combo thickness planers. WoodAndShop.com recommends products with links to online stores, some of which are part of affiliate programs. Also featured is a Poly-V cutter head drive for maximum transmission of power from the motor. Hence the need for portable types commonly known as benchtop planers. It also comes with large in-feed and out-feed tables for good material support, with a depth adjustment knob positioned right at the top so you can easily access it. Therere in-feed and out-feed tables for material support when feeding boards in and out of the machine. One of the advantages of the helical-style cutter head on this Rikon 25-135H is that it shears through the wood at an angle, thus producing very clean and smooth cuts. Now Im not saying theyre quiet, just more quiet. First, the cost is higher than a benchtop planer, and can be substantially higher. Related: Which Dewalt Planer Is The Best DW735X vs DW735 vs DW734. If youre not looking for a portable or benchtop planer, you can check out this guide here for heavy duty industrial units. Cutterhead inserts are cheaper and easier to change. The Powertec PL1252 has a 12-1/2 inch width capacity and a 6 inch depth capacity. Rikon 25-135H Portable Thickness Planer, 5. Feed rate can be adjusted for a better finish or to remove more material from the workpiece. If users make purchases in those stores (e.g. The Delta Power Tools 22-555 benchtop planer features adjustable in-feed and out-feed tables for extra material support and to prevent sniping. Thats serious power. The cutterhead on this one is a 2-knife cutterhead but the boards planed with it also came out very smooth. The cutterhead delivers up to 18,800 cuts per inch at a feed rate of 28 feet per minute, producing the smoothest of cuts even on very hard lumber pieces. Please comment below if you have any questions or if it seems like I neglected to include any information or top thickness planer brands in this Power Tool Woodworking Buying Guide on thickness planers. 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. Im pretty sure that horse power is a term more used on consumer-level machinery to assist woodworkers in comparing machinery. Noisy during operation. Produces really smooth surfaces on the stock, 2 speed gearbox for dimensioning and finishing lumber, Quality build and design from a reputable brand. I think they just sell more of the DW 735X, so the price has dropped. But if you cant afford a high-end professional thickness planer, dont fret. It has a maximum depth capacity of 6 inches, allowing you to take a lot of material at once from the wood youre working on. As I mentioned in the earlier section on combo planers, they are a great way to save space in your workshop without compromising performanceas long as you get one that is high quality. The cast iron tables were very supportive, and the spiral cutterheads left a nice surface with minimal machine marks and very little tearout (only a little on highly figured wood). The Robland brand is a more affordable line of machines (similar to Felders Hammer brand) that Martin imports from Belgium. So if youll be doing occasional thickness planing, then you can look for thickness planers under 3HP. These machines have incredible tolerances and accuracy. Additional accessories that come with it include in-feed and out-feed tables, an extra set of blades and a dust hose adapter to connect it to your shop vac, allowing you to keep you workshop free from sawdust. The one you should choose should be able to produce a really smooth surface on any type of wood, so that the resulting stock will require very little sanding if necessary. You can see the two models here: I have also heard that Minimax makes good high-end jointer / planer combo machines, though I havent tried them. When you mistakenly run a nail embedded wood through your planer, just 1 or 2 carbide inserts might get damaged if its a helical cutter head, and theyre very easy to replace. Below Ill briefly discuss the pros and cons of each style and in the last section of this article Ill share some of the best thickness planers in each category: Benchtop wood planers are exactly what the name suggests: a thickness planer that is small enough to be used on your wood workbench. You can read a good forum thread about it here to help you make a decision. The lighter weight is usually not a problem because it can be bolted to a workbench to prevent movement and vibration during use. At the top of the machine is a depth adjustment knob that allows you to raise or lower the cutterhead for easy depth control. Is it smooth or still needs a lot of work with a sander? Much of my advice is similar to features that I mentioned in my previous article on choosing a power jointer, so you can refer to the jointer guide here. You dont need to pull down anything to lock down the cutterhead and roller assembly. But if you dont mind using the old style knife cutterheads, and you like rehabbing machinery, then a vintage thickness planer will work great for you. Why do professionals and serious hobby woodworkers prefer stand-alone thickness planers? Oliver carries a large range of wood planers, running all the way from a $900 lunch box benchtop planer to a $14,000 production 25-inch planer with Byrd Shelix cutterhead. The larger thickness planers typically run in sizes from 15-inches wide up to around 25-inches wide. Its 4 column design provides rock-solid support and stability during use. Now Ill jump into discussing 6 important features to consider when looking to buy the best thickness planer for woodworking: So what features should you consider when buying a thickness planer for your woodworking workshop? Certainly you want the best wood planer for your money. Even their consumer Hammer brand is well-made, and has high-end parts and options, like planing widths up to 16-inches. Were a small team of woodworkers, engineers and contractors with a combined experience of over 20 years dealing with power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Feeding your wood stock into a less powerful planer also takes longer due to slower feed rates. Here are some options for my favorite combo planer / jointer: For many years my dream woodworking machine was the Felder AD 941. This ensures you dont over plane your stock past a certain depth, say 5 inches. Talking about part replacement, its also good to check the warranty. There are a few downsides of a stand-alone thickness planer. You get some sniping at the end of your boards. A stand-alone thicknes planer is the name I give to a wood planer that has its own base and sits on the floor, rather than on a workbench top. The Dewalt DW734 features a black bar at the top, which when pulled down engages an automatic carriage lock which locks down the cutterhead and roller assembly, thereby limiting any upward or downward movement that may cause sniping. Aside from inspecting the planer and trying it out, do some research on the brand and model before you even make the trip to look at the wood planer. And the quality is higher than Grizzly. And because a helical cutterhead uses small square carbide cutters, the process of changing a chipped or dull blade became much, much easier. They are the same machine, and for the same price you can get the DW735X with the extras, so Im not sure why you wouldnt go with that deal. It has a width capacity of 13 inches, a 6 inch depth capacity and a maximum cut depth of 3/32 inches. When making your choice, the higher the width capacity the better it is for you, because you can plane wider boards with it without trying to downsize the boards. Some people call it a floor model planer. The 16-inch Felder starts at around $11,500, but its still less expensive than buying a separate 16-inch jointer and large thickness planer from companies like Grizzly (the maker of my former jointer and thickness planer). Instead, they feature multiple rows of small square-shaped cutters called inserts that are configured in a helical orientation around the cutter head. It comes equipped with in-feed and out-feed tables which provides solid material support for your work piece. Larger thickness planers have more powerful motors, compared with some benchtop planers. Large infeed and outfeed tables provide enough space to support the stock and reduce sniping at the ends of the boards. I have actually used many woodworking thickness planer machines in my lifetime, so this article shares a lot of real experience (from me and friends), rather than just pulling top Amazon sellers like other review articles. You can see them here. *Scroll down to this section to see the best benchtop thickness planers. Vintage thickness planers were certainly well built, and usually last longer than new thickness planers. So thickness planers in the 20-inch to 25-inch range are overkill for most woodworkers. Some woodworkers feel like this Makita planer has fewer quality issues than the DeWalt planers. But overall it was a good thickness planer. Proper support can eliminate it though. They also come in planing widths up to 16-inches, so its a more affordable option for jointing and thickness planing wide boards. Spinning the spiral cutterhead is a 15 amp motor with a rotational speed of 10,000 RPM at a feed rate of 26 feet per minute. It will not stay the same forever. One of the main advantages is the ease of replacing the carbide inserts of the helical cutter head compared to that of replacing the knives of the straight knife cutter head. A heavy duty anti-wobble base ensures it remains rigid during operation, and also provides a non-marring surface for passage of stock. Here are a few of the best benchtop planers on the market (in my opinion): The Dewalt dw735 thickness planer is the most popular wood planer in the benchtop category. Probably the biggest downside is that a combo machine requires switching the machine back and forth between jointer and thickness planer. On the other hand, the portability means you dont have to own a big workshop to get one. The Rikon 25-135H portable thickness planer is a bit pricey compared to the other units in this list, but it also come with premium features youll not find in some of the rest. The Makita 2012NB features an interna-lok head clamp which also helps to lock the cutterhead and roller assembly in place to eliminate snipe. Included is an easy to read depth gauge to make easy depth adjustments and a big paddle switch so you can switch off the machine conveniently. Benchtop models usually have rather weak infeed and outfeed tables, which cant handle heavy pieces of lumber, and which are more difficult to make dead flat. For workshops with limited space, some woodworkers have to make a compromise. Therell always be some features it has and others it lacks. That is why weve reviewed and picked out the 10 best portable thickness planers you can get your hands on today, and also provided a buyers guide to help you make the right choice. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Also ensure that any planer you choose, comes with in-feed and out-feed tables, because they go a long way to support the wood, thereby reducing snipe. Spinning the cutterhead is a powerful 15 amp motor which produces a maximum speed of 20,000 RPM, so the user can work on any stock whether its hardwood like oak or softwood like pine wood. But just be prepared because the cutterheads run about $500. The straight knife cutterhead is the main type of cutter head or the traditional cutterhead that comes with most planers, especially the benchtop models. Now, talking about the type of cutter head it comes with, therere two main types of cutter head. So what is the best wood planer in the stand-alone style? Last updated on April 18th, 2022 at 05:22 am. But I will share some of the top hobbyist / professional thickness planer brands below: The Felder group manufactures several lines of top woodworking machinery, and has an excellent selection of stand-alone wood planers and combo planer/jointer machines. Thats good for a benchtop planer. Jet JWP-13BT With Helical Cutterhead, 4. And if you dont 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. There are many brands and manufacturers of thickness planers today, each with its own unique set of features. Thus, choosing the right one especially if its your first one can be quite difficult or confusing. The 2-knife quick-change solid steel cutter head comes equipped with double-edged knifes made of high carbon steel. This may be some research that youll need to do for yourself if youre looking to buy a newer Powermatic planer. Wen PL1326 Spiral Cutterhead Benchtop Thickness Planer, 3. Each insert can be rotated 4 times before its finally replaced because all four edges can be used for planing.

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