Best Thickness Planer: Well, in this post, I’ll walk you through some of the best thickness planers available on the market.
Moreover, I’ll also throw light on important parameters so as to help you make an informed buying decision.
Lastly, I’ll also respond to the queries related to the best thickness planer, so read till the end.
To be honest, this comprehensive buying guide would be of great help to those who are planning to start their career in woodworking and looking for the best thickness planers for beginners.
Needless to say, we’ve also covered thickness planers such as Dewalt thickness planer which is perfect for professionals.
All in all, you can consider this post as a one-stop solution to all your queries related to the thickness planer.
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
Best Thickness Planer Review
Well, we’re a professional team of woodworkers, and we review products on a set of parameters that we believe are important for the tools to be up to the mark.
And, the same holds true with Thickness Planer as well.
Needless to say, we’ll also talk about the parameters that we’ve taken into consideration to come up with the top 5 thickness planers later in this post.
I hope you’ll enjoy the Thickness Planer Review, and our team has always put their heart and soul into doing post-related research so that our readers’ quest ends RIGHT on our blog.
Delta Power Tools 22-555| Best Thickness Planer For Home Shop
Well, if you would’ve done any research on portable thickness planers then definitely, you would’ve come across the brand Delta Power Tools, right?
It goes without saying that Delta Power Tools is a well-known and trusted brand when it comes to buying a thickness planer.
I’ve been a professional woodworker for over a decade now, and to be honest, I love trying new and innovative products from quite a few brands.
However, when it comes to recommending products, I become very careful and recommend only those products which have been tested by my woodworking team as well as clients that we work with.
In short, you don’t have to worry about the credibility of the thickness planers that we would be reviewing.
Coming back to the topic, Delta Power Tools 22-555 Thickness Planer, is a great tool for a newbie as well as experienced ones as it mitigates the set of risks that you otherwise would be prone to when planning board for various projects.
Personally, I love the machine’s capability to manage both small and big projects.
It comes with a 15-amp motor, and the idiosyncratic knife system helps you by quickly swapping out the blades for planning hard or softwood.
The operation process is newbie-friendly as both the in-feed as well as out-feed tables on the front and back are adjustable.
Furthermore, the machine is designed in such a way that you can easily keep track of each piece of wood that you’ll push through.
Lastly, it comes with a reversible dust port that you can use on either side of this thickness planer.
All in all, a great planer that allows you to change knives without the need for any adjustment.
Not only that, you’ll rarely face any problem related to sniping as feed tables are aligned with the planer to deal with it.
Trust me, it adds a nice finish to the board.
Don’t TRUST me, then read what users say about this thickness planer on Amazon.
Check Delta Power Tools 22-555 13 In Current Price On AmazonDEWALT (DW735) | Best Thickness Planer For Beginners
So, here comes my favorite thickness planer, DEWALT Thickness Planer, I not only use it personally but also, have recommended it to most of my clients.
With the god grace, till now, I’m getting good feedback about this little beast from my clientele.
If you’re a professional woodworker, and your projects often require a larger cut in wider materials, then definitely, you should opt for this powerful 15-AMP planer which comes with a great cutter head speed of 10,000 RPM.
Needless to say, the planer is user-friendly, and you’ll not find any difficulty in changing the knives.
On top of it, the machine comprises three-knife cutter heads, and as compared to its counterparts, the knives have a 30 percent longer knife life.
I know all these qualities of DEWALT thickness planer would be enticing you to take this beast home, right?
WELL, I’m not finished, yet.
The vacuum ejection feature is definitely something that would grab your eyeballs.
Moreover, it plays a crucial role in preventing accidents and injuries caused by not only wood clouds of dust but also, chips caught in the cutting area.
Lastly, even though you’re a first-time user, you’ll not find any difficulty in changing the cutting speed.
All you need to do is simply flip a switch, and you can change the gearbox to manipulate the speed, and the higher speed is required for cutting hardwoods and vice-versa.
So, when are you planning to buy this thickness planer?
WAIT, before buying this machine, I would request you to go through the customer review available on Amazon.
Does it make sense?
Check DEWALT Thickness Planer, Two Speed, Current Price On AmazonWEN 6550T | Best Benchtop Thickness Planer
Trust me, the granite table of WEN 6550T will blow your mind, indeed.
Well, it wouldn’t be wrong if I’ll affirm that the granite table is the USP of this benchtop thickness planer.
I highly recommend this thickness planer if your primary mission is to get a superlative smooth finish.
No doubt, this little beast comprises a powerful motor (15-amp) that is capable of cutting up to 18,000 cuts per minute, and the feed rate that it uses for such an operation is 26 feet per minute.
On top of it, if your woodworking project involves very hardwood which may be a cause of concern when it comes to the stability of a thickness planer then forget everything and opt for WEN.
First of all, the granite table never warps and provides support to the wood passing through the machine.
Secondly, the WEN comprises of heavy-duty cast iron base which doesn’t topple even though you pass the hardest wood available on the market.
The other benefit that WEN has because of the granite table is that it prevents sawdust from clinging to the table’s face, interesting, isn’t it?
Wait, you don’t have to worry at all about the portability.
The manufacturer understands the importance of a portable thickness planer, and thus, provides the two side-mounted handles.
Not only that, both infeed and outfeed tables are foldable.
To be honest, there are lot many interesting things to write about this Benchtop Thickness Planer.
However, I’ll refrain from boring you.
In case, you love this little beast and want to take it home, please check what customers speak about this benchtop planer. (check the current price on Amazon)
Check WEN 6550T Current Price On AmazonMakita 2012NB | Best Portable Thickness Planer
To be honest, Makita 2012NB is known for its idiosyncratic superlative design.
Well, it goes without saying that the machine is lightweight and compact, and is definitely a great addition to your small shop in case you’ve got a space constraint.
Trust me, it does all the work that a thickness planer should do.
I highly recommend this model in case you’re looking for a portable thickness planer that could take care of both your shop and home needs.
Needless to say, you can easily carry this little beast from home to your shop in the car and vice-versa.
Furthermore, the machine comes with a table of decent length.
However, if you’re working on professional woodworking projects that require longer boards then this machine gives you the option of increasing the size of the table with the help of the extension.
At the same time, if you’re looking for a quiet thickness planer then definitely Makita is a model to look for.
It has been uniquely designed to create less noise as compared to its close competitors.
To make the planer newbie-friendly, a LED light is added to the machine which indicates when the machine is plugged into the power source.
I’ll not deny the fact that there is some thickness planer that is NOT user-friendly and users find it really hard to change the blade.
Nevertheless, you’ll not find any such problem in this model, as blade change is very easy.
Lastly, if your projects revolve around cabinets, closets, staircases, and furniture then Makita 2012NB would prove to be a value-for-money thickness planer for you.
Check Makita 2012NB Current Price On AmazonWEN 6502T | Best Budget Thickness Planer
Are you on a shoestring budget?
Moreover, are you in search of a cheap thickness planer that is efficient as well?
The thing that I really appreciate about WEN 6502T is its affordable price.
At the same time, you would be astonished to know that the company offers you a powerful motor at this price.
So, if you’re looking for a cheap thickness planer for your home shop or small shop then you can definitely exploit this option.
The machine has a sturdy and stable base so you don’t have to worry at all about the vibrations.
You can expect a maximum RPM of 3600 from the 4.3 Amp motor that the machine comes with.
It goes without saying that the machine is user-friendly and acts as a two-in-one sanding machine.
Lastly, it comes with 4-by-36 inch belt that you can tilt anywhere between zero and ninety degrees depending upon your requirement.
Check WEN 6502T Current Price On AmazonThe Beginner’s Guide To Best Thickness Planer
To be honest, we’ve tried to the best of our capabilities to provide you with the necessary piece of information so that you can make a purchase decision confidently.
Does it make sense?
Do I really need a thickness planer?
Well, it has been a decade now working as a woodworking consultant, and you would be astonished to know that I’ve been asked about the importance of a thickness planer as well as the available alternatives to it.
After doing my research, I came to the conclusion that a thickness planer performs three specific functions which other tools may not do as perfectly it does.
- It is quite good at taking the second face of a board parallel to the other face.
- Moreover, it smooths rough stock in an efficient way
- Lastly, it reduces stock down to the thickness as per your requirement
In short, if you’re planning to make woodworking your career then definitely, you don’t have a choice.
Trust me, once you’ll have a thickness planer, you’ll never regret the investment that you’ve made into it because it will help you in getting control of your stock thickness that you would’ve never imagined before.
For the best result, I would recommend you pair your thickness planer with a jointer and then see the miracle happening.
Trust me, every board that you’ll use would be arrow straight, flat, and of any thickness that you’ll desire.
Before we move further, I would request you to read the best woodworking plans if you’re planning to make your career in woodworking.
Thickness Planers | Pros & Cons
| Products (Check the Current Price On Amazon) | Pros | Cons |
| Delta Power Tools |
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(Editor’s choice) |
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| WEN 6550 |
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| Makita 2012NB |
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| WEN 6502 |
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*Check the current price of the products on Amazon.
Planer Vs Drum Sander
To best honest, there is NOT much difference in the way both the planer and drum sander operate.
So, if you’re a beginner and not aware of the fact that how these tools operate?
Then, let me tell you, all you need to do is to pass a piece of wood through the tools in both cases, and you’ll get a thinner version as an outcome.
However, you might be inquisitive to know the difference between these two tools, right?
Well, the planer removes the wood in strips to adjust the size and thickness of the wood.
On the other hand, a drum sander dust it down so as to smooth it out and prepare the wood for finishing.
A Planer Or A Jointer: Which One Should I Buy?
Well, I may not be the RIGHT person to give you the advice until and unless I’m well aware of your situation.
However, to help you out I’m jotting down the difference in a tabular format.
Jointer Planer
- A jointer is a motorized hand plane turned upside down
- The function of a jointer is similar to a hand plane except that you move the wood across it instead of moving it across the wood
- A jointer performs really well when it comes to creating a flat surface on wood
- Definitely, you can use a jointer to correct bow, and also, wrap on one side of a board at a time
- The main function of a planer is to take thick wood and make it thinner
- You can use a planer ONLY IF board already have one flat side
- The good thing about a planer is that it makes the rough side both smooth and parallel to another side
- In a layman language, you put the board into the planer to make it thinner only after you've established a flat side with the help of a jointer or a hand plane.
Well, I hope after going through the above table, you would’ve definitely, got some idea about a jointer as well as a planer.
So, if you’re still finding it difficult to figure out, what should you buy then allow me to help you to the best of my capabilities.
To be honest, if you’ve got great hand tool skills, and you can flatten one side of the board with the help of a hand plane, then definitely, you don’t need a jointer.
Thickness Planer Design And Working
A thickness planer comprises three important elements; a cutter head, a set of rollers, and a table.
The cutter head consists of a cutting knife, and its main function is to perform the cutting.
Moreover, the rollers are used to draw the board through the machine.
Furthermore, the table is responsible for controlling the resultant thickness of the board, so it is made adjustable relative to the cutter head.
Let’s discuss the working of a thickness planer.
First and foremost, the table is adjusted to the desired height. Once you’re comfortable with the adjustment, you need to switch on the machine.
Once the machine is switched on, you’ll have to feed the board into the machine until it comes in contact with the in-feed roller.
The work of the in-feed roller is to grip the board and draws it into the machine wherein the cutter head removes the material with the help of the knives.
What to look for when buying a thickness planer for home use?
As promised to my readers that I’ll talk in-depth about the parameters that you can’t ignore when it comes to making an informed buying decision.
The parameters that we’re going to discuss now will help you in narrowing down the options.
So, don’t skip this section 🙂
Does the motor of a thickness planer matter?
In short, yes it matters
Well, if you’re looking for a powerful thickness planer then definitely, the motor would play a crucial role in deciding which thickness planer should you buy.
In layman’s language, if you’re a professional woodworker and work mostly on complex projects that involve cutting all sorts of wood then you must go for the planer that has a powerful motor.
The power of a motor is defined by the number of revolutions it makes per minute.
Let’s dive a little more.
Mostly, thickness planers are comprised of two types of motors: electric induction and electric universal.
The electric induction motors are quite heavy, sturdy, and also, durable.
Furthermore, they are highly powerful and are mostly used for static installation in factories and industries.
They are meant for large and complex projects.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a thickness planer for your home shop or a small space then you need to go with a portable thickness planer.
The portable thickness planers are mostly comprised of universal motors that are lightweight.
Needless to say, universal motors are less powerful as compared to electric induction motors.
At the same time, I wouldn’t deny the fact that a cheap thickness planer mostly comprises a universal motor.
The main problem with the universal motor is that its performance is relatively poor on hardwood as compared to the electric induction motor.
Are you looking for a quiet-thickness planer?
I know a quiet thickness planer may not be the top priority of most of my readers still, but I would like to emphasize the importance of a “quiet tool”
As we all know, continuous exposure to high-level decibels can permanently damage your hearing ability.
One of the ways to get rid of such a problem is to buy noise-canceling headphones or an earmuff.
They will protect your ears from unwanted noise.
Moreover, you can also opt for a quiet-thickness planer.
If you’ve got a home office then woodworking tools may be a point of concern both for you and your neighbors.
Definitely, there are some great quiet woodworking tools including a quiet thickness planer available on the market still I would say that a better option would be to soundproof your office, as it would be a permanent solution for all your noise problems.
What is the price of a good thickness planer?
To be honest, a good thickness planer is a relative term, and what may be a perfect thickness planer for you may not suffice my needs.
Nevertheless, I’ll walk you through the price range of thickness planers to help you get an idea of the budget you need to allocate for the machine.
The cost of a thickness planer depends upon lots of things including brand name, model, features, manufacturer, etc.
If you have got a budget of $300, then you’re good to go.
However, if you don’t have any budget constraints then you can look for a high-end thickness planer that comes somewhere around $1000.
Most of the time, a cheaper thickness planer can serve the purpose.
What I’ve seen is that a high-end thickness planer is ONLY required if you’re working on a very specific project that demands high precision.
What should be the allowance of a thickness planer?
It goes without saying that the thickness allowance is an important feature to consider.
In layman’s language, thickness allowance is the measure of the width that of rough wood that a thickness planer is capable of handling.
Just look for the thickness planer that has a thickness allowance of six inches.
Does the construction of a thickness planer matter?
Of course, construction does matter.
Always go for a thickness planer that has a robust construction, and is capable of withstanding the exploitation of the hardwood.
In simple words, the construction should be strong enough to take care of vibrations and shaking.
Do you know that the best thickness planers are made from heavy-duty metals?
Does table size matter when it comes to buying a thickness planer?
Depending upon the complexity of a woodworking project, the table size of a thickness planer may or may not matter.
In short, it DEPENDS.
However, I always advise my clientele to consider both the size of the table and the cutting area that comes with the thickness planer.
I hope most of you would be aware of the fact that there are quite a few models that can support boards up to 15 inches thick or wide.
Should I buy a thickness planer depending on my work type?
To be honest, do I really need to answer this question?
To be honest, if you’re a professional woodworker then you must be well aware of the fact that the type of thickness planer that you should bring home to some extent depends upon your work.
For example, if your woodworking project involves hardwoods then you must go for a highly stable, sturdy, and powerful thickness planer.
On the other hand, if you’re a beginner, and your projects mostly involve previously discarded and old boards, then even a portable thickness planer with a medium-power motor would work for you.
How important is safety when it comes to buying a thickness planer?
Well, for me, safety plays a crucial role when it comes to making a buying decision.
I’ve two small kids so whichever tool I plan to buy, I always give priority to safety.
As most of us are well aware of the fact that a thickness planer is more powerful as compared to a manual planer.
However, how many of us know, that a thickness planer is less safe than a manual counterpart?
In simple terms, the more powerful the machine is the less safe it is meant to be.
Let’s understand it with the help of an example.
Suppose you’re a professional woodworker and your projects involve a high level of complexity, all you need is a very powerful thickness planer.
Definitely, it’s good to have a powerful thickness planer, but at the same time, you should also be careful about the rapid rotation of knives and blades.
Needless to say, the powerful planers would have a powerful motor that would have higher RPM.
As a result, you’ve got a very thin margin for error.
However, to be on the safer side, always follow the manual that comes with the planner.
Let’s have a quick look at some of the safety measures that are easy to follow.
- Always unplug the planer when it’s not in use
- Never operate a thickness planer without wearing eye, ear, and face protection
- Always avoid wearing loose clothing as they may get stuck to the knives
- Don’t try to move the machine when it’s in use
- Keep your hands away from the blade when the machine is in use
Should I buy a portable thickness planer?
To be honest, it DEPENDS on one’s requirement as well as limitation.
If you’re looking for a thickness planer for your home shop or a small shop where you don’t have much space, then you don’t have any option but to go for a portable and compact thickness planer as benchtop and other heavier models would take more space.
However, it is equally important for you to understand that the bulkier models are more powerful and durable.
So, do a bit of homework on space allocation, and accordingly, select a model that suits your requirement.
How much do parameters like efficiency matter?
Efficiency does matter as size matters.
An efficient thickness planer will help you in the fast completion of your woodworking project.
At the same time, you also need to understand that a “one size fits all” sort of concept wouldn’t work in the case of a thickness planer.
Some thickness planers aren’t capable of planing raw wood while others fail at handling a certain type of thickness.
So, do your homework in the best possible way to buy the best thickness planer.
What are some of the best ways to maintain a thickness planer?
Well, for a longer life of your planer, regular maintenance is required.
The good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot of time and money on maintaining a thickness planer.
Just follow the below-mentioned steps and your planer will have a long-lasting life.
- Lubricate the engine parts a regular intervals
- Check for the cutting edges and replace them at the earliest
- Don’t forget to sharpen the blades and knives if needed
- Keep track of loose parts and tighten them
- Do a health checkup of cords, cables, and other parts as well
Can I plane wood without a planer?
It has been over a decade since I’ve been working as a woodworking consultant.
I came across different types of clients and their unique curiosities and requirements.
So, today, I would be trying to answer the question, can I plane wood without a planer?
The short answer is, of course, you can.
But, you might be interested more in knowing the ways rather than a one-line answer, right?
So, without wasting any time, let’s discuss the various ways that can help us to plane wood without a planer.
You can try your luck at a table saw
If you want to use a table saw to plane a wood then the first thing that you need to do is to build a jig so that you can keep your board in the right position.
At the same time, for the best result, the table saw should be kept at a perfect 90 degrees, and for adjustment, I would suggest, you should use an engineering square.
If you’re a beginner, you might face problems such as burn marks so to prevent such problems I would suggest, you should hone your woodworking skill by practicing with a scrap piece of wood.
A router can be the friend next door
Similar to a table saw you can use a router to plane wood.
Here also you’ll have to construct a jig so that the wood passes the router at the RIGHT point.
If you’re a beginner, and you don’t know what a jig is then you don’t have to worry at all, seriously.
A jig is something similar to a wooden frame that is used to hold the board securely.
Once you’re done with the jig, all you need to do is to position the board in the accurate place, and then push the jig past the router.
As a result, it would cut the face of the board.
Can I use a wide belt or a drum sander?
If you’re a professional woodworker then the probability is quite high that you would be aware of the fact that the working style of a power planer syncs well with a wide belt of a drum sander.
The only difference that I find is that the power planer uses knives and blades whereas a drum sander would use sandpapers.
So, if you’ve made up your mind to use a sander in place of a planer then all you need to do is to put some heavy grit sandpaper in the sander, and then feed through the board in a similar way as you would be doing for sanding purpose.
Tip: Spend a sufficient amount of time so that you get your wood to the RIGHT depth.
It’s A Wrap
So, which is your favorite thickness planer?
Moreover, what is the budget that you’re willing to invest in a thickness planer?
I hope you would’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this comprehensive buying guide on the best thickness planer.
I and my team have tried to the best of our capabilities to provide you with all the pieces of information that you need to make an informed buying decision.
Trust me, the top 5 thickness planers that we reviewed in this post are among the best on the market.
If you’ve bought any one of the aforementioned models, do mail us your feedback, it would help us to enhance our readers’ experience.
Last but not least, please share this piece of information with the ones who are in need of a buying guide- the best thickness planer.
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