Wood planers are machines that remove a large amount of material quickly and accurately. They’re used for a variety of tasks, including removing rough edges and leveling out bowed or twisted boards.
A good planer will help prevent snipe, which occurs when the end of the board slides up or down while being fed into the machine. Some models have a special locking mechanism that limits this movement.
Benchtop
A benchtop wood planer for sale is a great tool to have around when you’re looking to smooth rough lumber, clean up roughly sawn edges or reclaim previously discarded boards. These powerful tools use rotating blades to shave off a thin layer of wood.
A quality planer leaves a smooth surface and uniform thickness, allowing you to create an even and attractive finished product. The right model can save you time and frustration when it comes to sanding down a woodworking project.
Some benchtop planers have adjustable in-feed and out-feed tables that help support a workpiece and prevent snipe (the snipped ends of the board). Some planers also feature reversible knives, which let you swap them after one edge gets dull. This helps you extend the lifetime of your planer and don’t have to worry about buying new blades too soon.
Industrial
An industrial wood planer is a great tool to have if you want to work with large pieces of lumber. These machines are usually more expensive than benchtop planers, so it’s important to choose one that is reliable and durable.
A good way to check this is by looking at the machine’s CPI (Cuts Per Inch) number. A high CPI means that the blades cut more material each inch, which can make the machine more efficient overall.
Another factor to consider is how easy the machine is to use. A good tool should be simple to operate and have a clear, intuitive user interface.
A good machine will also have a dust port that allows you to connect a dust hose and collector for easier and more effective cleanup. This will help keep your workspace cleaner and increase productivity.
Variable-Speed
Planers are great for removing rough, uneven wood quickly and accurately. They’re also useful for preparing boards for woodworking projects that require specific thicknesses.
When choosing a wood planer, look for a model with a variable-speed motor. These machines are more efficient than standard planers and can be used to plane thick or thin pieces.
Some planers feature gauges that show how much wood will be removed with each pass. These can help you err on the side of caution and not remove too much wood, which can cause the machine to overheat.
Other features to look for in a wood planer include adjustable preset depth stops that prevent it from planed boards thinner than the target thickness. In-feed and out-feed tables can also help reduce snipe, a line that appears at the end of a board that results when the planer’s cutterhead blades shave a little more wood than needed.
Dust Collection
If you plan to use woodworking tools in your shop, you need a dust collection system. It is a smart and healthy investment that will reduce the fine dust produced by power tools and other equipment and prevent health problems in both you and your employees.
A good dust collector will be sized to handle the amount of dust your tools produce. For example, if your benchtop planer produces a large amount of small chips, shavings and larger particles, you need a dust collector that moves more air to collect it all away.
The size of the impeller, engine, and fan blades is what determines the CFM or cubic feet per minute of air a collector can move. It’s a critical part of the design process for your woodshop dust collector.
A 1 1/2 to 2HP dust collector will usually be able to handle the air flow needs of your home workshop. For a more serious home shop, you may want to upgrade to a larger dust collector like a 3 or 5HP unit.