Best Thickness Planers in Canada | 2022 Beneficial Buyer’s Guide
What is the best thickness planer? There are 3 main criteria to consider before buying the device. Much depends on the kind of task you perform. Does it require greater accuracy? Where are you going to work? Some models come with the dust collecting system, which is particularly beneficial in larger workshops. The motor determines the power of the device. Keep in mind that for cutting through harder wood such as oak you will need a machine delivering higher rotations per minute. The best portable planer thicknesser is made from cast iron or other heavy-duty metals. Also, consider the thickness allowance, which means the maximum width of the material the unit can handle. Basically, 6 inches of allowance is a good option. We believe that Makita 2012NB Planer fits these criteria best.
Why have we chosen it? With a weight of a little over 60 pounds, this device is very compact and can be easily transported. It comes with large table extensions and is actually the best benchtop planer on the market. This model boasts a powerful 15-AMP motor, cutting wood at a speed of 8,500 RPM. One of its advantages over other planers is a super quiet operation — 83dB. The same level of noise is produced by a dishwasher or food blender.
So, I’ve been talking a lot about planers recently, which is itself an achievement – it can be hard to have all that much to say about a tool this ancient. Yes, modern technology has made for a lot of variety in the overall design of planers, but the base concept has been the same for a long time.
Well, if there’s so little new to say about them, then why am I talking about them? That is a good question, I’m glad you asked. See, while this concept is simple, I think it’s worth taking the time to discuss it at length, and especially the difference between thickness and joint planers, and the partial misnomer of joint planning.
To do this, we need to first discuss the nature of generic planers, and a little bit on their history, what spurred their invention, and where we sit now with the technology as a whole. More advanced craftsmen will find a lot of this to be “psh, I already knew that”, but for everyone else, this is in the very least, quite interesting.
What Thickness Planers Actually Are
We know that planers shave and cut wood. But exactly how do they work? They’re basically a blade at an angle that lifts layers of wood away either by hand, with or without a hammer, or via a power tool in modern times.
There are two essential types, joint and thickness planers, though at one time they were more or less one tool perhaps with an interchangeable blade.
What Thickness Planers Are Used For
Planers are used to shape wood and adjust its thickness. Historically, pretty much anything involving crafted wood involved a planer to some degree or another. This was before precision saws and things like Dremel tools or lathes to achieve this sort of thing. Of course, the other tool used alongside a planer was a carving knife or set of carving chisels for more ornate things.
If you look at ancient furniture or architecture, it’s pretty amazing the beauty they were able to achieve with just these basic tools, dedication and patience. Today, we still use these to adjust the thickness of wood, cut joints and produce smoother surfaces (later sanded for silky smoothness).
Joint Planers Vs. Thickness Planers
So, we really need to talk about joint planers and thickness planers on a somewhat more technical level. Joint is a partial misnomer. Yes, joint planers can be used to cut furrowed joints for connecting pieces of wood together, but there’s also the term “joint” to establish an existing flat surface, which thickness planers actually use to precisely remove layers of wood to adjust the thickness.
People are most familiar with thickness planers, which are also known as layer planers (while the use is different between layering and thickness adjusting, the same basic tool is in use, so the name mostly changes based on its use). These shave off sheets of wood to produce an even surface, or adjust (even gradually) the thickness of the wood. This is how wood with gradual tapering or elaborate surface edging is achieved.
Even with a hand planer, a skilled craftsman can achieve nearly laser precision with this. I wish I could boast that level of skill when I do this, but alas, I cannot.
My Experience With Thickness Planers: I’m not getting any younger
I haven’t used the one we’re going to look at in a moment, but I have seen it in use, and it’s really neat. My experience with planers is mostly old-fashioned hand planers and a few simple manual power planers.
For a long time, I didn’t really need to use these, as most of my work was building the fence around my house, a little bridge over my koi pond, and some basic woodwork around my hot tub and the pool I dug in the backyard. I could do all of this with existing wood and lumber, nails and a little bit of varnish.
However, now that all of that is done, I’ve taken to building custom cases, arcade cabinets, and entertainment centers for gaming and retro nerds. It’s not something I really do professionally, but on the occasional commission by word of mouth. I honestly keep it somewhat on the down low because while I love working on this stuff, a massive demand would eat up entirely too much of my time. It would become a job, and then I would no longer love doing it because anything stops being fun when it becomes an actual job.
That said, I learned the hard way how important joint and thickness planers really are when building my first arcade cabinet. I mentioned in another piece that I hadn’t done this right, and when I went to install all the components, it collapsed.
In more recent times, I’m beginning to appreciate just how much I need a power planer because while I love the Zen of manually working with the wood, I’m not getting any younger and this means that too much repetitive manual work is taking a toll on my joints and my stamina these days.
Why Go Industrial?
The one we’re going to look at is a somewhat industrial thickness planer, which means it’s hefty and not really cheap. I don’t want to spend time dedicated to its description to argue for when such a high-end, high-capacity tool is called for.
If you do a lot of woodworking, you will want one of these. The precision of a planer like this is unmatched, and so is the speed. It’s safe, it’s easy to use (if you know what you’re doing), and it’s powerful. If you’re just the occasional hobbyist or you’re just starting out, you may want to look into hand planers (electric or manual) instead. I’ve done reviews of several of these, and I’ve pointed out several great ones that’ll get the job done. This one is for the advanced user that does a lot of woodwork. Unfortunately, that’s quite not me, but man, I still want this thing.
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer | Best Value Thickness Planer | Review
Whelp, it’s Makita, so you’re probably expecting me to gush a little bit just by that fact alone. Fine, don’t mind if I do. Makita, as I’ve said so many times, is a very reputable tool brand. It has a pedigree that very few other brands can boast. However, it’s an expensive brand as well, which means that you just don’t hear as much about it outside very professional and industrial circles.
This is a commercial, if not industrial tabletop planer, which means that it removes layers of wood to adjust the thickness or surface consistency of the material. Being a commercial machine, this isn’t something that you’ll want to spend the cost on, if you don’t do a severe amount of woodworking. If you do, however, you will quickly find the precision and speed of something like this to be absolutely invaluable.
Features
- Power: 220v corded electric.
- Capacity: 12”.
- Automated: Yes, though with some manual feeding.
- Weight: 61.9 pounds. This is a heavy-duty tool you won’t want to transport often.
- Manufacturer: Makita.
- Adjustable: Yes.
- Noise Level: It’s not silent, but as far as industrial-level planers go, it’s pretty quiet, with that being a big focus of part of its engineering in fact.
Performance
This thing is a powerhouse, and if you’ve spent time doing hand planer work before using it, you’ll be blown away by something so time-consuming and painstaking being handled so buttery-smooth.
I haven’t used this one, but I’ve seen it in action, and it is truly a sight to behold. I want one, too bad it’s too pricey for the amount of use I’d get out of it with my limited workload.
Pros and Con
Pros:
| Cons:
|
Conclusion
If you do a lot of woodworking, you can demand you’re fine with manual planers all you want, but in the end, you will need something like this.
Makita: Check the current price
Products with a 5-star rating
Best Thickness Planers in Canada | Comparison Table
Most Popular
DEWALT Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch by Amazon.ca
- Powerful 15 AMP, 20,000 RPM motor (10,000 RPM cutter head speed) handles larger cuts in wider materials with ease
- Three knife cutter-head delivers 30 Percent longer knife life and makes knife change faster and easier
- The two-speed gearbox allows users to change feed speed to optimize cuts per inch at 96 or 179 CPI
VEVOR Thickness Planer 13-Inch Benchtop Planer by Simplego
- 【POWERFUL THICKNESS PLANER】 - Our 2000W 15-AMP high-power thickness planer (8,000 RPM cutter head speed) handles larger cuts in broader materials with ease. It is 236"/min(6 m/min) in feeding speed, 13"(330 mm) of max cutting width, 0-0.12"(0-3 mm) of planing depth, and 0.24"-6.3"(6-160 mm) of planing height for excellent performance.
- 【FOLDABLE WORKBENCH & STAND】 - The benchtop planer is equipped with foldable tables & a detachable stand for extra operating space. You can adjust both tables to get the appropriate angle for smoothly feeding boards. And the automatic feeding design is available, able to auto-feed the materials to facilitate effective and secure works.
- 【HASSLE-FREE TO OPERATE】 - It is hassle-free for you to adjust the height of the cutter head with a comfortable crank handle. Besides, the scale indicates the thickness of the board being machined so that you can precisely control the required thickness to meet your different needs.
Mophorn Thickness Planer 12.5 Inch Thickness Planer by Forkwin
- Powerful Thickness Planer: 10 AMP 2000W Motor; Blade speed: 8000rpm; Feeding speed: 236"/min (6 m/min). With 2pcs double cutter blades, this high-efficiency wood planer adopts the complicated honing process to ensure the cutting edge is sharp and straight. It is served as an essential tool and workhorse for a wide range of professional and DIY woodworking projects–specifically designed to repurpose wood (old, weathered, and worn wood) while giving it an extraordinarily smooth finish.
- Infeed & Outfeed Tables: Max cutting width: 12.5" (318 mm); Cutting thickness: 0.2"-6.3" (6-160 mm). All-stainless steel & metal material workbench can ensure a smooth wood processing procedure. The HSS blade is not easy to break, extending the service life. A crank handle for easy adjustment of the cutter head height; A scale ruler for precise machining; An Automatic feeding design is available to auto-feed the material; 2 metal return rollers are provided to pass workpieces back effortlessly.
- Heavy-Duty Stand: There is a heavy-duty stand for more strong fixation of the wood planer. This portable table planer is compact and space-saving with a detachable stand and foldable extension plates. ABS grooves on both sides are designed for easy mobility.
Other Popular Trusted Thickness Planners
DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Thickness Planer Package, 13-Inch
- Powerful 15 AMP, 20,000 RPM motor (10,000 RPM cutter head speed) handles larger cuts in wider materials with ease
- Three knife cutter-head delivers 30% longer knife life and makes knife change faster and easier
- The two-speed gearbox allows users to change feed speed to optimize cuts per inch at 96 or 179 CPI
- Fan-assisted chip ejection vacuums chip off of the cutter-head and exhaust them out of the machine
- Includes infeed and outfeed tables and an extra set of knives
CRAFTSMAN Benchtop Planer, 15-Amp (CMEW320)
- 15 amp benchtop thickness Planer motor allows for superior stock removal as its 8, 000 RPM cutter head speed provides 16, 000 cuts per minute. The two-knife, quick-change, solid steel cutter head assures smooth operation and long life. Ideal for dimensioning lumber to the desired thickness, and even planes glued-up materials.
- Hard and softwood material removal: 15 amp motor provides power for both hard and softwood material removal
- Maximum stock removal: Poly-V Cutterhead drive for maximum stock removal
- Smooth operation: Two knives, quick change, solid steel cutter, head-mounted on ball bearings, assures smooth operation and long life
- Longer cutting life: high carbon steel, double-edged, Reversible knives for cutting life
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer with Interna-Lok Automated Head Clamp
- Compact and lightweight for easy transporting to the job site
- Fastest and easiest blade change system on the market; uses disposable double edge blades
- Quietest (83dB) planer in its class
- 4-post design and diagonal cross supports for stability
- One-year manufacturer's warranty
- Compact with less weight for easy transporting to the Jobsite
- Engineered for faster, easier blade changes
- Low noise (83dB) for operator comfort
- 4-post design and diagonal cross supports for stability
- Large table extensions to support the workpiece
- Fully adjustable depth stop for repeat cuts
- L.E.D. light indicates that the planer is plugged into the power source
- Large and easy-to-operate on/off paddle switch
- Double edge planer blades
- Easily adjustable cutting depth for precision planing
- Detachable toolbox for storage of the standard equipment
- Optional dust hood enables dust collection system to be connected to a planer
WEN 6552T 13 in. 15 Amp 3-Blade Benchtop Corded Thickness Planer
- Onboard material removal gauge informs users about the cutting depth of each pass
- Plane boards up to 6 in. T and 13 in. W
- 15 amp motor generates 25, 500 cuts per minute at a 26 ft. Per-minute feed rate
- The 3-blade design makes easy work out of even the hardest of woods
- Fan-assisted dust port removes sawdust from workpiece
DEWALT DW734 15 Amp 12-1/2-Inch Benchtop Planer
- Powerful 15.0 Amp, 20,000 RPM motor handles larger, deeper cuts in hardwoods
- Three knife cutter-head with 10,000 RPM cutter head speed provides 96 cuts per inch, one of the finest finishes of any portable planer
- Disposable, reversible knives deliver 30-Percent more knife life and make knife change fast and easy.
- Four-column carriage lock drastically reduces the movement that causes snipe
- Extra-long infeed and outfeed tables provide 33-1/2-Inch of material support. Material removal gauge and extra-large thickness scale deliver accurate cuts with every pass