Best Thickness Planer in 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 the 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 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.
First, let’s talk about the most basic planers.
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 to 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 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 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 wood work 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 downlow 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 wood working, 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 wood work. Unfortunately, that’s quite not me, but man, I still want this thing.
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer | Best Value Thickness Planer
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 table top 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 wood working. 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:
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Conclusion
If you do a lot of wood working, 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
10 Best Thickness Planers | Comparison Table
DEWALT 13-Inch Thickness Planer - Three Knife, Two speed, DW735X model
- Your purchase includes One Stationary 13" Planer, in/out feed tables, extra blades and dust hose adapter. Stand is not included.
- Planer dimensions: 24” L x 22” W x 18” H. Depth capacity: 6-Inch. Max depth cut: 1/8-Inch. Width capacity: 13-Inch. Tool weight: 92 pound
- Specifications: Made for 110V, not convertible to 220V. Includes automatic carriage lock that reduces the movements and snipes. Not compatible with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Two-speed gearbox allows users to change feed speed to optimizing cuts per inch at 96 or 179 CPI
- Compatible with DW735 13", DW735X 13"
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 a desired thickness, and even planes glued-up materials.
- Hard and soft wood material removal: 15 amp motor provides power for both hard and soft wood material removal
- Maximum stock removal: Poly-V Cutterhead drive for maximum stock removal
- Smooth operation: Two knife, 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
DEWALT Benchtop Planer, Single Speed, 15-Amp, 12-1/2-Inch (DW734)
- 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% 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" of material support.
- Powerful 15 amp, 20,000 rpm motor handles larger, deeper cuts in hardwoods.
- Material removal gauge and extra-large thickness scale deliver accurate cuts with every pass
- Turret depth stop allows user to return to their most frequently used depths with ease
- 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.
- Disposible, reversible knives deliver 30% 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
DEWALT Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch (DW735)
- Powerful 15-AMP, 20,000 RPM motor (10,000 RPM cutterhead 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
- Two speed gear box allows users to change feed speed to optimizing cuts per inch at 96 or 179 CPI
- Fan-assisted chip ejection vacuums chips off of the cutter-head and exhausts them out of the machine
Porter-Cable 15 Amps 12 Inches Benchtop Planer (PC305TP)
- 8,000 RPM cutter head speed powers 16,000 cuts per minute with a fast 26.2 Ft/Min self-feeding rate
- Powerful 120V single phase 15 amp motor for superior stock removal
- Two knife, quick change, solid steel cutter, head mounted on ball bearings, assures smooth operation and long life
- High carbon steel, double edged, reversible knives for twice the cutting life
- Patented cutter elevation on four precision ground columns for superior cut stability
- Poly V belt cutter head drive with rugged gearbox/chain and sprocket feed roller drive for maximum power transfer
VEVOR Thickness Planer 12.5 inch Wood Planer Foldable 1500W Thickness Planer Woodworking 315"/min Feed Rate...
- 【PREMIUM QUALITY】- 1500W high-power wood planer, with 2pcs double cutter blades, has all-metal workbench and steel floor stand. With max cutting width of 12.5" (319 mm), the cutting thickness of 0.2"-6" (5-150 mm), blade speed of 9000rpm, and feeding speed of 315"/min (8 m/min).
- 【CONVENIENT OPERATION】- A crank handle for easy adjustment of the height of cutter head; scale ruler for precise machining; grooves on both sides are designed for easy mobility; automatic feeding design is available, able to auto-feed the materials.
- 【CONSIDERATE DESIGN】- The dust exhaust interface can connect to dust collectors for easy cleanup of the flying wood chips to cultivate a clean working environment; the detachable & heavy-duty stand is available for more strong fixation of the wood planer.
- 【RELIABILITY & SAFETY】- Equipped with power-off protection electromagnetic switch, and the over-current protector can be tripped when the motor is overloaded. This design dramatically improves security performance, ensuring a stable & reliable operation, extending the service life.
- 【WIDE APPLICATION】- Designed for planing old, weathered, rough and worn wood, and giving it an extraordinarily smooth finish; used for planning wood, bamboo, lining nylon, etc.
Mophorn Thickness Planer 12.5Inch Thickness Planer Woodworking 1500W Double Cutter Benchtop Thickness Planer 15...
- 【PREMIUM QUALITY】- 1500W high-power wood planer, with 2pcs(1 set) double cutter blades, all-metal workbench and steel floor stand. With max cutting width of 12.5" (319mm), cutting thickness of 0.2"-6" (5-150mm), blade speed of 9000rpm, and feeding speed of 315"/min (8m/min).
- 【CONVENIENT OPERATION】- A crank handle for easy adjustment of the height of cutter head; scale ruler for precise machining; grooves on both sides are designed for easy mobility; automatic feeding design is available, able to auto-feed the materials.
- 【CONSIDERATE DESIGN】- The dust exhaust interface is able to connect to dust collectors for easy cleanup of the flying wood chips to cultivate a clean working environment; the detachable & heavy-duty stand is available for more sturdy fixation of the wood planer.
- 【RELIABILITY & SAFETY】- Equipped with power-off protection electromagnetic switch; the overcurrent protector can be tripped when motor is overloaded.
- 【WIDE APPLICATION】- Designed for planing of old, weathered, rough and worn wood, and giving it an extraordinary smooth finish. Can be used for planning wood, bamboo, lining nylon, etc.
POWERTEC PL1252 15 Amp 2-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer For Woodworking | 12-1/2 in. Portable
- FUNCTION: This portable thickness planer serves 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
- EFFECTIVE: Has a heavy duty, anti-wobble base that’s ultra sturdy – providing a non-marring benchtop planer surface that will support an assortment of plane boards up to 12.5” wide and 6” thick
- POWERFUL: Combines an impressive 15 amp motor with an innovative 2 blade cutting system that delivers deep cuts into your hard woods (raw oak, pallet wood, walnut lumber) and more
- QUICK: A stainless steel precision cutter head allows this planer to deliver over 18,800 cuts per minute with a 9,400 RPM
- PRODUCT WARRANTY: Includes a 1 year limited manufacturer warranty for quality assurance
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer with Interna-Lok Automated Head Clamp
- 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 tool box for storage of the standard equipment; Planer Blade Set (793346-8); 2 ea. Magnetic Holder (762014-4), Socket Wrench, Hex Wrench (783208-8), Key (415715-0), 2705X1
- 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