Planers can be a man’s best friend when it comes to general woodworking and making woodworking projects that sell, but with so many options, it can be very difficult to find the right planer for you. Today, we review the best of the best, to ensure that you get the right one for your task, whether it be building a small box or a full cabinet for your home.

Most people tend to think that a jointer is the same thing as a planer, not so and while some of their functionality may overlap, the fact remains that a planer is much more powerful, and versatile, than a jointer, any time of day. While it is true that you can use a wooden saw to cut down the thickness of the board, it is near impossible to make the cut uniform or in the right size.

And that is the reason why it makes more sense to opt for an appropriate planer, one that comes with all the accessories you need, to ensure that the cut is of the right depth and size, and that you can trim the wood down accordingly. With that said, here are my top 5 planers on the market today.

Ridgid R4331 Review

Ridgid are no underdog when it comes to power tools, even more so with planers. The Ridgid R4331 is a 13 IN. thickness planer with a 3-blade cutter head. For maximum power and operation, the R4331 uses a 120-Volt, 15 Amp motor that delivers 9000 RPM, along with its 3-blade cutter head which is not only quick-changing but has dual-edge blades that are reversible and self-aligning meaning a smooth surface with minimal blemishes.

See our full review of the Ridgid R4331

DeWalt DW735x Review

One of the leading manufacturers of power tools, DeWalt offers the DeWalt DW735x. This planer is very small and compact for its powerful capabilities. Inside, it has a 13in. Three knife cutter, which delivers around 30% longer knife life and makes knife change faster and easier for anyone who is not used to planers. Along with that, the two-speed gearbox allows for users to change the feed speed to optimize cuts per inch at both 96 or 179 CPI.

As with any DeWalt product, the DW735x comes in a yellow and black finish, topped off with a cast aluminum base. The depth capacity of the DW735x is 6 Inches, with a width of 13 Inches. With this, the maximum depth of the cut can only be ⅛ Inch. If you feel that the machine won’t be sturdy enough, DeWalt offers a 3-Year Limited Warranty, as well as their 1-year free service and 90-day money-back guarantee should anything go wrong.

More notable features are;

  • Powerful 15 amp, 20,000 rpm motor (10,000 rpm cutter head speed) which can handle larger cuts in wider materials with ease.
  • Fan-assisted chip ejection vacuums chip off of the cutter head and exhaust them out of the machine.
  • Automatic carriage lock reduces the movement that causes snipe without the need for manual engagement by the user.
  • Extra-large turret depth-stop allows users to return to most frequently used thicknesses with ease.
  • Material removal gauge and extra-large thickness scale deliver accurate cuts with every pass.
  • Includes infeed and outfeed tables and an extra set of knives.

Pricing for the DeWalt DW735x comes in at X (or specify price point) which is on par with the other planers on this list.

Overall, the DeWalt DW735x is a great buy for anyone who is looking to use a planer for the first time or simply want a powerful upgrade to a previously owned planer. DeWalt has made using and caring for the machine simple, so much so that anyone can replace consumable parts with help from a guide.

WEN 6552 Review

The power tool veterans WEN created the WEN 6552 which is a simple planer for all skill levels. With its large infeed and outfeed potential, WEN has not pulled any stops from the machine receiving an Amazon’s Choice product on both Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Wen 6552 has a 13-Inch 3-Blade Benchtop thickness planer, which repurposes worn wood to give it an exceptionally smooth finish. The powerful 15-amp motor can provide 25,500 cuts per minute at a 26 feet per minute feed rate. With that being said, the machine can plane boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches in thickness with no problems at all. When combined with the heavy-duty cast iron base, the planner does not walk or wobble during operation. WEN also value their customers, so if you get stuck or are having problems, their customer service will help you through it. Included is an owner’s manual that includes tips on how to use the device as well as planing in general. Along with this, if anything breaks on the machine, WEN has a very nice warranty and generally receives high praise for its customer service.

The WEN 6552 has a very rugged build quality, which is good when a planer can experience a lot of stress in use, so the machine must be strong and rugged to produce a durable platform when planing. After a while, the blades do eventually grind down, however, WEN has extremely affordable blades for when you need them.

Some notable features of the WEN 6552 are;

  • The 6552 has an onboard removal gauge which informs users about the cutting depth of each pass.
  • It can plane boards up to 6 Inches Thick and 13 Inches wide.
  • It has a 15 Amp motor that generates 25,500 cuts per minute at 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 workpieces.

All in all, the WEN 6552 is an all-round affordable planer that produces great results regardless of what you throw in it. It has a solid build quality that can last forever when following the helpful owners manual that includes tips on how to use the machine. With the fine passes and great price point, the WEN 6552 is one to consider when it comes down to buying a planer.

Makita 2012NB Review

Another large power tools company, Makita created the 2012NB planer. This planer has a sturdy, efficient and powerful build to it in the traditional cream and blue Makita colors.

The 220V / 15 Amp machine combines rugged and powerful all under one unit.

Unlike others, Makita’s 2012NB planer can only take 304mm (12”) wide workpieces with a ⅛” cutting depth, however, the Makita can take in 8.5m / minute and has very little noise presence at 86dB(a). As mentioned below in the notable features, Makita has also used its proprietary “Interna-Lok” system which automatically clamps the head down which eliminates the possibility of any snipping occurring. Makita has also thought about the dust that could be created when using the system, and so have included an optional dust hood allowing a dust collection system to be connected to the planer in a matter of seconds.

The Makita also includes mounted pedestal controls, which are very convenient for anyone who wants to focus on the finish rather than which controls to hit.

Some other notable features of the Makita 2012NB are;

  • Easy adjustment for an accurate and even finish.
  • Downward pressure system when feeding in materials, stop sniping of the timber.
  • It can hold a large material capacity.
  • Fine depth adjustment
  • 16 FPM and 30 FPM feed rate.
  • Mostly Metal bodywork, to withstand the test of time.

The price point for the Makita comes in relatively cheap at X (OR PRICE RANGE) which is not too bad when compared to other planers and taking into account their features.

Overall, the Makita 2012NB is ideal for anyone who wants to have a professional look at anything they do with the Makita. Along with this, the additional accessories and easy to use the system are convenient for anyone making it an all-round great planer that gets the job done, no matter the task.

Grizzly G0505 Review

The Grizzly G0505 is a small, compact but powerful planer. The Grizzly houses two reversible HSS knives in the cutter head, with a 10,000 RPM cutter head speed. The Grizzly can also feed around 32 FPM with 52 CPI. Grizzly has also made it clear that they’ve put a lot of thought into the planer, by making additional features like larger knives to prove this portable machine can run on the job site for years to come.

The Grizzly has a maximum cutting width of 12 ½ inches and a maximum cutting height of 6 inches. The maximum depth of a cut is 3/32” with a maximum board thickness of 13/64. Along with this, the build quality of the Grizzly is phenomenal for the price point and size, with every part being metal, it’s tough, sturdy and durable. Along with this, the planer is also free from vibration when it’s being used, meaning your workpieces will come out looking great. Not only this, the Grizzly is super easy to set up, and the manuals show you how to replace parts should you need to in the future.

Something that a lot of people have noted when reviewing, is the loudness of the machine when it’s operating. The Grizzly is a little loud, that ear protection should be used.

Some other notable features include;

  • It has a 2 HP, 110V/15Amp Motor to pull through the 10,000 RPM / 32 FPM feed rate.
  • Thermal Overload protection in the event of overheating.
  • On/Off toggle switch with a safety lock.
  • The ability to cut through any type of wood, hard or soft. (Super Hardwood may struggle/slow down)
  • Full Metal body means the machine will live on for quite some time.

At the price point of only X (Price Range), the Grizzly is for sure a great little planer that can do a large range of jobs with ease.

Overall, the Grizzly G0505 is a great piece of machinery with lots of great features. The portability of the planer, as well as the cutting speed, can be very helpful for the smaller range of projects. The planer will work well for anyone who is looking to get their first planer, but may not be suited for the large scale work that one of the other planers in this list can deal with such as harder woods and longer workload times.

Thickness Planers Buyer Guide

Given the wide variety of wood working tools out there, chances are that you are going to feel equally confused when you consider wood planers, and the various types that are currently available.

Basically, you affix the wood to the planer platform, set the depth at which you want to make the cut on the wooden log, adjust the drum, take precise measurements and now, all that is left is for you to feed the wood, through the roller so that the cutter drum can make the required cuts and at the right depth and size.  Now, your wooden planks would be of the right size and can be utilized for your project right away ‘as it is’.

If you are looking to create some exquisite and accurately cut pieces of wood, with all the rough edges smoothed down, then you need to go for a jointer planer. It makes good sense to go in for a combination tool, rather than use two different tools, as it can provide you with some of the best results. But there are a few things that you may want to consider, before you choose to purchase a planer right away.

  • Table size:

The first thing that you need to figure out is what kind of table size you need for your use and then you can select a planner that comes with the requisite size. If you are working on a home based project, then chances are that you would need a table that can support boards that are at least 15 inches wide, that should be enough for most of your home based projects and most planers come with table that allows you to support the same easily. However, If you plan to work on larger pieces of wood, then you need tables that can easily support boards that are 20-inches wide and more.

  • The cutting area:

This is the second most important part of the planer; each planer’s cutting area may differ from other planers depending on the type of cutting blade they feature. The planer may feature a helical head which is one of the popular blades as they are known to be fast and efficient while others may feature blades that have a spiral design. In the end, the blade affects the functionality of the planer so you need to pay special attention to the cutting area.

  • Noise and sounds:

It is quite common for any wood working tool to make some ambient noise so if you are planning on installing one in your garage, then you may want to go one which comes with lesser noise than others. For example, a power bench top planer will make less noise than say, a power hand held planer. So before you purchase your planer, you may want to check it out in action and that should give you a good idea of the noise it creates, when in use.

  • Motor:

When it comes to purchasing your planer, you may want to think of it is a lifelong investment and you need one that can handle various types of wood, as well different sizes of the same. There are a lot of cheaper models in the market and most of these come with a universal motor which is often unable to handle different types of wood. They are lightweight, effective but are often unable to handle various types of wood or differing sizes. This is why you may want to opt for a planer that comes with an induction motor. Yes, the motor may weigh more, but it will seamlessly work, as desired with any type of wood without a hassle.

  • Size:

When it comes to choosing the right size of planer, you need to weigh in the space that you have available in your workshop. If you are limited for space, then you would want to opt for combination planers since that can combine two or three instruments into one, such as a joint planer. Some of the top end models for bench top and others tend to be quite large and you may want to double check the available space in your workshop, before you make any key decisions regarding your planer.

These are some of the issues that you would want to mull over, before you choose any particular best wood planer 2019. Granted, asking you to pick one out of the hundreds of models out there is easier said than done. That is why we have collated some of the top ranked planers, and you can check out the same and select one that makes the right cut.

What Are The Different Kinds of Wood Planers?

If you thought that a ‘planer’ consisted of a cutter drum and a roller and that was it, then you would be mistaken. For planers come in various shapes and sizes, and some even differ by their functionality.  There are different kinds of planers that are currently available in the market, and let’s take a closer look at some of them.

Power hand held planers:

Most people often assume that a planer is just a hand held tool, and that it is completely manual. Well, that was the case more than a few decades back for now planers are power tools that you can hold comfortably in your hand. These planers allow you to hold the tool in your hand as you move it along the wood and come with the requisite power buttons that you can push to reset the tool, so that it cuts your wood perfectly.

Thickness planner:

You would generally not find this planner in most of the workshops but it is a handy one to have. It can help trim down the thick wood to an even thickness, one that is more appropriate for your project. It comes with a board, drum, cutter as well as the requisite power buttons with which you can adjust the cutter and the depth at which it can cut the wood. With this tool, not only can you cut your wood to the desired thickness, it also enables you to plane off the desired wood effectively. It is precise and accurate.

Portable planners:

The great part about these planners is that they are quite portable and you can carry them to the job site with you and assemble the planner on site, with the table and board as well, in a matter of minutes. This is not a power tool variant but it does come with the requisite power buttons and accessories that allow you to adjust the tool as required. You can also use this tool as a joint planer as well and this should help you perform better, at your project.

Bench top planers:

Let’s make one thing clear, bench top planers are not portable planers and are a lot heavier than the latter.  While it is only natural to assume that you do not require such a heavy tool in your project, the fact remains that a bench top planer can provide you the stability and sturdiness that you require and would enable you to handle any size wood with ease. This is why this particular planer is often quite popular among the top construction companies.

Jointer planers:

This particular jointer wood planer combines the functionality of a planer as well as a jointer, which often makes it indispensable to most projects. Instead of going for a separate jointer, it makes more sense to choose a planer that manages to combine both functionalities. For starters, it should save you a bundle and for another, it is quite handy and convenient.

These are the different types of wood planers that you are bound to come across. If you are planning to purchase one, then you need to read the next section for tips and suggestions on what to look out for, before you make that purchase.

CONCLUSION

These are some of the best wood planers in the market today, each one is different from the other, from its core functionality to its features. But they are all some of the top ranked wood planers in their respective categories, so do check them out in detail and then review your current needs and see if these planers meet the same.

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