What is a planer?
A wood planer is a tool that removes a layer of wood from a flat surface, making it smooth and even in thickness. It can also straighten, chamfer, or fold wood surfaces. A wood planer can be handheld or stationary, depending on the size and location of the project. It is useful for carpenters and woodworkers who need to prepare wood for construction or molding.
The tool works by shaving off small amounts from the surface using rotating cutting blades. The amount of wood removed from the surface depends on the depth setting you choose on the planer. The blade is adjustable so that you can set it to remove more or less wood depending on your needs.
A planer can be used to create a smooth, level surface on a piece of wood. It can also be used to remove irregularities from the surface of the wood, such as dents or scratches. The tool consists of a blade that rotates at high speed and an adjustable depth stop.
There are two types of planers: handheld and stationary. Handheld planers are smaller and more portable than stationary planers. They are ideal for small projects or for working in tight spaces. Stationary planers are larger and more powerful than handheld planers. They are ideal for larger projects or for working with thicker pieces of wood.
Which do you need?
Reasons to buy one!
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Saves You Time and Money: A wood planer can save you a lot of stress when shopping for wood. You can buy rough lumber and plane it to your desired thickness or smoothness instead of looking for your exact specifications, which could be cost-effective.
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Avoid Tearout: A tearout is detrimental to any wood, and freshly cut lumber can face tearouts too—because it occurs when you cut a piece of timber poorly—the wood splinters and gets compromised.
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Reclaim Old Wood: A planer can be used to remove small amounts of material from the surface of a piece of wood or to create a completely new surface by removing all of the material from one side. This is useful when you want to recycle old lumber and get its grain.
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Create Custom Thicknesses: With a planer, you can create custom thicknesses for your projects.
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Smooth Rough Surfaces: A planer can smooth rough surfaces on your projects.
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Make Parallel Surfaces: A planer can make parallel surfaces on your projects.
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Make Uniform Thicknesses: A planer can make uniform thicknesses on your projects.
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Make Straight Edges: A planer can make straight edges on your projects.
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Make Flat Surfaces: A planer can make flat surfaces on your projects.
Which do I use more of:
Hands down, my stationary Dewalt planer. I use it probably 90% more of the time for any given project. If you do decide to get a Dewalt planer. I do prefer a helical head, which I did upgrade mine! I may write a blog post on that transition at some point.
In conclusion, a wood planer is an essential tool for any carpenter or woodworker who wants to create smooth, even surfaces on their projects. Whether you’re working on a small project or a large one, a planer can help you achieve the results you want.
What are some of your own best Planer hacks or brands? Share them with us below!