Best Planers: Reviews of Our Favorite Tools
Contents
- The Best Planers Are…
- 1. DeWALT DW735X Thickness Planer, Two-Speed, 13-Inch: Best Wood Planer
- 2. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer
- 3. Delta Power Tools 22-555 13-inch Portable Thickness Planer
- 4. Tacklife 7.5-Amp Electric Hand Planer
- 5. WEN 6552T 13-Inch 3-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer
- 6. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer
- Planer Versus Jointer – Which One Do You Need?
- Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Planer
- Type Of Planers
- Capacity
- Ease of Use
- Price
- Safety
- Conclusion
- Sources
A planer brings boards to a consistent thickness. With one, you can buy cheaper rough lumber and mill it yourself.
Below we compare four benchtop thickness planers and two handheld power planers.
OUR TOP PICK
Our top pick is the DeWALT DW735X Thickness Planer. It has a 15-amp motor, a three-knife cutterhead and a two-speed gearbox for fast stock removal or a finer finish.
The Best Planers Are…
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. DeWALT DW735X Thickness Planer, Two-Speed, 13-Inch | 1. DeWALT DW735X Thickness Planer, Two-Speed, 13-Inch Top Pick | - Speed: 20,000 RPM - Size: 13 Inch - Power: 15 Amps - Power Source: Electric-Powered - Weight: 105 pounds | Check Current Price |
| 2. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer | 2. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer | - Speed: 16,500 RPM - Size: 3-1/4 Inch - Power: 6.5 Amps - Power Source: Electric-Powered - Weight: 6.3 pounds | Check Current Price |
| 3. Delta Power Tools 22-555 13-inch Portable Thickness Planer | 3. Delta Power Tools 22-555 13-inch Portable Thickness Planer | - Speed: 18,800 cuts per minute - Size: 13 inches - Power: 15 Amps - Power Source: Electric-Powered - Weight: 58 pounds | Check Current Price |
| 4. Tacklife 7.5-Amp Electric Hand Planer | 4. Tacklife 7.5-Amp Electric Hand Planer | - Speed: 16,000 RPM - Size: 3-1/4 Inch - Power: 7.5 Amps - Power Source: Electric-Powered - Weight: 7.68 pounds | Check Current Price |
| 5. WEN 6552T 13-Inch 3-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer | 5. WEN 6552T 13-Inch 3-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer | - Blades: 3 - Size: 13 Inch - Power: 15 Amps - Power Source: Electric-Powered - Weight: 66 pounds | Check Current Price |
| 6. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer | 6. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer | - Speed: 8,500 RPM - Size: 12 Inch - Power: 15 Amps - Power Source: Electric-Powered - Weight: 61.9 pounds | Check Current Price |
1. DeWALT DW735X Thickness Planer, Two-Speed, 13-Inch: Best Wood Planer
The DeWALT DW735X is a 13-inch benchtop thickness planer with a three-knife cutterhead.
Its 15-amp motor runs at 20,000 RPM and spins the cutterhead at 10,000 RPM, per DeWALT's DW735X page. It is not variable speed: a two-speed gearbox switches the feed between 96 and 179 cuts per inch.
It takes up to a 1/8-inch cut and planes boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick. It costs more than most benchtop planers.
It is also heavy, which helps stability but makes it hard to move.
The X package adds an extra set of knives and infeed and outfeed tables. DeWALT backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
An automatic carriage lock reduces snipe. DeWALT says the three-knife cutterhead gives 30%% longer knife life, and a fan-assisted chip ejection system blows chips out of the machine.
Specs
- Speed: 20,000 RPM
- Size: 13 Inch
- Power: 15 Amps
- Power Source: Electric-Powered
- Weight: 105 pounds
Pros
- Powerful 15-amp motor
- Best option for professional use
- Two-speed gearbox (96 or 179 cuts per inch)
- Three-knife cutting-head for better performance and durability
- Comes with a dust hose adaptor and dust-ejection chute.
Cons
- On the higher end of the price spectrum
- Expensive and the replacement parts are also expensive
Verdict
For Professional Use: If you are looking for the best planer for professional use, then you should consider this option. It has a two-speed gearbox and a powerful 15-amp motor.
2. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer
The Bosch PL1632 is a 3 1/4-inch handheld power planer, not a thickness planer. It has a 6.5-amp motor that runs at 16,500 RPM.
A spring-loaded heel lifts the blade off the work surface when you set the planer down.
A guide fence helps you plane edges square, and a depth knob sets each pass.
This tool comes with a soft grip for comfortable handling, and the handle is optimally-angled for forwarding motion. It comes with an ambidextrous lock-off release button that helps to prevent accidental starts. It also allows for prolonged use, thanks to its lock-on button.
A dust port helps keep chips off your work.
It has a swiveling cord and uses Bosch's Woodrazor micro-grain carbide blade.
Specs
- Speed: 16,500 RPM
- Size: 3-1/4 Inch
- Power: 6.5 Amps
- Power Source: Electric-Powered
- Weight: 6.3 pounds
Pros
- Perfect for those starting with woodworking
- Decent cutting depth
- Goodbye to hand fatigue, thanks to its ergonomic handle
- Dust bag that you can mount on the right or left side of the tool
Cons
- The depth control knob should come with a lock
Verdict
Great for Simple Projects: You can rely on this mid-range planer to get simple wood projects done. It is also an ideal choice if you frequently make doors. It has a feature that allows you to smooth the surface of doors and their edges successfully.
3. Delta Power Tools 22-555 13-inch Portable Thickness Planer
The Delta 22-555 is a 13-inch benchtop thickness planer with a 15-amp motor and a four-column design for stability.
Its quick-change knife system lets you swap knives without alignment jigs. A reversible dust port collects chips from either side.
Adjustable infeed and outfeed tables support long boards. Per Delta's 22-555 spec page, it makes 18,800 cuts per minute, takes up to a 3/32-inch cut, and handles stock from 1/8 x 10 inches up to 13 inches wide by 6 inches thick.
It uses two double-edge reversible knives (333 x 12 x 1.5 mm) and weighs 58 pounds.
Specs
- Speed: 18,800 cuts per minute
- Size: 13 inches
- Power: 15 Amps
- Power Source: Electric-Powered
- Weight: 58 pounds
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- Four-column design for stability
- Light enough to move at 58 pounds
Cons
- Users said the blade dulls easily
Verdict
Ideal for Small Shop Owners: This is one of the best planers you can get today if you are running a small woodwork shop. It gets the job done efficiently and accurately with its higher power.
4. Tacklife 7.5-Amp Electric Hand Planer
The Tacklife is an inexpensive 3 1/4-inch handheld power planer with a 7.5-amp motor. At 16,000 RPM with two blades, it makes 32,000 cuts per minute.
All the accessories you might need is in it. That includes a parallel fence bracket, a dust bag, a rabbeting guide, and an open-end wrench. Keep your work area clean with its zippered dust bag. Removing the collected sawdust is also quite convenient.
It has an aluminum base plate and steel blades. A rubber grip adds comfort, and a two-step switch helps prevent accidental starts.
Tacklife products can be hard to find now, so check availability before you plan around this one.
Specs
- Speed: 16,000 RPM
- Size: 3-1/4 Inch
- Power: 7.5 Amps
- Power Source: Electric-Powered
- Weight: 7.68 pounds
Pros
- Great power for efficient working
- Comes with a fence, dust bag and rabbeting guide
- User-friendly design and comfortable grip
- Comes with all the accessories you might need
Cons
- It does not come with a bevel adjustment
Verdict
Value for Your Money: This is a gem of a planer because of how well it does its job without breaking the bank. It is an inexpensive choice, but it has all the right features that can help you do your planing job successfully.
5. WEN 6552T 13-Inch 3-Blade Benchtop Thickness Planer
The WEN 6552T is a budget 13-inch benchtop thickness planer with a 15-amp motor and a three-blade cutterhead.
A fan-assisted dust port blows chips out toward a dust collector or shop vacuum.
It uses double-edged blades and a flat granite table. It planes boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick and weighs about 66 pounds.
An onboard material removal gauge shows how deep each pass will cut.
Specs
- Blades: 3
- Size: 13 Inch
- Power: 15 Amps
- Power Source: Electric-Powered
- Weight: 66 pounds
Pros
- Blades are very easy to change
- Can be used to plane boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick
- Fan-assisted dust port that helps remove sawdust from your workpiece.
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not the best option of industrial use; it is great of occasional users and DIYers
Verdict
For DIYers and Occasional Use: This planer is best for DIYers and occasional uses. It is not ideal for industrial use. It is pretty powerful and it comes with many great features that come in handy for projects around the home.
6. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer
The Makita 2012NB is a 12-inch benchtop thickness planer. Its Interna-Lok automated head clamp is designed to eliminate snipe.
Per Makita's 2012NB page, the 15-amp motor runs at 8,500 RPM at a low 83 dB. It planes boards up to 12 inches wide and 6 3/32 inches thick, takes up to a 1/8-inch cut and weighs 61.9 pounds.
It uses two double-edged blades, and a detachable toolbox stores the included accessories. An LED light shows when the planer is plugged in. Like the DW735X, it sits at the higher end of the price range.
Specs
- Speed: 8,500 RPM
- Size: 12 Inch
- Power: 15 Amps
- Power Source: Electric-Powered
- Weight: 61.9 pounds
Pros
- Compact, lightweight, and portable
- Powerful and very easy to use
- Very quiet operation
- Highly rated and accurate
Cons
- It is not cheap
- You have to purchase the dust collection hood separately
Verdict
Low Noise Planer: Planers usually generate noise while in use. This model is rated at 83 dB, quieter than many benchtop planers. Still wear hearing protection.
Planer Versus Jointer – Which One Do You Need?
Jointers and planers do different jobs. A jointer flattens one face and squares an edge to it.
A thickness planer then makes the opposite face parallel to the flat face and brings the board to the thickness you want. A planer alone will not remove a cup or twist.
In order to determine whether you need a planer or a jointer, you first need to know what type of wood finish you are working on. If you are getting wood labeled as S2S, these woods typically have 2 sides already finished.
The S4S type of wood, on the other hand, has 4 of its sides finished. Beginners typically use S4S type of wood because they do not require too much work to finish. However, if you are using S2S boards, you might need a jointer to smooth out the edges before they are joined.
Check the wood surface. If you are buying raw or rough wood, run your hands over the surface and inspect for bumps or blemishes. If there are any, you need a jointer to get rid of these bumps.
Jointers can also flatten boards that have cupped or warped as their moisture content changed. Follow up with a planer to make the second face parallel.
If there is a specific wood thickness that you are looking for, you need a planer for that job. Also, if you are making furniture where parallel surfaces are needed, a planer is also essential.
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Planer
When deciding which planer to get, it is important to consider the following factors first:
Type Of Planers
Handheld planers (manual or powered, like the Bosch and Tacklife) are for doors, edges, scribing and small jobs. They are light and portable but will not give you consistent thickness across a board.
Benchtop thickness planers (the DeWALT, Delta, WEN and Makita) mill boards to an exact, even thickness. You can also control how much they remove per pass, and with a sled they can even flatten boards.
Capacity
Check the maximum width and thickness. Most benchtop planers take 12 or 13-inch boards up to 6 inches thick, and handheld planers cut a 3 1/4-inch path.
Ease of Use
You do not need an engineering degree in order to be able to use your planer. Even hobbyists should be able to use the planer easily. That said, look for one that has a comparatively small learning curve.
If you expect the planer to be used by other people in your workshop, make sure others will also be able to use it with ease.
Price
Compare the price against the features and warranty. A longer warranty or a better snipe-control system can justify paying more.
Safety
Planers are loud and throw chips. Wear eye and hearing protection, never reach into the infeed, and unplug the planer before changing knives, as OSHA advises for all power tools. Connect dust collection, since wood dust can harm your lungs.
Conclusion
Need other shop tools? Check out our homepage for more buying guides.
The clear winner is the DeWALT DW735X Thickness Planer, because of its power, two-speed gearbox and three-knife cutterhead. It suits both professionals and DIYers.
