Best Planer

Designed for a precise cut and a well-built construction that can be easily controlled with two hands, the DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer is the finest tool to add to your toolbox. With a dynamic and powerful motor, which possesses above 200,000 RPM and 15 Amp combined with a set of solid, secure and sturdy knives along with a three-knife cutter head of 10,000 RPM, this best planer offers the most superior quality user experience. Its exclusive feature of in-feed and out-feed tables to fulfill your every wood-smoothening demand along with easily replaceable or disposable knives make the DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer the best pick on our list.

The DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer comes with a remarkable 3-year warranty but our research team thinks that you might not even need it as the performance of this best planer is unbeatably up to the mark. Our experienced testers consider this tool as one of the most powerful and durable planers on the market with advantages that aim to enhance your wood-smoothening experience. We came to realize, after various stress tests, that this best planer is particularly suitable for woodworkers mainly due to its exceptional and most efficient three-blade structure.

DEWALT is a renowned company that manufactures the industry’s best power tools and hand tools. So it comes as no surprise that our step-up pick too is yet another model of this best planer manufacturing company. The DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Planer Package has many remarkable features that make it a costlier yet the most beneficial purchase. This best planer has a function that gives you the wonderful opportunity to change the speed however you want. You can easily shift from one speed to another based on the kind of project or task at hand. Our research team found that not many planers, even some best planers, were able to offer this unique and exclusive feature. The DEWALT DW735X, unlike its counterpart (DEWALT DW734), is not only regarded as one of the best planers but also as an indispensable wood thickness planer tool by most experienced and highly skilled carpenters and woodworking enthusiasts alike. This best planer is also ranked as the most versatile and handy woodworking machine available on the market. And once we laid our hands on such an adaptable and user-friendly woodworking tool, we experienced the ultimate joy and freedom to work with all different kinds of wood surfaces, something that many carpenters and DIY enthusiasts are very eager to do.

To our surprise, we discovered that the WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer, which is the budget-friendly pick on our best planer list, has quite a powerful 6 Amp motor that has the ability to administer more than 34 thousand cuts per minute. Now that’s an economically clever purchase! The WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer successfully found its way to becoming one of the best planers on the market, despite its unmatched pocket-friendly price, due to many reasons. This best planer is equipped with 16 positive depth stops in order to produce consistent scores on the stock. As its reasonable price clearly suggests, the WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer has a pretty lightweight design that, advantageously, decreased the amount of fatigue caused while using such robust woodworking tools, even when it was used for longer periods of time. We too were a tad skeptical about this product due to its comparatively lower price, but our research team is pleased to tell you that this best planer was easily able to even out wood surfaces and irregularities by doing away with splinters, chips and disfigured edges quite conveniently. The WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer is smartly engineered with a 3.25″ cutting width and 1/8″ cutting depth that enables you to work with larger pieces of wood all at once.

Why you need a hand planer

Many underestimate the importance of having a useful tool such as the best planer in the toolbox. The best planer is nothing but the most basic and helpful device to add to your home arsenal, especially if you like to see your work get done your way. For those of you who simply love the pure joy of making sure that every piece of wood in your home is not only fine but also possesses the utmost quality, then investing in the best planer is not a bad idea at all. Many carpenters and woodworking hobbyists use this machine to achieve the thinnest shave possible, to even out irregular edges, or to eliminate any misshapen or excessive wood strings protruding from their precious wooden products. It may be true that due to many new inventions and possibilities of more modern and advanced woodworking tools and machines alike, the traditional appliances are getting wiped off from the face of the Earth. But at the same time, it is important to understand that a highly useful and adaptable wood-smoothening and wood shaving tool like the best planer can never be replaced. The most valuable and remarkable aspect of the best planer is the fact that it can never get spoiled or wear out and if, due to unfortunate events, it ever does, then minimal maintenance cost will have the machine running quite efficiently in no time. While there are many hand planers out there, it is important to read about a few, especially the best planers on the market, so you can easily and cleverly make the right decision when buying the best planer.

Who should buy this

It goes without saying that some of the best planers on the market are regularly used by people who work with wood on a daily or professional basis. People like craftsmen, furniture manufacturers, woodworking specialists, DIY enthusiasts, construction workmen, or basically anyone who takes up large-scale as well as small-sized wood projects. The best planer is suitable for one who doesn’t hire professionals to perform the wood smoothening or wood carving job but, at the same time, wants a professional look. The benefits of working with the best planer are aplenty as you can work with many wood surfaces in many different ways, just like a skilled carpenter. While professional carpenters and woodworkers will have a really great time using the best planer due to the simple fact that, as history suggests, it has been tested and proved to be the most convenient woodworking tool that ever existed and will always continue to offer the same level of portability as long as its design, construction and working mechanism remains intact.

What to consider before buying the best planer

Motor
Our highly qualified research team that has carried out many stress tests in order to create this list of the best planer on the market has clearly stated that the most crucial aspect in determining the best planer is its motor. Normally, the best planer is equipped with one of two types of electric motor; induction motor or universal motor. The former is specially created to achieve more powerful results that are also exceptionally flawless in precision while the latter is a lightweight structure designed to make the woodworking unit an ideal choice for craftsmen looking for higher portability. But, despite the type of motor you pick to suit your needs and requirements, make sure that it is powerful and offers a high RPM, as our testers found the best planers with a considerably higher RPM performing better and quicker than the rest.

Snipe
Not many know the true meaning and importance of this aspect when looking for the best planer. There is some extra chunk of wood that is shaved off by the best planer when the wood is put into the appliance and taken back out, that extra amount of wood is called snipe. The blades of the machine bring about a slight dent in the wood when you take it out of the planer. Manufacturers of older versions of the best planers did absolutely nothing to eliminate this particular issue but, thanks to modern technology and advancement, now we have newer versions of the best planers that are fully equipped with more powerful motors that have considerably longer feed tables and pointier blades. So make sure that you buy the best planer that has the ability to completely eliminate the possibility of snipe.

Speed
Upon reviewing many best planers, we found that the amount of cutter head blades, which are responsible for shaving wood material from the surface at a high speed, can vary from two to five. So the more the number of cutter head blades, the more the speed, which in turn results in a finer and smoother cut. But, nevertheless, one cannot determine the quality of the best planer simply by measuring its speed as there are certain kinds of wood that have to be worked with at either considerably slower or higher speed limits. So keeping that in mind, our team of testers has advised to pick the best planer that comes with shifting or flexible speeds, rather than one that offers only one specific speed.

Table Extensions
We would like to call this a great additional feature to look out for, but not an essential one. The more the merrier, isn’t that right? Our testers found the best planers with table extensions more productive than the ones without this great feature as table extensions offered additional support and an effortlessly gentle flow of the wood being dished out into the best planer. You will notice that the best planer with a table extension gives you the pure joy of being able to easily handle and shape broader pieces of wood. And combine this exceptionally smooth user-friendly experience with the fact that the table extension places all the wood waste and debris on top of the table instead of the tiny wood particles getting accumulated under the best planer and wrecking the whole working mechanism of the machine. In simple words, the best planer with a table extension will add stability along with durability to your practical and handy woodworking tool.

Our best pick: DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer

DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer
Upon reviewing this best planer, the first remarkably positive aspect that our team of testers spotted was the machine’s solid and sturdy design and construction that complement its in-feed and out-feed tables. These tables easily collapse back into the best planer in order to save space. We also noticed that the cord storage space of the DEWALT DW734 is also pretty exceptional, unlike other best planers on our list. It’s a pretty handy feature to have in such a convenient woodworking tool as you can easily wind up the cord on the hinges provided by this best planer.
As far as the working mechanism and functionality of the DEWALT DW734 are concerned, we found many exclusively efficient features that will match your needs and high standards. This best planer comes with a depth gauge that gives you the delightful opportunity to punch in the exact quantity that you want to take off. The manufacturer states that the DEWALT DW734 gauge goes up to 1/8 of an inch but we worked with 1/16 and even 1/32 and faced no problems whatsoever. This best planer also comes with a double-sided blade so you can simply flip over the worn out side to the unused sharper side instead of spending on replacement blades every now and then. And the final logical and efficient feature that will give you more bang for your buck is this best planer’s dust hood. Since planers, even the best planer, create a huge amount of sawdust, a useful dust hood or table extension can really make a big difference in collecting and throwing away all the sawdust quite efficiently.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Every product has its own pros and cons, we all know that. But it’s the weight of the advantages that outweigh the disadvantages that makes such flaws seem irrelevant, and that matters the most. The DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer consists of bearings, located in the cutter head, which are sealed and can’t be subjected to regular cleaning and maintenance. So there’s no way that these bearings can be lubricated in order to avoid clogs. Another drawback of this best planer is the inability of the back table to fold up in order to save space when you’re using the back dust hood. But, otherwise, the tables stack up pretty neatly to save space. So, while it seems that the DEWALT DW734 has certain minimal shortcomings as far as the features are concerned, there’s no real ground to doubt this best planer’s high-quality design and exceptionally great performance. These are only a few minor issues that seem to go unnoticed once you start appreciating this best planer for the truly brilliant machine that it is.

Our step-up pick: DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Planer Package

DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Planer Package
When you spend more than what’s necessary, you definitely expect more than what’s basic. And the DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Planer Package ensures that you get exactly what you expect. This best planer has a high-quality motor of 20,000 RPM and 15 Amp along with a cutter head speed of 10,000 RPM. Now that’s a lot of numbers denoting high speed and efficiency, which means that the motor is impressively vigorous and has the ability to carve comparatively faster and with more precision than the other best planers on our list. And that is exactly why you’re paying a higher price for the step-up version of DEWALT. This best planer has excellent replaceable knives, a versatile two-speed gear box, and an exceptional CPI (cut per inch) count of anywhere between 96 to 179. The DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Planer Package offers a wider scope of usability with a motor that can work with a variety of materials quite easily. Just like its low-priced counterpart, the DEWALT DW734 (our best pick), this model too provides a useful and highly beneficial dust hood in order to increase the longevity of the machine and to make cleaning up wood debris an easier task for the consumer.

Our budget-friendly pick: WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer

WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer
The WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer will not fail to surprise you with its reliable administration and structure, even though you’re shelling out 1/3rd of the price of our best pick. After carrying out various tests on this best planer, our research team came across many features that contribute to its success despite the competitive price. The WEN 6530 is built with advanced technology so the depth can be fine-tuned to be able to plane off up to 3/32 of an inch with each pass. We also found that this best planer is effectively guarded with a fan-supported dust port so you can clear out all the sawdust from the machine very conveniently. Now this is an additional feature that one can only enjoy in costlier best planers on the market. So the fact that such an exclusive feature is present in a budget-friendly product like this truly gives you a go-ahead ticket when buying the best planer. You will also be delighted to know that the WEN 6530 has a 6 Amp motor that enables over 34,000 cuts per minute. This best planer is built in such a way so as to provide comfort along with high performance to the operator who uses it on a regular basis. Additionally, we also found that this woodworking tool has a fine V-shaped groove located on the base plate shoe and has the ability to level out sharp post corners.

Best thickness planer

WEN 6550 Benchtop Thickness Planer
Our team of highly qualified testers used this best planer, the WEN 6550 model, to transform rough and uneven wood into a flawlessly smooth wood surface. And they were able to repurpose this board of wood without any difficulty or errors. The WEN 6550 Benchtop Thickness Planer consists of a motor of 12 Amp and sharp blades that have the ability to perform more than 18,000 cuts per minute. This best planer comes with an exceptionally smooth granite table in order to offer the required support to wood that is being worked within the machine. Since the WEN 6550 is one of the best thickness planers on the market, it has a pretty hefty and strong cast iron base to avoid the possibility of wobbling during a working application. Our team also studied the height-adjustable in-feed and out-feed tables and found them to be pretty effective and beneficial as they lend the perfect support and stability during a woodworking operation.

Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer
When a professional woodworker is looking for the best thickness planer, our experienced team of researchers would happily recommend the Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer. It is regarded as the most remarkable woodworking appliance that has contributed to producing various kinds of wood products. We were quite impressed with its highly reliable 15 Amp motor, which made the task completion process quicker. The motor also proved to work for a considerably longer period of time without any possibility of error or failure. This best planer has a pretty basic as well as modern and smart design structure that is very easy to understand and control. We found the blade change system to be quite a trustworthy and speedy process with a capacity of planing wood, of maximum 7-inch thickness, up to as wide as 12 inches and as deep as 1/8 of an inch. Our team couldn’t find a single element of disappointment with this best thickness planer.

POWERTEC PL1251 15-Amp Planer
We’ve reviewed many best planers on the market and are pleased to bring to your notice the POWERTEC PL1251 15-Amp Planer that successfully gives all the other best planers a run for their money. The high-quality construction and functionality of this 15 Amp motor-supported machine combined with affordable pricing make this best planer our personal favorite. To begin with, this woodworking unit is furnished with a stable spindle lock in order to facilitate safe blade change. It is built on a special four-column design structure that offers added strength and precision to the whole device. This best planer has a valuable workpiece return roller built to provide backing when working with bigger-sized wood boards.

Best portable planer

PORTER CABLE PC60THP 6-Amp Hand Planer
For woodworkers who want their best planers to be mobile and easily stored in small storage places will find the PORTER CABLE PC60THP 6-Amp Hand Planer to be highly effective and to the point. One of the most exceptional portable and best planers on the market, this handy device is constructed with a colossal 6-Amp motor along with an efficient and convenient dust removal system on both the sides. This best planer is equipped with a strong and sturdy overmold depth knob of 10 positive steps and an efficiently versatile set of 3 chamfering grooves in order to provide the operator with enough options for edge chamfering. To add improved control, the manufacturer offers 10.5 inch cast aluminum shoes; an exceptionally useful feature that is not provided by other best planers on the market.

Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer
With this specialized pick, you not only get to lay your hands on one of the best portable planers on the market but also the most coveted woodworking machine that ever existed. The Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer has a 6.5 Amp motor that enjoys a 16,500 RPM speed to ensure a smooth finish in both, hard as well as soft wood surfaces. Our team of testers concluded that this best planer, with its dual mount guide fence and independent inch and metric depth settings, offers the user a valuably essential protective buffer along with a user-friendly experience. Since it is one of the best portable planers, this unit is built with a perfectly-angled handle to provide the exact kind of comfort level that every woodworker longs for in his or her handy device.

DEWALT D26676 Portable Hand Planer
As the name suggests, this version of the renowned best planer manufacturing company, DEWALT, is another remarkable portable wood smoothening and carving tool. The DEWALT D26676 Portable Hand Planer has the ability to prop up over 34,000 cuts per minute. To our surprise, this best planer provided an effortlessly quick removal rate, which saved ample of time in completing the task. The DEWALT D26676 is built with comparatively larger, industrial-quality steel blades that work at a high speed to provide better framing and more direct edging. Our testers rate this best planer’s depth adjustment knob as the top-most feature due to its exceptionally effective 1/16-inch calibration. To top it off, this best portable planer is constructed with a kickstand that enables the user to rest the unit on the work surface without having to worry about the working machine posing a threat to or damaging the workpiece.

Best Cheap Planer

Grizzly G0505 Planer
On our list, you will find the best planers to fit your all kinds of requirements including the budget because we know how important that aspect is to you. The first best cheap planer is the Grizzly G0505 Planer. Our team of testers has carried out many stress tests on this best planer to determine whether it offers a high performance along with durability. And we feel immense joy in telling you that it does. The Grizzly G0505 has a competently powerful motor of 10,000 RPM with a remarkable cutting width and height of 12-1/2 and 6 inches respectively. One striking feature of this best planer is the ability of its blades to slice through materials thicker than 13/64 of an inch, something that carpenters and woodworking enthusiasts will truly cherish.

Delta Power Tools 22-555 Portable Thickness Planer
Upon reviewing this yet another best planer, our research team didn’t notice a single negative aspect or characteristic in this woodworking machine. The Delta Power Tools 22-555 Portable Thickness Planer is made up of a strong 15 Amp motor, just like most costlier units on the market, with a feed count of 28 ft. per minute. This best planer is comparatively wider than the other best planers on our list, but our team of testers had absolutely nothing to complain about as far as the size of the machine in association with its performance was concerned. The feed tables of this best planer are very flexible so you have the liberty to stretch or contract them as much as you like based on the type of task at hand.

SKIL 1560-01 Planer
The SKIL 1560-01 Planer is perfect for beginners who have recently started working with wood so they require an entry-level woodworking tool that is also one of the most affordable and best planers on the market. We have concluded that this best planer is specially created for individuals who love taking up DIY projects so they expect a certain, albeit exceptional, kind of a performance, capacity, and durability from the handy woodworking machine. The SKIL 1560-01 Planer is well-equipped with a flawlessly efficient 5.5 Amp motor and a versatile 11 position depth control knob in order to provide accuracy as well as stability. The 2 reversible, high-quality carbide blades are very easy to replace and provide sharp and precise cutting. All in all, this best planer is an ideal choice for non-professionals.

Wrapping it up

The list of best planers that we have compiled has been created by carefully examining, testing and comparing each and every best planer on the market keeping characteristics such as their unique features and high performance in mind. We hope that now you’re able to make a wise decision when buying the best planer. And since you now know that planers have the ability to increase the quality and standards of your work, it is better to invest in a product that has been reviewed by qualified and knowledgeable testers rather than fancy product descriptions. So if you’re looking for an all-rounder, then our best pick, the DEWALT DW734 15 Amp Benchtop Planer is perfect for you. But if you’re a money-saving kind of a person, then we would recommend our budget-friendly pick, which is the WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer. And as for the best portable one, you can always rely on yet another DEWALT version, the DEWALT D26676 Portable Hand Planer. Always remember that the best planer is to carpentry what the imagination is to a creative person.