The hand planer is one of the few tools among the artisan’s woodworking. Hand planes are often referred to as the rock stars of a hand tool for woodworks.
They make the most exciting changes to your wooden workpiece. One of the most exciting parts of using a hand planer is that they produce a mild sound, unlike other planers. You can also check out this Thickness Planer article.
Their bodies can be made of all wood, aluminum, or metal and are mostly used especially when starting out in traditional woodworking.
In this article, we will be taking insight and discussing the best hand planers available. Below are some of the sophisticated hand planers you can get around:
Top 10 Hand Planers
1. PORTER-CABLE PC60THP 6-Amp Hand Planer
Among the many hand planers you can get around, The Porter-Cable PC60THP can be referred to as an ogre. Their giant nature makes them stand out and carry out work in the most exciting way. This device is big, brutal and once you push the trigger it comes out swinging working like a tyrant.
An incredible feature the Porter-Cable PC60THP 6-Amp Hand Planer has is the ability to carry out its function in the most aggressive and fastest way. They perform their action using 17,000 RPM to 15,000 RPM and that is why it is referred to as tested and trusted for maximum performance.
Working with this tool will give you little or no stress at all as it has less trouble using it on hardwood and can easily slide effortlessly across softwoods.
The major advantage of using this exclusive tool is that apart from being a giant hand planer, it gives woods the smoothness it needs, but on the other hand, it demands that the user apply maximum finesse and patience to get the best use out of this device.
The instinctive strength will aid in keeping the nail into place, but in evening wood there’s a real risk that if you aren’t careful that you’ll make a nice straight 2×2 and make it look like driftwood.
Note that this device is a bit bigger than most hand planers and this might create user fatigue, which is where issues start and when it comes to planing wood, quality starts to decline.
Pros
- Fast
- Well built
Cons
- Big
- Too aggressive
2. DEWALT D26676 Portable Hand Planer
This device comes with industry-standard large, resharpenable high-speed steel blades for straight edging or framing applications and the powerful 5.5 Amp motor it comes with provides a smooth, and even finish in the hardest of woods.
With an incredible performance of 34,000 cuts per minute, you are assured of achieving a fast and maximal removal rate; this feature makes the instrument an ideal tool for planing wood.
For improved life blade and material finish, this device also accepts reversible carbide blades. With a calibrated depth adjustment knob of close to 1/16-Inch (1.5mm approximately), you are sure of working in the most convenient way.
Precision-machined front and back aluminum shoes ensure parallelism of cut. The device has a built-in kickstand that gives the user the chance to rest the planer on the work surface without gouging the material. It also has a precision machined groove in the front shoe that allows for edge chamfering. The Poly-V drive belt provides increased belt durability.
The ergonomic handle of this hand planer makes it easier to carry from one point to another and carry out work without slipping out of the hand, which means it is extremely safe to use and causes less fatigue but rather a greater comfort.
This sturdy and ergonomic device comes included with 2 resharpenable high-speed steel blades (installed), 1 rabbeting fence, 1 blade depth setting gage, 1 blade resharpening tool, and 1 socket wrench, which means the device will be immediately set for use as it comes out of the box.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Versatile
- Light
- Great value
Cons
- Poor dust collection
3. WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer
If you are thinking of how you can easily smoothen out those joists, Plane away chips, splinters, and misshapen edges, then you can get the WEN 6 Amp 3-1/4 Inch, Electric Planer, as it is very ideal in carrying out all these works with ease.
This device is also perfect for fixing stubborn doors and fitting wood. It delivers more than 34,000 cuts per minute to your workpiece, with the ability to slice away any irregularities until the surface of your boards is aligned and smooth.
It has a cutting width of 3-1/4 inches and a maximum cutting depth of 1/8 inch that allows the user to get the perfect companion for squaring and fitting boards.
The 16 positive stops rise in increments of 1/128 inch anywhere from 0 all the way up to 1/8 inches. The base plate shoe even includes a V-shaped groove for easily flattening sharp post corners.
This package also includes a dust bag, a rabbeting guide, a kickstand, and a parallel fence bracket. The included rabbeting guide adjusts anywhere from 0 to 7/10 inches to allow rabbets up to an inch deep in size.
The parallel fence provides an accurate and straight cut by making sure your strokes are directly parallel to the edge of the wood. The kickstand protects both the blade and the workpiece in-between uses by keeping the blade elevated and out of contact from the surface of your project.
The dust bag collects all of your loose shavings to keep your workspace clean and sawdust free.
Pros
- Comes with a dust bag
Cons
- Difficulty in swapping out blades
4. DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer
The DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer is an exclusive device that features a brushless motor that has the ability to provide power and runtime of 32,000 cuts per minute and can also achieve a fast removal rate with 5/64″ (2 mm approximately) maximum depth of cut. This feature helps to maintain maximum efficiency that controls the speed under load.
If you are keen on getting a tool that offers good and optimum planning, then you can depend on this piece because it has a calibrated depth adjustment knob of close to 5/64″ (2 mm approximately).
One of the other important features that this planer provides is that the precision-machined front and back aluminum shoes ensure parallelism of cut and the kickstand allows the user to rest the planer on the work surface without gouging the material. A precision-machined groove in the front shoe allows for edge chamfering.
The planer weighs 6.7lbs and operates off of the DEWALT 20V MAX battery system. Lightweight and cordless, the planer can be easily transported around the job site without the hassle of a cord.
The other key feature that makes it an ideal device is the Poly-V drive belt that provides increased belt durability and the ergonomically designed handle provides greater comfort and less user fatigue. The ergonomic handle also helps in ensuring the safe use of the device as it will stay put in the hand comfortably without slipping away.
The device comes included with a user’s guide, guide fence, and a wrench.
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Battery and charger sold separately
5. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer
In any industrial set up or work, you must put safety into consideration and this device is well built to offer that required safety. The PL1632 3 Planer offers an industry-first planer lock-off/lock-on button that helps prevent accidental start-up and provides for extended operation. It is made with a Dual-mount fence that provides non-flexing guidance.
This device has a Ball-joint cord swivel which eases the positioning of the cord to keep it out of the way. Spring-loaded, built-in stand elevates tool to protect the blade and save money without having to spend unnecessarily in changing blades regularly. It is uniquely manufactured with a powerful 6.5 Amp motor and with 16,500 RPM speed for fast and effective stock removal.
This kit comes with a fence that attaches to the plane in two places and has the necessary 3degree fence for doors in addition to 0 degrees for everything else.
To ensure that you have confidence in the course of purchasing this ergonomic product, you are given the opportunity to request for manufacturer’s warranty from customer service.
The spring-loaded stand elevates the tool to protect the blade and tool resting spot; special shape allows easy entry in the middle of the work-piece. It has a separate inch and metric depth scales for easy setting of planing depth. The optimally-angled handle is exclusive for forwarding motion of the tool with a soft grip for comfort.
This tool comes included with One 3-1/4-Inch 6.5 Amp Planer, one reversible wood razor blade, one dual-mount guide fence, one no-mar plastic overshoe for the fence, one shavings bag, and one blade wrench.
Pros
- Adequate for smaller jobs
Cons
- Poorly constructed shoe means a shorter lifespan
- Heavy
6. VonHaus 7.5 Amp Electric Wood Hand Planer
What everyone wants to derive from a hand planer is to get a satisfactory use of the device especially when it has the ability to cut edges with impressive cutting speed. This device is built with the ability to cut with a cutting speed of 33,000 cuts per minutes, 3 ¼” cutting width, 0 – 1/16” planing capacity, 16,000 drum speed.
With all these incredible features you are sure that this device will deliver its very best.
The VonHaus 7.5A Planer makes light work of fixing doors, fitting wood, and correcting splinters, chips, and misshapen edges with little or no stress as it is extremely powerful. Add a drum speed of 16,000rpm into the mix, and you can achieve an even, professional finish every time.
The key features that also add to the unique way this planer work includes an adjustable base plate with three chamfering grooves for cutting a 45° angle along, a corner guide fence for maintaining a straight cut, rabbet depth guide for door and window jambs Left/ right dust extraction plus detachable dust bag which attaches to the port to minimize the rate of mess around the entire working area to ensure a hazardous-free working environment.
The VonHaus Planer also features an extra auxiliary handle, ergonomic soft-grip handle, and lock-off switch. Come with two replacement blades (1 set total) and ideal for the more experienced woodworker.
Pros
- Impressive cutting speed
- Comes with a dust bag
- Ergonomic hand and lock off switch
Cons
- Difficulty in swapping out the blade
7. Makita KP0800K Planer Kit
The Makita KP0800k is an incredible kit that is great for carrying out tasks. The electric hand planer can best be used with the user’s perseverance. With the proper patience using this device, you can achieve whatever working tasks you desire.
It is equally efficient and effective on the hardwood as it is on softwoods, and works quickly and fluidly enough to keep up. The neck-and-neck competition remained even when it comes to price.
It is pricey compared to most electric hand planers and is also a good value for what you pay for because of how they perform. What you are getting on this incredible device is nothing but quality.
It is a little bit weighty as it comes in at a honking 10 pounds. This weight quite ideal if it is going to be used as a stationary tool but on the other hand this tool is a hand tool, and every pound it carries tells on the handler.
This means that the tool will demand strength from the user as the ten pounds weight it has can be a little bit hard for the user to steadily hold it for long working hours. Though the weight can be a little setback for the use of this device, it is still a very great tool for planing.
Pros
- Great performance
- Does everything
Cons
- Heavy
- Pricey
8. TACKLIFE Electric Hand Planer
This tool is built with a great and powerful performance that makes the user achieve work with great pace within the shortest period of time. It comes with a 7.5-Amp 900Wpure copper motor that provides up to 32,000 cuts per minute, delivering effective performance, and cutting width can up go to 3-1/4 inches.
One other unique feature this device delivers is the ability to make rabbets up to 4/5 inches in size with the included rabbeting guide. It also has an incredible adjusting cutting depth, the depth adjustment knob with 12 positive stops allows you to adjust the cutting depth anywhere from 0 to 3mm(1/8-inch), increasing in increments of 1/10-inch.
Made with an Aluminum Flat Bottom Plate and Unique “V that makes any hand planer ideal for use. The mirror-grade aluminum flat bottom plate makes the planing surface smoother. It is also made of Chamfer groove that allows the user to create angled chamfer along the edges of your wood-working projects.
Purchasing this device will be a yielding venture and there will be no course for alarm that is why this tool comes with a whopping 2-year warranty. It comes with different accessories that are meant to give the device an incredible one.
The soft rubber-covered handle of this tool gives a comfortable grip, reducing fatigue for long working time. 9.84Ft (3M) long power cord allows you to work without limited by distance.
Pros
- Adequate for smaller jobs
Cons
- Poorly constructed shoe means a shorter lifespan
- Heavy
9. Ryobi HPL52K 6-Amp Corded Hand Planer
With the adjustable capability of this tool, you can overcome any planning tasks you are faced with as it is an ideal device that helps in achieving a lot within the shortest frame of time. You can adjust your depth from 0-1/8″ in 1/96” increments. This versatility will allow you to tackle a variety of woodworking projects with maximum precision
The ergonomic grip handle feature allows the device to have a maximal performance as you are assured of safety using the device. A rubber molding over the grip allows precise handling, even in slippery conditions.
For the purpose of avoiding workplace injury and ensuring maximum security, there is a lock-off button that helps in preventing accidental activation, which is meant to protect the user from ruining his work or even causing damage to the equipment or himself.
Among the distinguishing features, an ideal hand planer should possess is a dual exhaust port and this device is made with this feature.
On this device, there are ports on either side of the unit which enables you to choose which side to blow chips out of, depending on which side you stand on the unit when working.
This device is incredibly built with a non-negligible but important feature that stands it out to give a maximum work output. It comes with a rear-mounted kickstand, this plastic piece on the back of the planer will prevent it from scuffing or otherwise marring your work surfaces.
Pros
- Safety features
- Adjustable capability
Cons
- The cord can cause limitation while working
10. Makita KP0810 7.5 Amp 3-1/4-Inch Planer
The depth adjustment knob of this planer features an easy-to-read scale with click stops in 0.1mm increments for precise depth adjustment making it ideal for any kind of workshop.
The two-blade cutter head helps in ensuring that there is fast removal of material as it runs 16,000 times per minute, an important feature that ensures that planing work is done within the quickest frame of time. For convenience use of this ergonomic tool, there is chip ejection that can be directed to either side of the tool.
For further convenience and easy use of this tool, there is a conveniently located lock-on/off button that can be operated from either side of the handle to ensure that you can make operations no matter the position of your hand on the tool.
The tool is made of ergonomically designed rubberized grip and depth adjustment knob for comfort, control, and even safety use of the tool. To help you have the best use of this exclusive tool, it has a front base that features 3 chamfering groove options which include 1.4mm, 3mm, and 4mm approximately.
This device is a 3-1/4-inch planer that has the capability of delivering power, cutting ability, and ease of use which is okay for an ideal planner especially for planning works that include professional construction framing, window and door installation, and fine woodworking.
It comes with a weight of 7.3 lbs. that can be good for the stationary tool but a little bit heavy for a mobile tool. It comes included with Blade gauge assembly, wrench, guide rule, depth guide, and blade set that ensures that users get the best use out of the product.
Pros
- Great performance
- Does everything
Cons
- Heavy
- Pricey
Hand Planer Buying Guide and Tips
After going through each of the above products and see the features they all possess, you will still have to know some important features in picking the ideal one you will need to perform effective woodwork tasks. The following tips or buying considerations will help you in making the right decision.
Things To Consider When Buying A Hand Planer
The right tool for the right person
Before buying a hand planer, you need to figure out what your needs are. If you are planing or building a shelve or repair frame, then you can quietly go for a smaller and portable one.
Alternatively, if you are venturing on repairing sets of antique oak furniture you inherited from a friend or relation, then you should invest in a larger and more powerful planer. There is a need for you to even ask yourself if a hand planer is a right tool you need for the job. A portable planer might work better for what you need.
User patience
You can place your cash on the most powerful electric hand planer on the market but still wind up with uneven, rough results if the user expects the tool to do the work.
We all know that most electric hand planers are capable of carrying out a perfectly acceptable job in the most ideal way if we are careful and patient enough in its application. Success and failure start with the person using the tool, understanding that the job doesn’t get done merely by pushing a button. Most electric hand planers are capable of handling most jobs.
Speed and power
Hand planer that has higher cutting speed and more power gives smoother results. Not only does this feature matters in the finished product but also in tool wear and tear. Your tool will last-long or have greater durability if it has carried out easier jobs; the speed and power make the job easier. Therefore, it won’t be bad if you invest extra to get buffed out power and speed.
Small underpowered planers work just fine on softwoods but have difficulty getting grip or adhesion on thicker hardwoods. Cutting hardwood puts additional stress on your tool, and if you under-invest you can burn through your money replacing them.
To overcome this issue, what you need to do is to look at the number of cuts per minute. The higher the number, the easier it will work the wood.
Consistency (for Corded or Cordless)
Due to the fact that the quality of your results hinges on the user’s ability to remain patient or have the highest point of perseverance, the most vital thing or feature an electric planer can offer is consistency.
You definitely want your planer to cut at the same rate the entire time you are using it. This creates an instant dilemma: going cordless is really in fashion these days, but as a cordless tool’s battery loses juice it just gets slower.
For this reason, it is best that you consider the consistent output of a corded electric planer over a cordless one. For cordless hand planers, they have their advantage too. They are more agile to use and it is very easy to take them to the job point.
In addition, having a bunch of cords plugged into a bunch of outlets at a job site creates no end to trip hazards. It is also important for us to note that the tool is a secondary consideration when it comes to the quality of planning. When there is a need for you to swap out the battery in the middle of work, it will be like you are starting from scratch.
Comfort/Safety
Massive, gawky, heavy electric hand planers induce fatigue. A fatigued user is a less careful user. You can see how comfort can play an important role in the use of a hand planer. An important feature that must be considered when talking about comfort is waste management. Electric hand planers create a lot of unimaginable waste.
Safety and comfort while working are dependent greatly on the ability to manage wood chips and dust. Some of the available products will require a special adapter to really get rid of waste, so you will need to consider this factor before purchasing any hand planer.
You should try as much as possible to get a model that directs waste instead of letting it spray all over and mess up the entire workplace.
Precision features
This factor has to do with the fencing, the fencing is supposed to be precise and built to stay in place. When a fence is poorly constructed, it won’t stay in place and would create a great mess.
This factor also has a great application on the depth gauges. Steady handling of the tool to work to the desired depth is determined by a high-quality depth gauge. When working with a depth gauge that has low quality, you will need to place constant attention.
In the course of giving depth gauge attention, we still need to look at the ability of the hand planer to cut excellent chamfers and rabbets. If two models are equal, their ability to go over and above simple planing might help tip the scale.
Durability
If you look at the way electric hand planers work, they are a rough-and-tumble tool. The operation of this tool demands that they remain stationary and completely in contact with the surface you are working with.
This operational feature is a bit different than a saw or a drill that are in contact only at the tip of the cutting edge.
That indicates two things and they include: more than enough heat, and wear and tear. All that amount of random motions has the ability to create or produce quite an amount of heat, which can in a way cause damages or even warp parts of the hand planer over the long haul.
To get long-lasting or durable use out of a hand planer, go for models that have cast metal plates, that has the ability to maintain their shape better in a heated, rough environment than a stamped metal one. This will help you get the best use of your hand planer.
Price and value
You should carefully scrutinize through the many hand planers available on the market and know which one best suits your work preference. Look for the product that has performance that matches the value of the money you want to put in.
In a case where the tool doesn’t really matter compared to the work you want to use it for but requires that the user be patient in the course of using it, then you can just decide to go for the less expensive one.
Your decision about the price shouldn’t end there but it is a good way of determining which tool you want. You will need to consider greatly how much you are willing to spend with respect to the features each of the products possesses, don’t choose to go for cheap products neglecting their rate of performance. Consider greatly how much upgrades on each feature will cost and whether you are willing to invest in them.
Conclusion
After taking carefully reading this review, I hope you have found it useful and it will help you make the right decision when buying a hand planer.
