If you are looking for the best electric hand planer available in the market, then you are in the right place.
Electric planers, also known as power planers, are handy tools used for removing rough, excess surfaces off a board. These power machines, especially their handheld versions are versatile. My choice is the DEWALT Hand Planer because of its versatility. Check it out at Amazon. They can be used at construction sites for remodeling jobs on the site or in woodworking workshops.
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With proper settings and fence, an electric planer can be used to smooth out the wood and give it a flat finish. It can also be used as a jointer for chamfering railings and shape the wooden trim evenly.
Here are some important things to consider when buying an electric hand planer:
Adjustable Depth Scales
Depth scales need to be adjustable to control the final finish that your electric planer will leave on the wood you are working on. The deeper you set it, the more material it will cut off. A shallower setting is more appropriate for a final trim before you start to sand the wood.
Built-In Tool Storage
While using an electric planer, you might need to use various other common tools that are most probably present in your workspace. But buying an electric planer that comes with built-in storage is quite convenient.
Comfortable Handles
When buying power machines, one important factor that people usually do not pay much attention to is comfortable handling. As these machines tend to vibrate a lot and chatter too, you might want to grasp every bit of comfort that you can get. Select an electric hand planer with soft-grip handles and you’ll be good to go.
Fences
If you want to cut your wood with extreme accuracy and give shape it perfectly without any uneven sides, fences or guides are vital. Remember, the longer the fence or guide of your power machine is, the more precise your cut will be. Most of the fences can also be adjusted for jointing or chamfering purposes.
Number of Irons
If you think a normal electric planer will do for you, you can opt for a basic model that comes with one iron. But if you desire a powerful machine that is built for a professional, choose one that comes with two or more irons as the higher the number of irons, the higher will be the quality of the planer.
Safety Features
Every individual mistakenly puts their planer down at one time or the other while the bladed drum is running. This can give you a lot of trouble; therefore, buying a machine that comes with some safety features is essential. It is best to have a power tool that comes with electric brakes or retractable feet to provide you with maximum protection.
Sandling Cylinders
If you use proper settings, sanding cylinders allow you to turn your planer into a mobile sander making it a two-in-one tool for you.
Stationary Supports
If you desire to turn your electric unit into a jointer or a mini bench planer, you need to buy one that comes with stationary supports or bench converters that allow you to use your machine after turning it upside down on a bench.
Suction Bags
For an easier experience, purchase a planer that comes with suction bags or built-in vacuum cleaners that allow you to collect most of the wood shavings and ejected chips into a container. This will save you from the hassle of cleaning up afterward.
Switches to Adjust Chip Direction
Planers that come with chip direction switches allow you to select one side of your planer (from the two sides; typically left and right) to eject the chips from.
Now that you know about all the important features to look for in an electric hand planer, it is time to make your final decision. To help you out, we conducted extensive researches and came up with a list of our picks for the best electric hand planer.
DEWALT Hand Planer
This extremely durable electric hand planer is very easy to use. It is manufactured in China and the heavy-duty power machine provides an amazingly smooth and even finish and that too in the hardest of woods. It makes a clean cut in one pass so you don’t have to increases the number of passes on your material.
It also comes with a calibrated depth adjustment knob which helps you acquire the perfect depth setting according to your preference. The reversible carbide blades are quite detailed and they provide precise and accurate results.
Specifications
- Brand Name: DEWALT
- Product Weight: 11.8 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 15.8 x 11.4 x 9.8 inches
- Model Number: DW680K
Key Features
- Calibrated depth adjustment knob
- Precision-machined shoe bottom and sides
- Accepts reversible carbide and large, high-speed and ultra-sharp steel blades
- 3/32-inches of cut in a single pass
Pros
- Great power
- Comfortable handling
- Versatile
Cons
- Poor dust collection
Makita Hand Planer
The motor of this electric hand planer delivers more output power which results in material removal at a faster pace. You can cut up to 3/32 inches deep in just a single pass. The two-blade cutter head of this planer allows you to give your wood smooth finishing touches. Although it has high power, one drawback to this machine is its high price.
The easy blade setting that this device comes with allows faster blade installations. The precision-machined aluminum base plays a great role in providing maximum accuracy. Lastly, it comes equipped with double edge carbide blades that add to the amazing performance of the planer.
Specifications
- Brand Name: Makita
- Product Weight: 10.14 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 7.9 x 9.8 inches
- Model Number: KP0800K
Key Features
- 5 Amp motor
- Two-blade cutter head
- 17,000 RPM
- 3/32 inches cut in one pass
- Die-cast aluminum housing
Pros
- Splendid performance
- Multipurpose
Cons
- Costly
WEN Electric Hand Planer
The lightweight design of this planer makes it extremely easy to handle. It comes with various components including a reversible dust bag, a rabetting guide, a parallel fence bracket, and a chamfer groove. You can set the cutting depth of the electric planer anywhere between 0 and 1/8th of an inch.
A built-in kickstand prevents any kind of contact between the blade and your workspace. The blade drum with two double-sided blades that rotate at 17,000RPM makes the machine efficient and allows it to make about 34,000 clean and smooth cuts per minute.
Specifications
- Brand Name: WEN
- Product Weight: 7.9 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 12 x 7 x 7 inches
- Model Number: 6530
Key Features
- 6 Amps of dependable planing power
- Variety of cutting depths
- Kickstand
- Reversible dust chute
- 34,000 cuts per minute
Pros
- Cheap
Cons
- Difficult to swap out blades
Consider your requirements and preferences and choose an electric hand planer from the above three options to optimize your wood finishing process!
