Are you looking for the best electric hand planer on the market? If so, you are in luck as in this article; you will be taken through five of the best planers that money can buy. Furthermore, you also will be taken through the features that you need to consider before paying for an electric planer using your hard-earned money. Subsequently, you will be in an excellent position to know what you exactly know what you want hence able to make a wise decision regarding which tool will best meet your planing needs.
Comparison Chart
Detailed Product Info & Reviews
1. DeWalt DW680K 7-Amp Hand Planer
This electric hand planer is undoubtedly one of the best on the market as it incorporates lots of excellent features as well as a robust 7.0 Amps motor. Therefore, with it, you always are guaranteed efficient, smooth, and fast surfacing material. Additionally, this model can be used on both hardwood and softwood with ease thanks to its extremely strong motor.
Product Features
This hand plan features reversible carbide blades and a big resharpenable high-speed steel blade that enable you to achieve straight edging as well as perform more accurate cuts. It also incorporates a square rabbet joint as well as a flat surface finish that gives the machine a precise shoe bottom and side.
This electric hand plane comes in an excellent ergonomic design that has two finger triggers for added comfort. This allows for improved maneuverability, plus it comes with a front-height knob that is rubber-coated that allows for improved control of work as well as comfort. Additionally, its solid build construction and ergonomic design allow you to make use of this equipment for an extended duration without getting fatigued. This is further enhanced with its lightweight design, as it only weighs 6.2 pounds.
Each cut reaches a depth of 3/32 inches, thereby providing you with increased accuracy whenever you are using this equipment, ensuring the cuts are always smooth and even. This planer also features front chamfering guides that ensure you have an easy time when working on your project. It also simplifies tasks such as framing as well as re-sharpening straight edges.
The Good
Thanks to this cut depth, the necessary number of passes needed to achieve the desired results is reduced significantly. Moreover, this depth adjustment usually comes already in presets that you can calibrate and lock in positions for repeated use. Finally, another remarkable element of this equipment is that it features reversible carbide blades that are not only bulky enough but also very durable.
The Bad
This electric hand planer does not have a dust collector. Thus, any time you use it results in a very messy workspace, and this makes the work environment not ideal for efficient productivity. Additionally, the chip collector in this machine wears out in one direction.
What We Like
- It is comfortable and easy to use
- Offers you with incredible value
- It is very durable
- It produces a tremendous amount of power
- Performs cuts cleanly
- It is versatile
What We Don’t Like
- Its depth adjuster might be too near the handle for some users
- Does not come with a dust collector kit
2. Bosch PL2632K Electric Handheld Planer
This electric hand planer is ideal for skilled homeowners and woodwork specialists as it perfectly incorporates a mixture of mid-range affordability with high-end features. Consequently, this combination makes this the perfect tool if you, regardless of whether you are a professional or a DIY enthusiast.
Product Features
This machine’s original package consists of one dual-mount guide fence, a shaving bag, two wood razor mini micro-grain blades, an upright no-mar plastic overshoe for the fence, a carrying case, and a blade wrench.
It planes a depth of 3/32 inches and a width of 3 1/4 inches, whereas the rabbet depth spans 5/16 inches and the rabbet width being 3 1/4 inches. However, you can always increase the depth as you desire to make use of the ratchet knob.
Integrated into its design is a 6.5 Amps motor that produces 16,500 rotations per minute as well as performs a quick stock removal. As a result, the outcome is an even and smooth finish. Likewise, this machine features a dual-mount guide fence that helps you achieve incredible consistency throughout the whole project.
The blades integrated into this tool are the reversible Bosch wood razor micro grain carbide that lasts 3% longer in comparison to ordinary blades. These two blades operate in a versatile system that allows for the conversion for usage along with other big high-steel blades. Additionally, weighing in at 14.5 pounds, this electric hand planer is easy to move, thereby guaranteeing that your hands are always comfortable whenever you are using it.
It also features a lock-on button that allows you to use this machine for a prolonged duration, and the wood shavings are directed either to the right or to the left. Therefore, using this machine will, at all times, be easy and convenient. Furthermore, its build quality is stunning, and this ensures it lasts for an extended period, so you never need to worry about not completing any of your projects. It also comes with a one-year warranty, with this further proof of the company’s faith in this product.
The Good
The design of the Bosch PL2632K electric handheld planer also has your safety in mind, and this is evidenced by the lock-off release button that prevents accidental starts. Its tool resting spot and blade are also protected using a spring-loaded stand. Additionally, it features other protective gear such as the no-mar plastic shoe as well as the shield for both sides of the machine.
The Bad
The depth knob of this electric hand planer occasionally fails to click into place. As a result, this may instill fears of it changing while you are in the middle of using it, and this might be dangerous for your safety or anyone else who uses it.
What We Like
- Offers you great value for money
- It has useful safety features
- Its build quality is outstanding
- It is very powerful
- Durable and of high-quality
- It collects shavings
What We Don’t Like
- It is heavier compared to its rivals
3. Wen 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer
If you are a homeowner searching for an affordable electric hand planer, look no further because the Wen 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer is exactly what you need. With this machine, you can do any ordinary thing an ordinary home user would want to do. Additionally, the more you get used to it, the easier it will be for you to use this planer on even more challenging tasks.
Features
Integrated into this equipment is a 6-Amp motor that produces adequate power to perform all your general duties. This model is only able to achieve a cutting depth of 1/8 inches, thereby making it not versatile enough as it does offer you with depth adjustment versatility. This can be a considerable hindrance if you are looking for something that is slightly adjustable to cut depths of different sizes. However, it comes with six depth stops, which provide you with increments of up to 1/128 inches to compensate for this weakness.
Thanks to this, you always are a great position to make cuts that are smooth, even and precise, that is somewhat comparable to what a professional electric planer would have done. Furthermore, this machine has a CPM speed of 34000 and a cutting width of 3.25 inches, meaning you can effortlessly use it to level platforms at a fairly speedy rate.
The Bad
The main issue with this tool is the stuff found at its edges, as they do not support direct performance. Moreover, changing out these blades is also tedious, and this is very annoying as this equipment usually needs sharp blades to accomplish smooth finishes. Its waste bag also fills up relatively fast, and this consequently results in your workspace getting filled with sawdust, with this a great hindrance to your productivity.
The Good
The main benefit of this electric hand planer is that it is very affordable while still delivering an acceptable performance that is needed to carry out DIY projects effortlessly. Therefore, you always have confidence when using this tool that its features will not suit your needs well without requiring you to break the bank.
What We Like
- It is very affordable
- Comes with six depth stops that offer you 1/128 inch increments
- Its motor produces adequate power to ensure every cut is clean and smooth
What We Don’t Like
- Swapping out blades can be somewhat tedious
4. Makita KP0810 Power Planer
This electric hand planer is the best choice, especially if you are not very familiar with these machines due to its versatility as well as impressive build quality. Therefore, this is the perfect tool if you are looking to do window and door installation, construct framing as well as perform woodworking tasks in much finer details. It is no surprise that this tool is very popular among many users.
Features
The Makita KP0810 Power Planer can plane a depth of 5/32 inches as well as a width of 3 1/3 inches in a single pass. All this is made possible as integrated into its design is a powerful 7.5Amps motor that produces an RPM of 16,000 hence helping you achieve a clean and smooth finish while simultaneously taking out the materials quickly. It comes with double edge carbide blades that help you quickly get rid of the stock and further boost the performance of this machine.
It is also very comfortable to use, and this is thanks to its anti-skid front and balanced gravitational center. This is thanks to its lightweight build as it weighs only 7.3 pounds, hence providing it with an ideal weight to performance ratio, which makes it easy for you to maneuver with it and still do a great job. Moreover, you can use this machine sideways too without causing your hands any unnecessary fatigue.
The build quality of this machine is incredible, and it is designed to withstand the test of time. This is made possible thanks to its die-cast aluminum housing that comes with a ball-baring construction. Additionally, both its workpiece and blades are always secured whenever the base is raised because of the spring-loaded stand.
Integrated into the design of this electric planer is a lock On/Off button that you can easily operate from any side of the handle to provide you with enhanced convenience. It also features a right or left chip ejection that further helps in making the use of this machine more convenient. Additionally, to help you achieve a better grip, both the rear and front handles are rubberized, and you can easily change the working depth using the adjustment knob. It comes with three chamfering groove options as well as an easily readable read scale that has 0.1mm increments.
The Good
The best thing about this electric hand planer is that it does not produce a lot of noise. Therefore, if you often find the noise produced by other machines to be annoying, then you need to consider the Makita KP0810 Power Planer. Consequently, you will always have peace of mind as you carry out your duties, and this helps you be more productive.
The Bad
This machine does not come with a dust collector with this essential component that helps ensure you have a clean and tidy workstation. Because of this, you need to constantly deal with the nuisance of having to clean up each time you make use of this electric hand planer.
What We Like
- It works perfectly for both hardwood and softwood
- It guarantees you extreme accuracy
- The build quality is amazing
- Provides you with smooth handling
- Ideal if you are a heavy user or professional
- Produces lots of power
What We Don’t Like
- It does not have a hard case
5. Porter-Cable PC60THP
This is also another budget-friendly electric hand planer that still has incredible features that guarantee great performance. Its original package includes the hand planer, one wrench, two carbide cutting blades, one kit bag, one edge guide as well as one dust bag.
Features
The Porter-Cable PC60THP features a 6-Amo motor that provides you with depth cuts of 5/64 that are more accurate, thereby allowing you to shave surface layers that are thinner with even better precision. It also has ten positive depth steps found on the old depth knob that provide this tool with added versatility. Additionally, it also features three chamfering grooves that are used in making edgings with little strain and better control, as well as little resistance, is made possible thanks to the addition of the 11.5 inches cast an aluminum shoe.
This planer also features a dual dust port that ejects wood chips efficiently, thus preventing any clogging, and this is essential as it helps prolong its lifespan. The rabbets made by this machine have a depth of 0.47 inches for each pass, and when doing this, it does not cut lots of material, which is great as it gives you better control over the rabbet depth as well as offering you excellent value.
The Good
The best thing about this electric hand planer is that dual extraction on both sides of this machine is possible. With this, you have an easier time maintaining the tidiness of your workspace, which is important in ensuring you remain productive.
The Bad
Despite this tool being very useful when planing, its dust bag is extremely small, and you need to empty it frequently. This can be very annoying, especially if you are a professional or heavy user and have lots of work that needs to be completed within a short duration. Moreover, this machine sometimes does not make even cuts in its original settings, thereby necessitating you to make a couple of adjustments to avoid angle cuts.
What We Like
- Maneuvering with this machine is very easy
- Offers you with excellent value
- It offers you an acceptable build quality
- Perfect if you are a DIY enthusiast
- It makes cuts efficiently
What We Don’t Like
- The carrying bag is soft instead of being hard
Electric Hand Planer Buyer’s Guide and Essential Features
Looking for the perfect electric hand planer to meet your needs can be somewhat challenging, especially as there are many brands on the market, each claiming to be the best. Because of this, making an informed decision becomes even harder, and you might end up purchasing a poor quality product if you are not keen. Therefore, in the buyer’s guide, you will be taken through the essential features that you need to consider before buying any hand planer. Consequently, you will be able to make a wise choice as to which model will best meet your planing needs effectively.
Durability
The operation of an electric hand plane is typically characterized by bumpiness and tumbles, plus it always needs to be in contact with the working surface at all times. This consequently results in plenty of heat as well as wear and tear as the process of using it entails thousands of cuts per minute for any perfectly working electric hand plane. As a result of all this generated motion, a lot of heat which can lead to the damage of several parts of the hand planer after continued use. Therefore, when shopping for an electric hand planer, you need to ensure you get one that features metal plates as this helps better maintain its shape in the rough, heated environment in comparison to the stamped metal one.
Precision features
In wood planing, consistency is key if you are serious about wanting control over numerous variables you possibly can. This usually includes ensuring the fencing is both precisely and perfectly positioned to stay firmly in the same spot. Any electric hand planer with an inferior quality fence results in a higher chance of you not achieving an even, smooth, and flat surface. The same also applies with depth gauges, and one of top-notch quality guarantees that your stable and patient hands work out the desired depth. Nevertheless, this is not possible with a low-quality depth gauge as it frequently needs attention and fusing.
Comfort
The ergonomic design and weight of the electric hand planer play a crucial role in determining whether or not you will be successful in your planing duties. Hand planers should ideally incorporate a portable design as this guarantees that your comfort is maximized. However, this is not possible with a heavy and clumsy electric hand planer as it quickly gets you fatigued.
Furthermore, waste management is also another aspect of comfort that you need to consider. This is because typically, electric hand planers produce lots of waste, so managing the quantity of this wood dust and chips is crucial to promoting your comfort as well as safety. Thus, when looking for an electric hand planer, you need to opt for one that disposes of its waste efficiently, thereby making your work environment one that is easy to work in.
Power and speed
Typically, electric hand planers that operate at greater cutting speed and power achieve smoother cuts. Additionally, these also affect the hand planer’s rate of wear and tear since the easier it is for the machine to perform a certain task, the longer it will remain useful. Therefore, as you search for the ideal electric hand planer, you should opt for one that is powered with produces enough speed and power.
You should also consider the type of wood you often are cutting. This is because small underpowered electric planers lack enough power to get the necessary traction to work on denser hardwoods. Subsequently, this leads to added stress on the tool, which you later end up replacing after using only for a short duration. Thus, you should look at the hand planer’s cuts per minute, and the bigger the value, the easier it is for the machine to work on the wood.
Price of the electric hand planer
Regardless of the item you are buying, it is always important to factor in the price you are paying for a product, with the goal being to get maximum value from it. However, this should not be the only thing you take into consideration, but it will, without a doubt, be the perfect starting point. With this in mind, you can know what any additional feature incorporated into the hand planer will cost you, the amount of money you are looking to spend, and thereby be in a better position to make an informed decision.
Frequently Asked Questions? (FAQs)
(Q) Are electric hand planers any good?
(A) Yes, these machines are great as they assist you in shaping the wood by utilizing the muscle power to chop the wooden surface. This is vital in reducing the frequency at which accidents occur as well as the effort which you need to put in.
(Q) Can an electric hand planer be used as a jointer?
(A) Both these machines can be used to do the same purpose of building furniture as well as other wood projects which require precise dimensions. Likewise, they are both used in milling and flattening pieces of wood.
(Q) Can an MDF be put through an electric hand planer?
(A) Yes, you can also plan an MDF, and there few people complain that these materials cause damage to the hand planer.
(Q) What difference is there between a planer and thicknesser?
(A) A planer and thicknesser are the same. The term thicknesser is derived from the oversimplification of the task planers do, that is, making wood thinner.
(Q) Is a thickness planer essential?
(A) Yes, you do. This is because this machine performs numerous functions that will be beneficial to you as you strive to achieve smooth surfaces and consistent thickness
Conclusion
Having read through the article, you now know of the five best electric hand planers on the market. However, of these five tools, the DeWalt DW680K Power Planer is, without a doubt, the perfect choice if you are looking for a planer capable of seamlessly doing heavy-duty tasks as well as producing smooth and accurate cuts. Additionally, if you are only a budget, you should then opt for the WEN 6530 rather than the Porter-Cable PC60THP, which is a little bit too aggressive. Consequently, with either of these tools, you will be able to make cuts that are even, smooth and precise.
