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Perhaps you’re a woodworker who wants to smoothen the rough spots off the surface of a wood piece by slicing thin layers off it. You can do this by means of processes such as levelling and resurfacing, and you would do it using a planer or moulder. This tool will help you cut the planks you need to the thickness required. Mentioned below are top 3 hand planer reviews.
Editor’s Pick:
PORTER-CABLE PC60THP 6-Amp Hand Planer
Here’s a quick comparison of the 3 wood planers:
| Product Name | Dimensions | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
| PORTER-CABLE PC60THP 6-Amp Hand Planer | 7.75 x 14.63 x 8.25 in | Check Price |
| Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer, 3-1/4" | 7 x 15.25 x 7.5 in | Check Price |
| WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer | 7 x 12 x 7 in | Check Price |
Top 3 Hand Planer Reviews
This hand planer comes with a tough 6 amp motor that ensures a smooth cut for hard wood. Its maximum load speed is 16,500 
rpm to remove all wood irregularities smoothly. Its dual side dust extraction feature allows for the dust to be placed on both sides of the tool for a clean work area.
Better planer control and multi-depth control settings are achieved by the overmold depth knob’s 10 steps. Three chamfering grooves offering options are also available. For better control and finish quality, this device is fitted with an 11.5″ cast aluminum shoe, so that the depth of cut at 5/64″ removes all extra material quickly. Its 0.47″ max rabbit depth helps remove all material per pass.
Pros:
- It is a dependable tool, and easy to use.
- It is a well-designed tool.
- If used carefully, it can be used with one hand.
- Great value for money.
2. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Planer, 3-1/4″
This is the first planer to have an on-off button to prevent accidental start-up, while also providing for extra operation. Its dual-mount fence offers rigid guidance, prevents damage to the surface of the workpiece. The cord is kept safely out of the way by a 
ball-joint cord swivel. It is spring-loaded, while an inbuilt stand raises the planer to protect its blades and save money in the long run. It has a powerful 6.5 Amp motor and 16,500 RPM speed for quick wood chunks removal.
The Bosch names spells quality and ruggedness.
Pros:
- This device is durable, strong and easy to use.
- It is also robust, of a good weight and size and long-lasting.
- Its chip collection bag works well.
- The unit works silently and is easy to work with.
Cons:
- After using it a few times, a user complained that the front shoe was misaligned with the body and the blade, so the cut is not straight.
3. WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer
If you need to fix doors or to fit wood for a benchtop project, choose to go with this planer. Not only does it slice chips and 
splinters from a chunk of wood, it also shapes irregular edges and cuts at the rate of 34,000 cuts per minute. Its cutting width is 3.25 inches and its maximum cutting depth is 1/8 inch, which makes it possible to fit and square boards. It comes to you with 16 positive stops that increase incrementally by 1/128 inch from 0 to 1/8 inch. In the base plate lies a V-shaped groove that flattens sharp post corners easily. It also has a kickstand that prevents any unnecessary blade contact with the workpiece when the device is idle. It can be used for chamfering, rabbeting and last-minute changes.
Hand Planer Buying Guide
Why buy a planer?
If you’re a serious woodworker, you would need to have a planer. With this tool, you can make any object instead of buying an odd product sold to you at a hardware store. It pays to buy the best planer you can afford because this tool will take you a long way.
By working with a planer, you can buy cheap and rough wood that you can smoothen down. Also, you can bring about identical thicknesses between planks and save yourself an extra expense of having it done by someone else.
How does a planer work?
Typically, a planer works like this: You need to set the cut depth by adjusting the drum on the planing platform. Next, switch on the device. As you put the board into the machine, the in-feed roller will carry it forward and place it below the cutter drum’s blades. At the other end, the out-feed roller moves out the worked-on part of the board and you can see a smooth surface with reduced thickness in the board.
What is a planer used for?
- Apart from smoothening the blemishes of a wooden plank and leveling its thickness, a planer can also do the same for small blocks of wood for deck spindles.
- Projects that need two edges of wooden boards to be adjoined, beveling can be done.
- By reclaiming old wood for new projects, a wood planer can be used in flattening it.
Types of wood planers
There are three types of wood planers that woodworkers like you can use, though carpenters must decide the one that best suits your requirements. This largely depends on the size and complexity of the projects you undertake and for which you would need a wood planer. From the three types of wood planers described below, choose the one that best fits your needs. Remember there are downsides too for each one, so think carefully before you choose.
Manual Planers
These are available in a series of sizes and styles. It affords greater control to you while you undertake wood planing, thus rendering it ideal for very intricate and small projects. While shopping for this kind of planer, ensure that it is of good quality, is comfortable for long use and is strong. It should be comfortable as it will be your power source for a protracted period, so you shouldn’t get tired of handling it.
Test out the different styles of manual planers before selecting. What attracts woodworkers to this kind of planer is that it is relatively inexpensive. Despite this, ensure that you test out a few models before selecting.
Electric Planers
These planers are more powerful than their manual counterparts and are well-designed for small and large woodworking projects. These planers lack the kind of control and grip that manuals give, so practice using an electric planer when you’re on a fine job.
Electric planers come in two versions–a corded version and a cordless. A cordless will be more expensive than the corded, so bear that in mind. Your additional costs will be a rechargeable battery and a charger for the battery. Using a battery-led planer means that it will have to be fully charged well in advance before you can work so that it does not stop working due to lack of charge. But it also means you won’t have a cord in your way and you will find greater convenience using the cordless version.
Stationary Planers
These are perfect for larger and complicated woodworking projects. These planers are large, so they are placed on stand-alone tables. They are strong and heavy and can be given larger boards to smoothen than their other counterparts. When shopping for a stationary planer, ensure it comes with a table extension and a good depth control setting, if you work on complicated projects. To keep it in good working order, clean it often.
Hand planer vs. Bench planer
Power hand planers are best used for shaving off a lot of irregularities in the wood in a short time, though the finish may not be good. They are also good for trimming the undersides of interior and exterior doors. This is its big feature. The hand planer is also fastidious about the way it works. Not only can it quickly thin down a thick plank of wood, but it also makes a very small impact.
The universal motors of benchtop planers work at best to remove 1/16″ of wood at a time or less, thus leading to longer work time to create a smooth wood surface. Benchtop planers work best for home shops that do not work to a tight production schedule.
Choose the best hand planer after reading these hand planer reviews and work successfully on all woodworking projects.
