Planers

About Planers

Planers are essential power tools designed to remove material from wooden surfaces, creating smooth, flat finishes and precise thicknesses. Whether you're fitting doors, levelling timber joists, or creating chamfers and rebates, a quality planer makes light work of tasks that would otherwise require laborious hand planing. Modern electric and cordless planers combine powerful motors with precision depth adjustment, allowing tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts to achieve professional results quickly and consistently.

Available in both corded electric and cordless battery-powered formats, planers typically feature rotating cutter blocks with two or more carbide-tipped blades that shave wood to the desired depth. Most models offer planing widths of 82mm, making them ideal for standard joinery work, with adjustable cutting depths usually ranging from 0-3mm per pass. Leading manufacturers including Makita, DeWalt, Bosch Professional, Festool, and Milwaukee produce robust planers suitable for demanding site work, whilst brands like Einhell, Draper, and Black & Decker offer excellent value options for lighter-duty applications and home workshop use.

From compact 12V cordless models perfect for fine finishing work to powerful 750-920W mains-powered planers capable of rapid stock removal, there's a planer to suit every application and budget. Many modern planers include features such as brushless motors for extended runtime and durability, parallel fences for edge planing, and kickstands to protect blade edges when setting the tool down.

Jargon Buster

• Planing Width: The maximum width of material the planer can remove in a single pass, typically 82mm on standard models. This determines how many passes you'll need for wider boards.
• Cutting Depth: The maximum amount of material that can be removed in one pass, usually adjustable from 0-3mm. Deeper cuts require more power but speed up material removal.
• Rebating/Rabbeting: Creating a stepped recess along the edge of timber, commonly used for joinery. Most planers include a side fence and rebating depth stop for this purpose.
• Brushless Motor: Modern motor technology using electronic controllers instead of carbon brushes, delivering greater efficiency, longer runtime on cordless models, reduced maintenance, and extended tool life.
• Chamfering: Creating a bevelled edge on timber, often using a V-groove in the planer's front shoe for consistent 45-degree chamfers.
• Kickstand: A spring-loaded rear section that automatically lifts the planer blades off the work surface when released, protecting both the cutting edges and your workpiece.

Who Uses Planers?

Planers are invaluable tools across numerous trades and applications:

• Carpenters and Joiners: For fitting doors, hanging windows, creating joints, and achieving precise timber dimensions on site and in the workshop
• Shopfitters: Installing counters, shelving, and bespoke joinery where precise fitting and finishing are essential
• Kitchen Fitters: Adjusting door heights, scribing worktops, and ensuring perfect fits in uneven spaces
• Builders and General Contractors: Levelling joists, removing material from structural timbers, and general carpentry tasks
• Restoration Specialists: Working with reclaimed timber and fitting new components to period properties
• Furniture Makers: Dimensioning timber, creating joints, and achieving smooth surfaces before finishing
• DIY Enthusiasts: Home renovation projects, garden construction, and woodworking hobbies requiring precise timber preparation
• Property Maintenance Teams: Repair work involving doors, windows, and general timber maintenance

How to Choose the Right Planers

Power Source: Corded electric planers deliver consistent power for extended use and heavy-duty applications, with motors typically ranging from 600W to 950W. Cordless models, available in 12V and 18V platforms, offer excellent portability for site work and overhead applications, though battery runtime should be considered for larger jobs. If you already use a particular battery system (Makita LXT, DeWalt XR, Milwaukee M18), staying within that platform maximises value.

Planing Capacity: Most standard planers offer 82mm width and up to 3mm depth per pass, suitable for the majority of carpentry tasks. Consider cutting depth for your typical applications – deeper cuts speed up stock removal but require more powerful motors. Rebating capacity (typically 0-20mm) matters if you regularly create rebates for glazing or joinery.

Motor Technology: Brushless motors, found in premium models from Makita, DeWalt, Bosch Professional, and Festool, deliver superior efficiency, longer runtime on cordless tools, and extended lifespan. Brushed motors in budget-friendly options from Einhell and Draper still perform well for lighter-duty and intermittent use.

Build Quality and Features: Professional-grade planers feature robust aluminium shoes for accuracy, precision depth adjustment mechanisms, and superior dust extraction. Look for integrated kickstands, parallel fences for edge work, and V-grooves in the front shoe for chamfering. Premium brands like Festool and Bosch Professional include features like electronic speed control and superior dust collection integration.

Budget Considerations: Entry-level planers from Einhell and Black & Decker (£50-£100) suit occasional DIY use and lighter materials. Mid-range options from Draper and standard Bosch (£100-£200) balance performance and value for regular use. Professional models from Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Festool (£200-£500+) justify their cost through durability, performance, and advanced features for daily commercial use.

Popular Accessories

• Replacement Blades: Tungsten carbide-tipped (TCT) blades maintain sharpness longer than standard HSS blades, essential for demanding work with abrasive timbers or construction lumber
• Dust Extraction Bags and Adaptors: Capture wood shavings for cleaner working and healthier air quality; adaptors connect planers to workshop vacuum systems
• Parallel Side Fences: Guide the planer accurately along edges and control rebating depth, often included but available as replacements
• Depth Gauges and Setting Tools: Precise blade height adjustment tools ensure optimal cutting performance and surface finish
• Storage Cases: Protect your investment during transport and storage, particularly important for site work
• Additional Batteries and Chargers: Extended runtime for cordless models, with rapid chargers minimising downtime on busy jobs
• Sharpening Systems: Blade sharpening jigs and stones to restore cutting edges, reducing long-term blade replacement costs

Safety Information

Planers are powerful cutting tools requiring proper safety precautions and protective equipment:

• Eye Protection: Always wear safety glasses or goggles to protect against flying wood chips and dust – a legal requirement under HSE guidelines for professional use
• Hearing Protection: Planers can exceed 85dB, particularly enclosed spaces; use ear defenders or plugs for extended operation
• Dust Management: Wood dust poses respiratory risks and is classified as a carcinogen under COSHH regulations; always connect dust extraction or work in well-ventilated areas
• Secure Workpieces: Always clamp timber securely before planing; never hold small pieces by hand whilst planing
• Electrical Safety: Ensure corded planers are connected to 230V RCD-protected supplies, particularly on construction sites where Part P regulations apply
• Blade Safety: Disconnect from power before changing blades or making adjustments; wait for the cutter block to stop completely before setting down
• Two-Handed Operation: Maintain firm control with both hands on designated grip areas to prevent kickback and ensure accurate cuts
• Inspect Timber: Check for nails, screws, and other metal objects that could damage blades or cause dangerous kickback

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a planer and a sander?

A planer removes material using rotating cutting blades to reduce thickness and flatten surfaces, whilst a sander uses abrasive paper to smooth surfaces without significantly changing dimensions. Planers are for dimensioning and shaping timber; sanders create fine finishes after planing. You typically plane first to achieve the correct size and flatness, then sand for a smooth finish.

Can I use a planer on reclaimed or old timber?

Yes, but exercise extreme caution. Old timber often contains hidden nails, screws, or embedded grit that will instantly damage expensive planer blades. Always inspect reclaimed wood carefully, use a metal detector if available, and consider using older or cheaper blades for this work. Reclaimed timber may also be harder and more abrasive than fresh wood, requiring more frequent blade changes.

Should I choose corded or cordless for professional use?

Both have merits depending on your working conditions. Corded planers deliver consistent power for extended workshop use and heavy stock removal without battery concerns. Cordless 18V models excel for site work, overhead applications, and locations without mains power, with modern brushless technology providing impressive runtime. Many professionals invest in both: corded for workshop use and cordless for installation work. If choosing cordless, ensure you have sufficient batteries (2.5Ah minimum, preferably 5.0Ah or higher) for uninterrupted work.

How often should I replace or sharpen planer blades?

Blade life depends on usage intensity and material type. Professional tradespeople working with construction timber may need sharpening or replacement every few weeks, whilst DIY users might get months of service. Signs that blades need attention include: tearout instead of clean cuts, burn marks on timber, increased effort required to push the planer, or visible nicks in blade edges. Most carbide-tipped blades can be professionally sharpened 3-5 times before replacement becomes necessary.

What planing width do I need for most carpentry work?

The standard 82mm planing width suits the vast majority of carpentry and joinery applications, easily handling door edges, window frames, skirting boards, and dimensional timber up to 3x3 inches. This width allows you to plane most standard timber in one or two passes. Unless you regularly work with very wide boards or specialist applications, an 82mm planer provides excellent versatility for both professional and DIY use.