A planer is a power tool that removes a thin layer of wood from the surface to make it smooth, flat and to exact thickness. There are handheld electric planers (portable) and jointer/thicknesser planers (stationary). Planing is essential for finishing rough timber and bringing workpieces to precise dimensions.
Types
| Type | Description | Application |
| Electric hand planer | Portable, moved across the workpiece | Trimming doors, adjusting beams, flattening |
| Jointer (stationary) | Workpiece fed over the machine | Flattening warped boards |
| Thicknesser | Workpiece fed through the machine | Bringing to exact thickness |
| Combination (jointer/thicknesser) | Both functions in one machine | Workshop, hobbyist |
When do you use a planer?
- Trimming a door — Shaving a few millimetres off the edge so the door fits
- Smoothing rough timber — Planing sawn timber for a smooth surface
- Thicknessing — Bringing all boards to exactly the same thickness
- Adjusting beams — Making a beam slightly thinner for a proper fit
- Removing old paint layers — With a coarse setting
Specifications (hand planer)
| Parameter | Typical value |
| Planing width | 82 mm (standard) or 110 mm |
| Planing depth | 0-3 mm per pass |
| Power | 600-900 W |
Tips
- Always with the grain — Plane in the direction of the wood grain. Going against the grain gives a rough result.
- Light passes — Better to take 3 passes at 0.5 mm than 1 pass at 1.5 mm. The result is smoother.
- Sharpen blades regularly — Dull blades give a rough surface and require more force.
Related terms
