A planer thicknesser is a handy tool that you should consider adding to your home workshop’s inventory. It can be very handy when it comes to trimming boards into even thickness. Doing some planing by yourself will save you a lot of money. All you have to do is cheaply buy timber then trim it into your desired thickness. If you are a hobbyist craftsman if you will most likely find it reasonably easy to operate a planer thicknesser.
Our top pick is the Triton TPT125 Thicknesser. However, there are many other planer thicknessers in the market and we’ve rounded them up and reviewed them based on their speed, power, quality, value for money and the timber size they can accommodate to help you make your choice.
Best Budget Planer Thicknesser UK Review
Triton Thicknesser, 317 mm
Best Option
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- It has a 317mm cutting width and 152 cutting depth.
- It can make up to 17500 cuts per minute.
- It features large infeed and outfeed tables.
- It includes a dust extraction chute and circuit breaker.
What stands out?
This thickness planer comes at a pretty reasonable price, considering the fact that it packs 1100W motor delivering high performance. The infeed and outfeed tables are just large enough to support any size of material while cutting it. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about it blowing up when under too much load because it has a circuit breaker to handle that.
You can also mount the duct chute on either end of the thicknesser planer to enable you clean easily as you continue cutting. A noteworthy feature is that is comes with 8.5/min feed rate is very high. Moreover, the cutter can move vertically while making smooth cuts because of the 4-post design. You will be glad to note that it only weights 29.9kg, making it relatively lighter for this product.
Charnwood 8” x 5” Bench Top Planer Thicknesser
Best Bench Option
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- It has a thicknesser capacity of 8’’x5’’.
- It features an extruded guide fence for purposes of accuracy.
- It comes with a tilting fence with twin guides.
- It features a location sensor for detecting if the dust extractor is fitted properly.
What stands out?
This is one of those flat-bed planers with a touch of class but has a very reasonable price attached to it. The planer can handle materials of widths up to 203mm and thickness of 127mm. it comes with aluminium table, which is why it only weighs 28kg, making it very light. It has a maximum cutting depth of 2mm per pass and 8m/min feed rate.
There is an extension arm at the steel thicknessing bed on the outfeed edge that is supported in all the corners by adjusting screws that are chain driven and rubber coated rollers. These features deliver the timber through the cutting block and it leaves no marks on it.
Metabo Thicknesser 1800Watt 240 Volt
Best Professional
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- It has 7metres per minute feed rate.
- It comes with a large thicknesser capacity
- It features two HPHSS reversible planer blades that can remove up to 3mm at one go.
- It can accommodate up to 330mm wide and 152mm thick wood.
- It weighs 35kg.
What stands out?
This is a premium-end planer thicknesser that packs 1800W. This model is designed for professional use only and since it is a high-end model, it comes with a price. Even if your workshop is poorly lit, you can continue with your wood cutting tasks.
Since the machine is capable of removing 3mm of material per pass. This essentially means that the planer can handle any task that you throw at it. Although it has a much lower feed rate as compared to many of its counterparts, it compensates for this by a greater trimming depth. Furthermore, it includes 2 integrated HPHSS reversible planer blades. These blades function to remove up to 3mm of material from your piece of wood at one go.
Bench Top Jointer Planer 204mm Thicknesser 230V
Rating: 5.0/5.0
- It comes with a powerful 1500W motor.
- It has a 6m/min feed rate.
- It features a dust extraction facility.
- It comes with an aluminium cutter block guard.
What stands out?
This thickness planer will definitely give you value for money. It is made from aluminium, which means it is created to be durable. You can use it to straighten your wooden boards’ edges and plane these boards to your desired thickness. You can fit a vacuum adaptor to help you with vacuum cleaning. This is also an important feature because it will help you collect dust thus minimising the spread of debris and dust all over your work area.
DeWalt 230V Portable Thicknesser 1800W
Rating: 5.0/5.0
- It comes with a 4-post design to enable smooth cutter movement.
- It can plane wood up to 152mm thick and 317mm wide.
- It can plane to a depth of 1.6mm per run at 8.5m/min feed rate.
- Easy to use.
What stands out?
This is one of the best thickness planers in the marketing right now, packing an amazing 1800W motor. This machine was designed while keeping in mind the issue of portability regardless of its 33.kg weight. You will realise that it has a headlock feature that locks the cutter head in place making it easy for the device to remove any movement while cutting. This ensures that your wood comes out having a high-quality surface finish.
The relatively large infeed and outfeed table support any size of material passing through it. Furthermore, the 4-post design makes it easy for the cutter to move vertically and smoothly. If you are thinking of buying a device that can be fitted on a benchtop, then this is the one because it has holes at the back for that purpose. You should also note that it has a 10,000rpm no-load speed with 2mm per pass depth. Therefore, the thickness planer can easily handle any job.
Makita Thicknesser, 220 V
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- It features a 150mm cutting depth and 304mm cutting width.
- It has 8.5m/min feed rate with an impressive 3mm planer depth.
- It comes with a downward pressure system that enables it to prevent wood sniping.
- It has a large thicknessing capacity.
What stands out?
It has a feed rate of 8.5m/min making it the highest in this list, coming with an impressive planning depth. The table size is also large enough to accommodate larger materials. The device is supplied with a magnetic holder and wrenches. It is important to note that it has a 1650W motor capacity that can deliver up to 8,500rpm.
When you feed materials into the machine, the downward pressure system will work to prevent sniping of the wood. Furthermore, you will have peace of mind knowing that it comes with a 1-year guarantee. It offers amazing performance.
Planer Thicknesser Buying Guide
What to consider when buying a thickness planer
There are a few things to think about before you buy a planer thicknesser. You must take your time to understand each feature of a thicknesser. Once you have an understanding of what they are and what they do, then you can go ahead and buy it. Some of these features are as below.
Width of planer
The width of a planer will decide the size of wood you will be working with. The width is often measured in millimetres. Larger tables come with widths of over 400mm while smaller tables are between 200m and 300mm. Let the cutting width of the device guide you considering the width of the pieces of wood you often deal with.
Maximum depth
This refers to the maximum depth of shavings the thicknesser can allow. The planer should be able to let you adjust just how much material can be taken from the piece of wood. For instance, of the maximum depth is 2.4mm, then that is how deep it can go. However, some units come with adjustable planing depth.
Type of planer thicknesser
There are primarily two types of plane thicknessers. Your wood needs will guide you to know the best type of planer thicknesser to handle that job. They are:
- Benchtop: Benchtop planer thicknessers are used to plane one side of the wood at one go. This gives the board a bit of consistency in thickness and smoother surfaces. The opposite surface of the wood is what guides the planer’s cutter head.
- Surface: This is otherwise known as a jointer. Quite contrary to the benchtop one, the cutter head on a jointer is set into the bed surface. It is better placed to produce the initial flat surface and in most cases, it does so in just a single pass.
Therefore, let your purchase decision of the machine be guided by the level of thickness consistency you want to achieve on your wood and the number passes on each side.
Type of cutting block
Before you buy a planer, make sure you consider the type of cutting block you deal with most of the time. The cutting block is located between the infeed and outfeed. The type of cutting block you choose should depend on the thickness you want to achieve.
Number of cutting blades
Apart from the number of blades a planer has, it is also crucial to consider the quality of the blades. The number of blades a planer has will decide just how fast you will finish your tasks but the quality of the blades will decide the quality of your final finish. The higher the number of blades you have, the higher the working speeds of your planer. A combination of several blades like the tri-metal blades and good quality will help you deliver smooth finishes and fine cuts on your pieces of wood.
Re-sharpenable or disposable blades
This is will mostly depend on your preference. If you have the money to always buy blades, then by all means by a planer that works with disposable blades. However, if you want a planer that will help you save on costs, then a planer that works with re-sharpenable blades will be the best option to go for.
Motor size
The motor size of your planer will decide its power specifications. Therefore, the larger the motor size the more elongated its functions will be. It doesn’t matter if the machine has a single-phase, synchronous or asynchronous motor, all that matters is that the motor can support all your speed needs. Always consider models that have motor sizes of between 1200W and 1700W if you want a planer for lightweight use. If you want a planer to tackle heavy duties, then motor sizes above 1800W will be the best option.
FAQ
What is the difference between a planer and thicknesser?
The primary difference between these two machines is that the best planer is used to
square and flatten surfaces giving them a 90 degrees adjacent edge and reference face. On the other hand, a thicknesser is used to make the top side of wood parallel to its bottom side with consistent thickness.
Do I need a planer thicknesser?
Yes, of course. You need this combination to accurately machine your wood. This is not something you can accurately achieve with your scroll saw. The sturdiness of the blades and the size of the tables is what makes it more practical.
How does a thicknesser work?
The machine works by planing and smoothing the surfaces of wood to the size you need. You first need to feed a piece of timber through the infeed towards the outfeed table. In between, the timber passes over a cutter block.
Conclusion
The overall winner in this thickness planer roundup is the Triton TPT125 Thicknesser. This is the best planer option because it has among other incredible features a high feed rate, 4-post design and ability to plane large sizes of wood at one go. It is also reasonably priced and can be used by craftsmen of different levels of expertise. As you go out to buy yours, mostly consider what you intend to use the planer thicknesser for.
