Whether you’ve decided to pick up woodworking as a hobby or you’re frantically searching for the tools to help you replace that dearly beloved wooden stool you accidentally crushed underfoot, or even if you’re just looking to properly build up your workshop in a paranoid need to always be prepared, one piece of equipment you’re sure to need is a thickness planer.
If you need to level the thickness of uneven planks of wood you hastily picked up from a lumberyard, or if you have a project that needs two edges adjoined to each other, or even if you simply want to reuse old wood in new projects, these will definitely become staple tools in your workshop with the help of a reliable planer.
Whether you are a professional craftsman or a talented do-it-yourselfer, you ought it to yourself to have a perfectly serviceable saw kept somewhere.
This is where you will appreciate the beauty of a planer. It is simple to use and will help save you so much time while also giving your work a nice and polished look. If you need to cut wood to a certain thickness and want it to be even and smooth sans spending most of your precious hours doing it, resorting to using a planer will be a smart move.
So how does it work? The rough wood goes in one end of the planer, passes through the gutter, and comes out the other end perfectly smooth and adjusted to your desired thickness.
It is a modernized version of a tool that has been used since medieval times so if you are planning on ever doing woodworks, a planer is a purchase you will not regret.
A wood planer is traditionally a handheld tool, however, as any other equipment invented, it evolved and was constantly innovated. With the help of today’s technology, a wood planer now boasts of having several new features.
It can now be placed on top of a bench so even if you haven’t gone to the gym to work on your arms in what seems like a century, you should be able to make the most out of your planer.
Whether you are just getting started, or have already acquired a solid lineup of equipment in your workshop, you may find yourself overwhelmed with all of the different kinds of planers out there. With all their fancy features and specifications, it may be difficult to find one that works for you.
With that said, it is wise to bear in mind these different factors when you are on the hunt for the perfect planer; the area of your workspace, what kind of projects you will be working on, and what kind of power sources you have in your workshop, among others.
To make deciding a bit easier for you, we’d like to introduce you to a great basic, all-around planer that’s easy to use, effective, and tough.
Features
The POWERTEC PL1251 12-1/2-Inch 15 Amp Planer is a great benchtop model that comes with all the features you need in a planer. This model weighs 63.3 pounds and has a cutter head speed of 9400 RPM meaning 18,800 cuts per minute. This planer’s other features include:
- An index pin set-up for EZ blade replacement that does not require a blade gauge
- Four-column design to provide greater stability and accuracy
- Workpiece return rollers, for assistance when planning extra-long boards
- Side-mounted carrying handles for portability
- Spindle lock for safe blade change
- Thickness capacity:
- minimum of 1/8 inches
- maximum stock width of 12-1/2 inches
- maximum stock thickness of 6 inches
- maximum cut depth of 3/32 inches for boards less than 5 inches
- maximum cut depth of 1/32 inches for boards between 5 inches to 12-1/2 inches
Pros
- It is a tough, sturdy machinery
- It is simple to set up and can be used straight away
- It is very efficient with a strong motor and great feed rate
- It works well on different kinds of lumbar, from red heart to oak, of varying densities
- It holds thickness very well
- It has a very long lifespan: the machine can handle a large amount of lumbar and not show signs of slowing down or deteriorating
- Its pieces end up looking sleek, polished, and as if they were done professionally
- Its blades are easily removed for sharpening and replacement
Cons
- The planer itself does not come with a dust port, but one can be purchased separately from POWERTEC
- The grey color on the feed tray seems to come off with prolonged use
- It takes quite some time to figure out how to perfectly feed lumbar through the machine and prevent gouging
- Need an extra effort to slightly lift bards during feeding to prevent the ends of larger pieces of wood from tapering
Summary
This particular model of the planer is a workhorse: it’s got a strong motor that keeps it running steadily as you work and with its cut-rate, you are sure to cut short your production time. It can also work on 10-inch pieces of wood easily and safely, although shorter would perhaps not be recommended.
With this baby, you should be able to handle most projects you have planned out, whether you are just starting out or not. It got most, if not all, the basic features plus the fact that its maintenance, such as blade sharpening and general replacements, requires fairly simple procedures.
Verdict
The best planer for you will depend on many different conditions, but if you are looking for a fool-proof, safe, efficient, and effortless power tool, then look no further than the POWERTEC PL1251 12-1/2-Inch 15 Amp Planer.
From the beginners who are looking for a great machine to start with to the more experienced woodworkers who need to bring in a workhorse for their other projects, this is a great, well-rounded tool that’s sure to earn its spot in your workshop lineup.
