15 best electric planers

The quality of timber on the domestic market leaves much to be desired. Poorly dried and insufficiently well-processed wood is constantly encountered, both of the building and carpentry class. A self-respecting master - and it does not matter whether he is a professional carpenter or an owner who builds a house for himself personally - simply cannot leave such a bar or board "as it is." Firstly, it does not fit well with a normal production culture, and, secondly, it weakens the structure and affects its performance for the worse.

The hand plane is one of the oldest carpentry tools, but at present, its design has hardly changed. It still helps to cope with delicate woodwork, especially if there is not much of it. But what if the amount of forest to be processed is measured in cubes? In this case, you cannot do without a good electric plane. On sale you can find a huge variety of such tools - both mains and battery. In order for the choice to be deliberate, it is advisable to answer a few simple questions before buying:

• Intensity of using the planer. For daily intensive work, it is better to prefer a professional model, if planing is required only occasionally, a good amateur tool will do.
• Is a bed required to station the planer on a workbench?
• The width of the workpieces that most often have to be processed. The planer knives must correspond to this size, if they are narrower, you will have to make several passes.
• Will you need to select quarters and chamfer?
• Is there a need to connect a vacuum cleaner?
• Does the tool have to work when there is no power supply? If so, a cordless planer is required.

We have prepared for you an overview of the most popular models of electric planers with different cutting widths and types of power supply. The distribution of places in the rating was made based on the following criteria:

• user reviews, official representatives of semi-professional and professional carpentry workshops;
• opinions of experts and authoritative sources (portals and printed publications);
• comparison of operational abilities, parameters of durability, reliability, degree of processing accuracy;
• ratio of characteristics of price and quality.

Useful tips for choosing an electric planer

The best electric planers with a planing width of 82 mm

This category is the most massive on the market. For most carpentry and a fairly large part of carpentry, an 82 mm knife is enough, while such a tool is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to handle.

4 Interskol R-82/710

This electric planer is the absolute record holder for sales in Russia. And this is easy to explain: at a more than reasonable price, it has an optimal set of parameters for a home craftsman: the most common standard size of knives is 82 mm, a power of 710 W is quite sufficient for planing even hard woods, and a quarter sampling function. In addition, it can be installed permanently, which is especially convenient for processing large volumes of boards or beams.

According to the owners, the main advantages of the tool are reliability, ease of maintenance and ease of use in a stationary version. Most users are pleasantly surprised by the performance of the planer, given its budget price. Complaints are caused by the ill-conceived design of the adjustment of the knives. However, this does not represent a significant problem for an experienced craftsman, and is fully compensated for by a good resource and high maintainability of the tool.

3 DeWalt DW 680

The American company DeWalt is famous for being able to squeeze the maximum out of not the most optimal accessories for the tool.The same can be observed in the DW 680 electric planer model. A rather modest 600-watt motor allows the knives to rotate at 15,000 rpm, which is more than enough for processing medium-hard woods. Despite assurances from many "competent" sources that this electric planer can easily cope with hard types of wood, there is one very important nuance. The plane can actually handle them, but the engine is under high stress and prolonged planing (or folding) at rpm can damage it.

Advantages:

• high speed of rotation of knives with low engine power;
• planing depth 2.5 mm;
• carbide knives have a long working life;
• attractive cost.

Disadvantages:

• does not have electronic speed control.

2 Bosch GHO 18 V-LI

The Bosch GHO 18 V-LI electric planer can hardly be classified as an extra-professional tool, but it has the makings of a solid device for a home carpentry workshop. The blade rotation speed of 14,000 rpm allows it to process soft and medium types of wood, but in some cases it is possible to resort (in short passes) to planing hard wood materials. The planing depth is adjustable from nominal zero to 1.6 millimeters with a work piece width of 82 millimeters. Rotary knives, carbide, provide high-precision surface treatment and are able to serve for a long time.

Advantages:

• the presence of a start block;
• the ability to choose the side of the ejection of wood chips;
• the ability to smoothly adjust the depth of the removed layer;
• high precision rotary carbide knives;

Disadvantages:

• inconvenient when processing large surfaces;
• high price.

Many people ask quite a reasonable question: how to recognize on the market a tool that is ideal for the consumer's purposes. When choosing a planer, we recommend paying attention to the following criteria:

Engine power. This is the most basic parameter, on which the degree of applicability of the tool will depend. For home and home use, a 600-1000 W plane is suitable; for mid-level workshops - from 1100 to 1500 W; for large carpentry shops and companies - from 2000 W and above.

Cutting width. Strip for removing chips from the workpiece (or part) in one pass. If the priority is to work with small pieces of wood, 82 millimeters of cutting width will suffice. Accordingly, the larger the workpieces, the wider the cutting strip should be (this is more convenient).

Planing depth. A parameter that depends entirely on the power of the engine. For powerful motors, it can reach 4 millimeters, while for weak motors, the optimal value ranges between 0 and 2.5 millimeters.

Cutting depth adjustment step. Not so important criterion for rough planing, and critically important - for joiners who are fond of artistic cutting or the manufacture of critical parts that require high precision processing. The adjustment step can be 0.1 and, less often, 0.25 millimeters.

System of smooth start of the engine and support of revolutions. They are found in electric planers of well-known brands or in models of the upper price segment.

1 Makita KP 0800

Perhaps the most optimal planer option for a home workshop. Like all Makita products, the KP0800 is reliable and well built. The small-sized device houses a 620-watt motor that allows the steel knives to rotate at up to 17,000 rpm. High rotational speeds ensure fast and very accurate planing, folding and grooving operations. The electric planer focuses on standard wood species that are widespread in construction, decoration and carpentry as such.Users consider the main advantage of the device to be balance and ergonomics, which fully justify the asking price.

Advantages:

• comfortable plastic handle and base of the body - it is easy to guide the plane along the surface to be treated;
• high-quality body made of shockproof plastic;
• durable steel knives with long-lasting performance;
• optimal processing parameters;
• high peak speed of the knives.

Disadvantages:

• not detected.

The best electric planers with a planing width of 110 mm

The increased planing width, of course, expands the possibilities of using the planer - with 110 mm knives it is already possible not only to make furniture, doors and window frames, but also to start building a wooden house or a bathhouse. However, at the same time, the power of the engine grows, and, therefore, the weight of the device and its price. In this category - only the most reliable and productive models, which can rightfully be called a universal tool.

4 BISON ZR-1300-110

This 1300 W electric planer is the oldest model in the series. And therefore it is equipped to the maximum: there is an electronic system for maintaining a constant speed under load, and a soft start, and engine overload protection. In addition, the tool can be used as a table-top machine, for which a special device is provided in the kit. With this electric planer, you can select a quarter depth up to 15 mm or chamfer.

Users praise the power of the tool, the ability to rearrange the sawdust discharge to the right or left, and the rip fence attachment. Many owners of the plane have already built several wooden houses with it, replacing only the knives, the quality of which, however, leaves much to be desired. In a word, the tool works out its already low cost by 200%.

3 Rebir IE-5708C

The design of this model, which is produced in Latvia, was developed 20 years ago. At the same time, many electric planers released in those years are still in service and delight their owners with the quality of planing, ease of use and increased power - 2000 watts. The tool comes with spare carbon brushes, which, if necessary, can be changed independently. There is a soft start function and blocking the power button from accidental start.

The only thing that the owners of this plane do not like is its heavy weight. But this is a natural consequence of the wide blades and the powerful motor. In addition, the design of the model provides for a stationary installation when the weight of the plane ceases to matter. According to user reviews, this tool has no equal in terms of reliability, and it has been serving well for years and decades.

2 Makita 1002BA

This is a special electric planer model for working with curved surfaces. It allows you to process workpieces with a radius of curvature of up to 30 cm. At the same time, the power of 1050 W allows you to successfully cope even with hard wood species, and a special balancing contributes to low user fatigue. The tool allows you to chamfer and select a quarter, which is especially valuable for non-standard curved parts.

According to the owners, the ergonomics of the plane are at their best. It is easy for them to work, despite the considerable weight - 5.5 kg. Its only drawback is its narrow specialization, because they cannot plan straight surfaces. But the manufacturer made sure that the user did not have problems with consumables and their adjustment: the knives are standard straight 110 mm, the delivery set includes a device for adjusting them and a special stand for sharpening. The list of advantages is completed by an extended power cord - 5 m, and the ability to connect to a vacuum cleaner.

1 Interskol R-110 / 1100M

An electric planer from a domestic manufacturer, made according to all the canons of an economical and at the same time excellent carpentry tool.It is replete with cast parts, has a long base, and develops high rotational speeds due to the presence of a 1100 W motor.

One of the main criteria for the quality of any tool (unspoken) is maintainability and ease of maintenance - and these are, perhaps, the strongest points of Interskol R-110 / 1100M. A set of knives made of high-speed steel retains cutting ability for a very long time, however, after the cutting part is worn out, it can be successfully reground. The complete set of the electric planer also includes a straightening kit, a scheme for installing knives on the device, as well as a spare belt. But, according to users, it is extremely rare to resort to installing it - the resource of a regular belt drive is so great.

Advantages:

• a really high quality tool;
• re-sharpened high-speed steel knives;
• the width of the knives is 110 millimeters;
• designed for rough and precise woodwork;
• additional belt included;
• attractive price.

Disadvantages:

• not identified.

The best electric planers with a planing width of more than 150 mm

In this group - the real giants among the electric planers, designed for large workpieces, intensive work and professional use. There are not so many truly reliable tools of this size, and we present the best examples of it.

4 Makita 1806B

Another representative of the Makita company, combining the functions of a planer and a jointer. The powerful 1200 watt motor delivers consistently high blade speeds that can handle both hard wood and glued wood parts. The planing depth is manually adjusted in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 millimeters by turning the support handle. A wide sole with a knives spread of 170 millimeters allows to successfully perform the functions of a jointer. In addition, the tool is equipped with a dust collector that keeps small particles from falling on the working surface. The main disadvantage of the model is its massiveness. The weight of a fully equipped electric planer is 8.9 kilograms, which is often very difficult to use, especially when there is no possibility of permanent fastening.

Advantages:

• easily handles hard wood species;
• the width of the processing part is 170 millimeters;
• the ability to adjust the depth of planing;
• the presence of a dust collector;
• high quality of the resulting surface.

Disadvantages:

• massive structure without the possibility of stationary fastening;
• lack of smooth start of the engine.

3 Mafell ZH 320 Ec

Another "giant" of joinery is embodied in the German Mafell ZH 320 Ec electric plane. Like other German companies, Mafell is very sensitive and meticulous about the quality of the equipment produced, which is fully reflected in the design and functionality of this plane model. It is equipped with a 2.7 kW motor that allows the knives to rotate at up to 8500 rpm. Not the highest rates, but the effectiveness is proven directly in practice. The chip removal width in one pass is 320 millimeters, which is a lot, given that carpenters (as noted above) rarely resort to machining parts and workpieces of this size. The main plus is the lightweight cast body, the minus is the very high cost.

Advantages:

• high performance (CUprex engine);
• the channel for the removal of chips is blown with an air flow;
• the presence of a smooth start of the engine and stop of the spindle;
• wide cutting part (320 mm).

Disadvantages:

• high (sometimes even for professional workshops) price.

2 Makita KP312S

Confirming its status as one of the best tool makers, Makita presents another contender for the title of the best electric planer for large professional carpentry shops. The functionality of this monster is truly great - a plane and a jointer in one person, it is capable of processing wooden surfaces up to 312 millimeters wide.By the way, there is more than enough power for such maneuvers - the tool is equipped with a 2.2-kilowatt motor and provides consistently high rotational speeds. However, problems emerged where they were not expected: most of the potential of a 19-kilogram plane very often remains unclaimed, since carpenters very rarely resort to processing materials over 200 millimeters wide.

Advantages:

• high surface accuracy after processing;
• wide cutting (plowing) part;
• powerful engine;
• adjustable planing depth (from 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters).

Disadvantages:

• part of the functionality disappears due to the absence of the need for use;
• very massive.

1 Rebir IE5708MS

The width of the knives in the older model from the series of electric planers of the Latvian manufacturer Rebir is 155 mm, while the maximum planing angle is 45 degrees. Considering that one of the most common standard sizes of timber in construction is 150x150 mm, Rebir IE5708MS is the best option for a carpenter when building a wooden house. The frame that comes with the planer allows you to install it permanently, which increases the productivity of work several times, especially when processing long timber.

Traditionally for this manufacturer, the tool is equipped with a starting current limiting system. A parallel stop, spare brushes and a knife sharpening device are also supplied with the planer. Customers praise the quality and speed of planing, a comfortable grip and a practical bed. Disadvantages include heavy weight and short cord.

Best cordless electric planers

Very often, the construction of a house and utility rooms begins when the power grid has not yet been connected to the site. The cordless planer is the best choice in this situation. And, of course, the quality of the battery plays an important role in the reliability and usability.

3 Milwaukee M18 BP-402C

The American company Milwaukee is the only tool manufacturer in the United States that produces exclusively professional equipment. Therefore, this high-performance electric planer has a much higher resource than competitors, which explains its high price. A specially designed 4-pole electric motor offers increased reliability, and REDLITHIUM-ION ™ batteries last twice as long as most analogues. They work stably even at ambient temperatures of -20 ° C.

Unlike amateur tools, the working parts of which are made of high-speed steel, the Milwaukee electric planer is equipped with 82 mm solid carbide knives. They are much stronger and more durable than conventional ones. The planing depth is adjustable from 0 to 2 mm with twenty intermediate positions. Users also like the fold-down leg on the base for safe tool parking and the low weight (2.7kg).

2 Hitachi P14DSL-RJ

The compact and lightweight cordless planer is equipped with the most common blade size 82 mm and has a maximum planing depth of 2 mm. The instrument is supplied with two Li-ion batteries with a capacity of 5 A * h and a charger. Thus, this electric planer is perfect for planing in the absence of power supply or for processing rafters at a height where the absence of a power cord is a prerequisite for comfortable and safe work.

Customers are satisfied with the good value for money of the tool, the ergonomic design, and also praise the original technical solution - the front handle is combined with the planing depth regulator. Includes a handy case, extra carbon brushes and a garbage bag. The disadvantage is the lack of the ability to attach a vacuum cleaner.

1 Metabo HO 18 LTX 20-82 4.0Ah х2 MetaLoc

The Metabo HO 18 LTX 20-82 electric planer, like the entire line of woodworking tools of this Japanese company, has three main advantages: well-thought-out ergonomics, precision adjustment of the working part and a full range of functionality.It is equipped with a parallel stop and a template for adjusting the knives. Also included are a curved vacuum cleaner adapter and a fabric dust bag.

Two batteries of 4Ah each enable the master to work without interruption to charge the battery. In addition, they are versatile - they fit any Metabo tool with the appropriate electrical parameters. Customers also praise the particularly robust and well-designed MetaLoc case, which allows the tools so wrapped to be stacked to save space in the workshop. The disadvantage of the planer - the rather high cost - is fully justified by its versatility and excellent characteristics.