Planers come in two types. Many are made with just one speed. But others are adjustable. Many woodworkers prefer to do the adjusting themselves, based on the needs of their project.
Knives
The number of blades varies from planer to planer. The number is usually two to five. You will get a smoother cut and a more refined finish the more strokes that your tool delivers in a given time. The number of strokes is based on the number of blades and the speed of the blades.
One thing to check is how easy it is to change blades. On some models it can be time consuming, while on others take just five minutes. Compare the process on several machines to find one that is easy for you to change.
Also be aware that some models use two-sided disposable blades, while most use blades that need to be re-sharpened. You save money with this type, but the models using disposable blades are more convenient if you use your equipment often.
Power
You need to match your equipment voltage to the power put out by your wall jack. In the U.S., these put out 110 volts of alternating current. In Europe and many other places in the world, wall jacks put out 220 volts of alternating current.
If your equipment and the jack don’t match, you can invest in a 110- to 220-voltage converter in order to run your tools.
Add-ons and Accessories
Dust collection hoods are helpful. Most models sell them extra as an accessory. But you can find some that include a built-in dust collector.
It is not a good idea to buy a planer that doesn’t have the fittings for a dust collector. Collecting the dust is so important in a woodworking shop that you should think twice about getting this type of model.
Find out more about the right planer for you.
Score from the experts at Killer Infographics
Visual Communication - 65%
Design - 50%
Content/Script - 45%
Usability - 45%
51%
Final Grade
This infographic serves as a buying guide for anyone trying to decide which type of wood planer is right for them. The opening illustration, an adapted photo, will immediately communicate the topic of the infographic to anyone who is familiar with wood planers. Other photos are helpful in visually communicating the topic of the infographic, but these combined with icons provide a somewhat inconsistent design style. As far as content, much of it seems to be poorly organized, so it's not entirely clear what criteria is being looked at when. We're also not given comparable metrics for non-portable wood planers so we can fully compare them to portable ones, reducing the usability of the infographic. Meanwhile, the text is delivered in full sentences or paragraphs, which makes this more like a reading assignment than an infographic. It misses many opportunities for visualization of information as a result. Overall, we'd have to give this an F.
