10 Best Benchtop Planers of 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Planers are a must have tools that let you to turn outdated, worn, weathered, and beaten-up boards into usable, straight, flat items of lumber. Set the chopping depth and deliver your board by way of to have a planer just take a small volume off the face of your board, giving it a new surface.

The difficulty with most common planers is their sheer measurement and price-prohibitive pricing. But if you’re not doing work with woods that are greater than 12.5 inches broad or 6 inches thick, then you’ll do just as properly with a more inexpensive and transportable benchtop planer.

These equipment supply the utility of a planer in a smaller sized deal that’s much significantly less expensive, which is why you are going to uncover them in the workshops of numerous woodworking and carpentry hobbyists and pros alike. When it was time to update our antiquated planer recently, we determined to take a look at as many as we could and establish which benchtop planer is best, which we’ll share with you in the subsequent ten planers testimonials.

A Quick Glance at our Favorites for 2022

The 10 Best Benchtop Planers

1. DEWALT DW734 Benchtop Planer – Best Overall

DeWalt constantly creates higher-good quality instruments that are created to endure some serious workloads. They are never the most affordable instruments offered, but they are nonetheless usually priced reasonably, so we’re not often amazed to see a DeWalt resource top the pack. This DW734 Benchtop Planer is no exception.

Even though most benchtop planers have just 2 blades, this one functions a 3-knife cutter head which is able of generating ninety six cuts for every inch with a cutter pace of ten,000 RPM. The stout fifteen-amp motor retains everything spinning with relieve, even when you’re sending by means of hardwoods. Snipe is significantly decreased with a four-column carriage lock and 33.five inches of material assist.

To extend the existence of your knives, the knives in this equipment are reversible and disposable. However, they do have a inclination to get knicks in them when they strike knots. You can typically sand these out, or just flip the knife all around and preserve functioning. Overall, we believe this device signifies the ideal blend of usability and affordability, which is why it tops our checklist.

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2. WEN 6550T Benchtop Thickness Planer – Best Value

We’ve experienced a whole lot of luck with WEN equipment in the previous. They are typically much more affordable than other brand names, even though they’re seldom lacking in high quality. This device gives a lot of bang for your buck, and we consider it is a single of the ideal benchtop planers for the income.

The granite work tables are non-marring and enable your lumber to slide smoothly in excess of. In the meantime, the admirer-assisted dust port is operating to eliminate all the surplus sawdust as this machine completes eighteen,000 cuts for every moment. At this pace, you can feed up to 26 linear toes of lumber by way of this device each and every minute.

This gadget functions a tri-roller feed system that tremendously lowers sniping. It’s superb with any softwood and works with hardwoods, even though you have to go much slower with them. Still, for the value, we have very few issues considering that this system drastically exceeded our anticipations.

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3. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer – Premium Choice

Makita is one more great electricity tool brand that rarely makes disappointing products. Their 2012NB planer is one more great device from this brand, and it’s a lot quieter than most similar devices with an working quantity of just 83 decibels.

This is a quite secure device with 4-posts and diagonal cross supports as properly. Regardless of this, it is 1 of the lighter, more moveable possibilities at just 62 lbs .. Oversized infeed and outfeed tables lengthen to either conclude and aid minimize sniping even more.

If you examine out this device’s value, you will discover that it is quite a bit pricier than the closest competing versions. We consider it’s worth it if you’re going to be making use of it many instances a 7 days or much more. The diminished sounds and improved stability are really worth the added value to us. But you ought to be mindful that this device tops out at 8,500 RPM, even though it does manage an extraordinary feed charge of 28 feet for every moment.

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4. Porter-Cable PC305TP Benchtop Planer

This Porter-Cable Benchtop Planer is a lot more cost-effective than most, however you are going to have to make a couple of compromises. It generates 16,000 cuts for each moment for a feed price of 26 feet each moment. The Poly V belt cutter head push makes it possible for for peak performance, enabling this machine to work with softwoods and hardwoods equally nicely. It weighs just below 65 lbs ., so it’s also 1 of the much more portable designs we examined.

However, there ended up some noteworthy drawbacks. To start, the knives dull very speedily given that they are very thin. They also tend to get nicked very effortlessly, which leaves indents in your wood. We also experienced some minimal concerns with sniping, even though it wasn’t as pronounced as with many of the other versions we examined. Even now, it is sufficient to preserve this planer out of our top 3.

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5. CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 Benchtop Planer

The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 Benchtop Planer is a first rate device with a handful of flaws that avoid it from climbing higher up this list. It manages 16,000 cuts per minute with a effective 15-amp motor that powers by means of softwoods and hardwoods without issue. The knives are simple to modify and supply an prolonged lifespan given that they are created from large-carbon steel and they are reversible.

But the deficiency of a depth of reduce indicator is a severe disadvantage with this equipment. Instead, it has a thickness indicator, but we definitely prefer the depth of minimize indicator discovered on devices like the DeWalt at the prime of this listing. We also experienced some issues with noticeable sniping at the stop of our boards.

In spite of these problems, this device is very a little bit pricier than several competing versions. It’s even much more pricey than the DeWalt that gained our leading recommendation, although we consider this machine falls brief of the DeWalt in a lot of essential places.

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6. POWERTEC PL1252 Benchtop Thickness Planer

Able of producing 18,800 cuts for every minute, the POWERTEC PL1252 Benchtop Thickness Planer is an inexpensive instrument with some excellent characteristics, however it does tumble limited in a couple of methods.

We preferred the facet handles that make this machine simple to have, specially because it weighs just sixty three kilos. This makes it a lot less difficult to go than several of the other designs we analyzed. It’s received a two-blade cutting technique that works well in softwoods and hardwoods alike, supplying fairly first rate overall performance for the value.

But there are a handful of issues really worth noting that we weren’t so thrilled about. To begin, there is no dust port on this equipment. After utilizing so numerous planers with dust ports and even enthusiasts to aid the removing of sawdust, this machine felt like it was just throwing sawdust each which way.

We also weren’t content with the assistance tables. They’re also limited to provide sufficient assist for lengthy boards, which causes appreciable sniping. Though it is an cost-effective way to get started with a planer, there are other cost-effective choices that we consider offer much better value and overall performance.

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7. Mophorn Thickness Planer

There’s a single extremely exclusive factor about the Mophorn Thickness Planer that sets it aside from all the other benchtop planers we tested for this listing. This equipment will come with a heavy-obligation stand so you really don't need to have to just take up any place on your workbench. Of training course, it’s totally removable, so you can remove it and place it on any benchtop if you prefer.

With this planer, you get a feed speed of 26 toes for every minute right about average. Luckily, this one particular does have a dust port constructed-in to assist maintain your operate spot clean.

Now, the flaws. This machine came with no instructions or user’s guidebook. You’re still left to blindly stumble around the device, hoping to figure out how it works. You must be ready to do alright if you have earlier expertise with benchtop planers, but if this is your very first, you may well be dropped.

There are support tables extending from the entrance and back again of the machine, but they are too quick for most lumber. As a result, there’s some visible snipe, though we did encounter that with most of the affordably priced designs like this a single.

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8. Grizzly Industrial G0505 Benchtop Planer

Grizzly Industrial is a top quality producer of energy equipment, acknowledged for generating high quality items created to previous many years. But, the G0505 benchtop planer did not do considerably to impress us. That stated, there have been a number of standout characteristics. It has a more quickly fee than most similar devices, capable of planing 32 ft for every minute. It is also outfitted with 1/8-inch thick knives, instead of the one/sixteen-inch knives that occur with most benchtop planers. They’re even reversible to double their lifespan.

But this machine is much pricier than comparable types from other manufacturers. Regardless of this, it only manages fifty two cuts for each inch. That signifies the floor is significantly rougher than with a device like the DeWalt at the best of this listing that provides an amazing 96 cuts for each inch virtually twice as numerous.

There are handles in the sides of this device so it’s less difficult to transfer, but at 80 pounds, it’s nonetheless going to be a wrestling match for a lot of. We like the stout two-horsepower (HP) motor that’s turning the knives inside of, but which is just not heading to make up for the many flaws of this machine.

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9. JET 722130 Helical Style Bench Top Planer

The JET 722130 Helical Design Bench Prime Planer is a pretty regular planer with a ridiculously large price tag. It’s a lot more than twice as expensive as other choices on this record, even though it does not seem to offer significantly to warrant the large value tag.

We do like that it gives twin infeed speeds of 18 or 26 ft per minute so it can better work with hardwoods and softwoods. The cutter head spins at 10,000 RPM with particular helical blades that are much more difficult to find replacements for.

Regardless of the substantial cost, we obtained an only mediocre functionality from this device. Hardwoods weren’t as simple to operate with, irrespective of which infeed pace we selected. When employing hardwoods, the blades had been dulling really thick. The snipe was also considerable, which is inexcusable for this sort of an expensive piece of gear.

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10. Ridgid 27263 Planer

This planer from Ridgid was a pretty substantial disappointment. We had higher hopes for it given that it has a three-blade cutter head related to what our favourite DeWalt benchtop planer is outfitted with. These blades are also twin-edge, reversible, and offer you fast-modify relieve of use.

But that’s the stop of our checklist of positive traits relating to this planer. It’s way also expensive for what you get, out-pricing most of the designs on this list. But somehow, a bunch of plastic areas made their way into this device and they just really don't seem to keep up.

It’s not just the plastic elements that are unsuccessful although. Following just a number of uses, the bearings commenced to squeal loudly. Soon right after, the motor died entirely. At this price tag, these are unforgivable, which is why this device is at the very base of our list.

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Benchtop Planer

At this stage, you might be ready to make a acquire, or you might nonetheless be striving to choose between models. If you’re still on the fence, then this brief buyer’s guidebook is for you. In it, we’re going to talk about some of the major concerns that should be at the entrance of your thoughts when selecting between benchtop planers.

Capacity

Every planer has a optimum ability, which is the greatest piece of wooden that will suit in the planer. For the benchtop planers on this checklist, the capacity is quite a lot the identical across the board.  In common, benchtop planers can deal with boards up to 12.five inches extensive and 6 inches thick. There are some minimal discrepancies between models, but not large adequate to truly have an influence on the dimensions of lumber you can go through them.

Snipe

As a board goes by way of the planer, the end that is previously handed through continues to get lengthier although the conclude that needs to be planed is acquiring shorter. Eventually, you get a little bit of a seesaw result, with the long stop of the lumber beginning to pull down, lifting the other finish as it passes by means of the planer.

The end result of this is that the planer eliminates much more materials from the stop of the board, creating it to no longer be straight and flush. This is referred to as snipe.

We’ve knowledgeable snipe with most of the benchtop planers we examined. Nevertheless, it does seem to be to maintain accurate that the more affordable equipment experienced more substantial sniping troubles.

Several producers have absent to lengths to decrease the sniping their devices encounter. A single way of performing this is with extended infeed and outfeed tables that provide more support as you thrust your piece by way of.

One more resolution is a four-column carriage lock that keeps the machine from permitting the board to alter angles.

Possibly resolution will help decrease snipe considerably. Our favored benchtop planers supplied both.

Weight and Portability

One particular benefit of a benchtop planer above a classic planer is the dimensions, excess weight, and portability. Planers are massive, hefty instruments that are a giant ache to transfer. But benchtop planers are considerably scaled-down and more compact. They are typically as light as 65 pounds or even considerably less, although at times they are nevertheless considerably heavier.

A lot of of these machines supply handles on the sides to make them even simpler to transfer. This will enable you to relocate the planer as necessary so it’s not in the way. Furthermore, the more compact footprint doesn’t take up as a lot place in your workshop, leaving you a lot more space for the issues that issue most.

Feed Rate

Feed rate refers to how swiftly you can pass lumber by way of the planer and it is calculated in ft for every moment or FPM. On common, these benchtop planers offer you a feed fee of 26 FPM. We have noticed some that are able of feed speeds more than 30 FPM, even though they do not offer you as many cuts for each inch.

Finish

Talking of cuts for each inch, the complete is one area the place these devices differ much more than other individuals. Increased cuts per inch counts indicate a smoother finish that needs much less sanding. Fewer cuts per inch signifies a rougher complete and a lot more sanding if you want that nice smooth wooden experience.

Some of our preferred planers presented finishes as substantial as 96 cuts for each inch. The boards coming by means of these planers are sleek and free of burrs. They require nominal sanding to really feel like a brand-new piece of lumber refreshing from the keep.

Other equipment offer you a lot rougher finishes like 52 cuts for each inch. The encounter is even now fully usable, but if you want to use it for completed function, you will possibly need to have to spend a excellent little bit of time into sanding it down.

Conclusion

A quick lookup for benchtop planers will reveal that there are dozens to pick from. We examined as many as we could although composing these testimonials, and after all was stated and completed, 3 models stood out to us as winners.

For most users, we advise the DeWalt DW734 Benchtop Planer. It is received a 3-knife cutter head that tends to make ninety six cuts for every inch at ten,000 RPM. The blades are reversible and disposable and snipe is significantly reduced with 33.five inches of substance assist and a four-column carriage lock.

Hobbyists seeking for the ideal worth may possibly consider the WEN 6550T Benchtop Thickness Planer alternatively. It can take care of a feed fee of 26 feet for every minute, producing 18,000 cuts per moment. The non-marring granite worktables provide lots of assist and operate with the tri-roller feed system to minimize sniping.

For professionals who ask a good deal of their instruments, we’d recommend checking out the Makita 2012NB Planer. It’s ultra-stable with four posts, diagonal cross supports, and outsized table extensions, although nonetheless being light-weight and portable at a mere 62 lbs. Additionally, it is a single of the quietest planers we have utilised with an functioning quantity of just eighty three decibels.

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