Benchtop planers, which are commonly known as surface planers or thickness planers, are special-purpose woodworking machines that are mainly used to reduce the thickness of a wooden workpiece. The secondary use of a benchtop planer is to obtain a finished surface after a wooden piece has been cut. There are a few important things that are crucial in a certain benchtop planer which must be kept in mind before buying one:
- Motor Power: Every single electric power tool is basically driven by a motor. This motor is responsible for the overall power capacity of the tool. Generally, a higher-powered motor will deliver comparatively better performance.
- Cutting Width: When it comes to benchtop planers, each planer has a certain limit known as the cutting width. This is basically the width of the workpiece, which is supported by that particular planer. Undoubtedly, a planer with a greater cutting width can handle wider objects and workpieces.
- Cutter Head: The cutter head is also an important feature of the planer that must be checked carefully before buying one. The quality of finishing obtained on the workpiece after the operation is dependent upon the cutter head installed in the machine. For example, if the cutter head has hard blades, you can operate with it for a long time before needing to sharpen the blades.
In this article, we are gathering a list of the best benchtop planer available out there. Here, you will find all the planers mentioned along with their properties as well as the pros and cons. We are also providing a Buying Guide to make the selection process easier for you. Therefore, make sure you read the article to the end before making a selection.
Best Benchtop Planers
| Benchtop Planer | Width Capacity | Motor Power | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewalt Thickness Planer | 13 inches | 15 amp | 3 years | Check the Price |
| Wen Benchtop Planer | 13 inches | 15 amp | 2 years | Check the Price |
| Mophorn Thickness Planer | 12.5 inches | 15 amp | - | Check the Price |
| Delta Thickness Planer | 13 inches | 15 amp | 5 years | Check the Price |
| Craftsman Benchtop Planer | 12 inches | 15 amp | 3 years | Check the Price |
| Makita Planer | 12 inches | 15 amp | 1 years | Check the Price |
| Grizzly Industrial Benchtop Planer | 12 ½ inches | 15 amp | 1 years | Check the Price |
7 Best Benchtop Planers Reviews
1. Dewalt Thickness Planer
If you have previously bought or searched about power tools, you must have come across Dewalt. Dewalt is a pretty popular brand that makes many high-quality power tools.
On the 1st position on our list of best benchtop planers, we have Dewalt DW735. There are a few notable properties that make it our primary recommendation for the best benchtop planers. It is powered by a 15 amp motor that can run at 20000 RPM. Because of such a high-speed motor, Dewalt DW735 is capable of a high cutter head speed of 10000 RPM. It also has two-speed switching options that can be set on either finishing operation or dimensioning operation.
Talking about the blades, Dewalt DW735 uses 3 knife cutter head blades, which are pretty good in terms of reliability and operation. You won’t have to worry about the dust and chips as it comes with a built-in fan-assisted chip ejection system that will remove the dust from the machine at the time of operation. It supports 13 inches wide wood pieces for planing operations while offering a maximum ⅛ inch depth of cut per cycle. Dewalt provides a long 3 years of warranty on this product, which is better than a few other options.
Best Features:
- 15 amp motor
- 20000 RPM motor speed
- 10000 RPM cutter head speed
- 2-speed adjustment settings
- Uses 3 knife cutter head blades
- Built-in dust removal system
- 13 inches wide workpiece supported
- ⅛ inches depth of cut
- 3 years warranty
Pros:
- The warranty period is pretty good
- A very fast benchtop planer
Cons:
- Dust collection could be better
- Loud in operation
2. Wen Benchtop Planer
Wen is yet another popular power tool brand that has a lot of satisfied customers. Amongst a huge line of power tools, they also have a benchtop planer, which we have mentioned below.
At the 2nd position, we have a benchtop planer from Wen. Wen 6552T is a 15 amp corded benchtop planer that supports 13 inches wide workpieces. On the front, you will get a material removal gauge that will keep you informed about the cutting depth for each cycle. It is also a pretty fast benchtop planer that can provide about 25500 cuts per minute along with a 26 feet per minute feed rate. It has a standard 3 blade design that is essential for easier operation.
The dust collection system on Wen 6552T is also fan assisted, which makes it pretty fast and helps to keep the work area cleaner. There is a rubber grip adjustment handle on the top that can be used to adjust the height of the planer. With a quarter rotation of the handle, the height can be adjusted by 1/64 inches. This makes the operation pretty precise and simple. If you wish to attach a separate dust extraction device, you can do that by connecting it to the dust hose connection port. Wen is giving 2 years of the warranty period on this benchtop planer.
Best Features:
- 15 amp motor
- 25500 cuts per minute
- 26 feet per minute feed rate
- Safety key on the power switch
- Uses 3 knife cutter head blades
- Built-in dust removal system
- Separate port of external dust removal
- Rubber grip height adjustment handle on top
- 13 inches wide workpiece supported
- 2 years warranty
Pros:
- The warranty period is pretty good
- Easy adjustment for the height of the planer
Cons:
- Dust collection could be better
- A bit pricier than other options
3. Mophorn Thickness Planer
Mophorn is a little unrecognized brand that makes various power tools. They also make a benchtop planer, which is included in our list.
At the 3rd position, we are presenting a benchtop planer from Mophorn. It is powered by a powerful 1800 watt motor which runs at 9000 RPM. Unlike previous options, it has a 2 blade cutting mechanism that provides a maximum cutting depth of 6 inches. The feeding speed for the Mophorn benchtop planer is 315 inches per minute that is decent for small scale cutting jobs. There is also a crank handle on top, which adjusts the height of the cutter head upon rotation.
There is a dust exhaust interface that collects the dust from the working area for easy cleanup of the machine. The unique feature of the Mophorn benchtop planer is the detachable heavy-duty stand. If you do not possess a table to put the benchtop planer, you can use this heavy-duty stand to use the planer without any problem. There are a few safety features such as overload protection and overcurrent protection that will keep the user safe at the time of operation.
Best Features:
- 1800 watt motor
- 9000 RPM motor speed
- 10000 RPM cutter head speed
- 315 inches per minute feed rate
- Uses 2 blades cutting system
- Built-in dust removal system
- Crank handle on top to adjust the height
- 13 inches wide workpiece supported
- 6 inches maximum cutting depth
- Heavy-duty detachable stand
- Safety features
Pros:
- Detachable stand for ease of operation
- Very good build quality
Cons:
- There is no warranty description available
- Cutting speed could be better
4. Delta Thickness Planer
Delta power is a heavy-duty brand that has produced many high rated power tools in the past. They also have a benchtop planer in their line up amongst other power tools.
Delta 22-555 is also a powerful benchtop planer that houses a 15 amp motor that can handle almost all types of applications. It has a unique four-column ergonomic design that provides excellent stability that is essential for smoother and precise planing operation. It also uses a dual-edge knife system for cutting. The knife changing system is pretty easy and does not require any jigs or extra tools.
Delta 22-555 can operate on a maximum width of 13 inches of the workpiece. But, there is an adjustable infeed and outfeed table that can provide extra support for long workpieces. This support reduces sniping of the workpiece that can cause troubles in operation. There is also a reversible dust port that can collect dust and wood chips from both the left and right sides of the planer. There is a long 5 years of the warranty period on Delta 22-555, which makes it the most reliable option.
Best Features:
- 15 amp motor
- Unique four-column design
- Uses dual edge knife system
- Built-in dust removal system
- Quick knife change system
- 13 inches wide workpiece supported
- Adjustable infeed and outfeed table
- 5 years warranty
Pros:
- The warranty period is comparatively best
- Ergonomic design
Cons:
- Pretty expensive price tag
- Cutter head could be better
5. Craftsman Benchtop Planer
Craftsman is yet another lesser-known brand that makes affordable power tools. They also have an affordable benchtop planer mentioned below.
Craftsman CMEW320 is a 15 amp benchtop thickness planer, which is the most affordable option from our list. Along with the minimal price tag, it can provide a decent speed of 16000 cuts per minute, whereas the cutter rotates at 8000 RPM. The cutting mechanism is a 2 knife quick-change system that will give you smooth cuts and quick changing options. As it is a pretty powerful machine, you can use hardwoods along with softwoods without any problem.
The blades are made of high carbon steel, which ensures long life blades with high hardness. It has a poly V cutter head that is known for the better cutting depth it provides. It can be an ideal option for you if you are looking for a benchtop planer for your home as it can cut up to 12 inches wide wooden workpiece. Craftsman is giving 3 years of the warranty period that will come in handy in the long run.
Best Features:
- 15 amp motor
- 8000 RPM cutter speed
- 16000 cuts per minute possible
- 2 knife quick-change system
- Can cut hardwood as well as softwood
- Poly V cutter head for a better cutting depth
- 12 inches wide workpiece supported
- 3 years warranty
Pros:
- The warranty period is pretty good
- Very affordable price tag
Cons:
- External dust collection system required
- Cutting speed is comparatively slower
6. Makita Planer
If you are a power tool enthusiast, you must have heard about Makita. Makita is a well-known brand that makes premium products like the benchtop planer mentioned below.
Here, we have a benchtop planer from Makita. Makita 2012NB is a premium benchtop planer that is powered by a 15 amp motor. The maximum motor speed is 8500 RPM that allows a fast cutting operation for low loads. This benchtop planer is special because of its lower noise rating. Unlike many other benchtop planers, it only makes 83 dB sound that makes it comfortable for the user. It supports up to 12 inches wide wooden workpieces for cutting, which are cut by a 2 knife cutting system.
The feed rate for cutting on Makita 2012NB is 28 feet per minute with adjustable cutting depth settings for precise operation. Similar to a previous option, it also has four-post designs that include a diagonal cross-section on both sides for better stability. There are LED lights on the periphery of the structure that helps to visualize the work area without any problem. Makita gives 1 year of the manufacturer’s warranty period on Makita 2012NB.
Best Features:
- 15 amp motor
- 8500 RPM motor speed
- 83dB noise rating
- 2 knife cutting system
- 28 feet per minute feed rate
- 12 inches wide workpiece supported
- Adjustable depth of cut
- 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Low noise operation
- Very affordable price tag
Cons:
- The warranty period is short
- Cutting speed is low
7. Grizzly Industrial Benchtop Planer
Lastly, we have a benchtop planer from Grizzly Industrial Inc. Grizzly is a well-known brand which is famous for its industry-grade power tools
Before finishing up our list, we have 1 last benchtop planer from Grizzly. It has a standard 15 amp motor that is used to cut wooden workpieces, which are up to 12 ½ inches wide. The maximum depth of cut that can be obtained is 3/32 inches. It has pretty decent cutting speed as the cutter rotates at 10000 RPM. As for the cutting mechanism, it has 2 dual-edge high-speed steel cutting knives installed in the cutter head for accurate machining.
The feed rate on this benchtop planer is 32 feet per minute, whereas up to 52 cuts can be obtained per inch. There is a safety lock on the main power switch to prevent accidental power on. There are a few more safety features such as overload protection and over current protection to ensure the safety of the user. You will be getting 1 year of the warranty period from Grizzly industrial Inc. on this benchtop planer.
Best Features:
- 15 amp motor
- 10000 RPM cutter head speed
- Uses 2 knife cutter head blades
- Dual edge knives
- 3/32 inches maximum cutting depth
- 12 ½ inches wide workpiece supported
- 52 cuts per inch
- Various safety measures
- 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Safer to operate
- Cutting performance is good
Cons:
- The warranty period is pretty short
- Loud in operation
Buying Guide For The Best Benchtop Planer
Up until now, you must have read about all the products that we have included in our list of best benchtop planers. As we have provided detailed information about their best features, you might have noticed a couple of features that you will need according to your application. But, as it is a power tool, there are a bit more features that you should know about before actually buying one.
Therefore, we are providing this buying guide that will help you with your decision. Here, you will find certain important parameters of a benchtop planer and their necessity regarding your need. Therefore, you should read the buying guide until the very end so that you can choose the perfect benchtop planer for yourself.
1. Motor Capacity
Just like any other power tool, the motor capacity is equally important in a benchtop planer. As the capacity of the motor increases, the overall capability of the power tool increases. For example, a high powered benchtop planer can be used to machine various types of woods, whereas a low power machine can only operate a certain type of workpiece. Therefore, the motor capacity should be a prime factor that has to be considered while purchasing a benchtop planer.
2. Cutter Head
The cutter head in a benchtop planer is also a really important factor that must be looked into before making a purchase. The quality of the cutter head is responsible for the quality of results obtained from a certain benchtop planer. It also has a considerable effect on the noise level of the planer. In this article, you can find 3 knives cutter heads alongside 2 knives cutter heads. If you decide to go with a 3 knives cutter head, you can expect comparatively better output.
3. Cutting Capability
As the main goal of the benchtop planer is the cutting of wood, you should pay attention to the cutting capacity of the machine. There are a few factors that come under the cutting capacity, such as cutting speed, cutter rotation speed, maximum depth of cut, the available feed rate of the workpiece, etc. You should be looking at the optimum cutting capability considering all these factors to get the perfect benchtop planer for you.
4. Snipe Handling
Snipe is a very common cutting defect that occurs while working on longer wooden workpieces. Basically, a longer piece of wood needs better support as the rear portion of the workpiece might suffer from imbalance due to gravity. Because of the imbalance on the rear side, there can be incorrect feeding of the workpiece that will result in improper cutting.
There are a few options that provide some extra support to avoid sniping. As this is a common operation error, you should consider sniping handling before buying the benchtop planer.
5. Dust Collection
When you are machining a wooden workpiece, it creates a lot of dust. This dust can turn out to be really harmful if it is accidentally inhaled by the users. It can also cause a number of physical problems as there are a lot of sharp edge particles.
Therefore, a dedicated dust collection system is necessary to keep the work area clean. This will also help to improve and visualize the working area that is otherwise covered in dust. Therefore, make sure you check the dust collection capability of the benchtop planer before purchasing one.
6. Durability
Lastly, you should consider the durability of the benchtop planer. Just like any other power tool, a benchtop planer also goes through continuous stress while in operation. As there are a lot of moving parts in an automated machine, there is a high chance that one or a couple of parts might get damaged.
This kind of damage might reduce the quality of results or in some cases, completely stop the operation. Therefore, the durability of the machine must be considered before purchasing it. The best way to ensure durability is to check the warranty period allotted by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
A benchtop planer is a must-have tool for every wood based workshop as well as for your garage as a handy wood finishing equipment. You can get a lot of work with a benchtop planer that would require a lot of time and manual labor on the other hand. As benchtop planers are pretty popular in the market, there are a number of brands that manufacture them.
As there is a lot of variety, it is a pretty difficult decision to buy one out of all these options. Hence, we have provided a list of best benchtop planers and a buying guide as well to help you along the way. Finally, we will give you some of our recommendations for the best benchtop planer:
- You should consider buying the Craftsman benchtop planer if you are on a tight budget. Being the most affordable option on our list, Craftsman CMEW320 has a standard 15 amp motor that runs at 8000 RPM. You will be getting a high cutting rate of 16000 cuts per minute with this planer.
- On the other hand, if you are looking for a long term and reliable benchtop planer, we will suggest you Delta Thickness Planer. As it is backed by 5 years of manufacturer’s warranty period, you can rest assured that it has pretty good durability. It is also a 15 amp benchtop planer that supports 13 inches of cutting width.
- Lastly, we will recommend Dewalt thickness Planer as it is the fastest benchtop planer from the list. Even with a standard 15 amp motor, it can provide a phenomenal motor running speed, which is 20000 RPM. That makes the cutter head speed around 10000 RPM, which is way faster than other options from this list.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
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