Planers are important pieces of equipment for both hobbyist wood workers and for saw mills that need to produce a finished timber product. These tools come in a wide variety of makes and models. Some are built for a small garage wood shop, while other industrial planers are used by small saw mills.

Function

A planer is used to deliver a smooth, finished feel to wood after it has been cut. Boards are rough after being cut by a saw, and a planer smooths all the surface away to deliver a finish devoid of chips and splinters.

Other Names

A planer is sometimes referred to by other names like timber planer, lumber planer, thickness planer or table planer. These are all the same tool and serve the same function.

Types

Industrial planers are the most expensive, with the majority of models able to plane up to 14 feet of timber in one run. Hobby or shop planers are smaller and usually only handle 8 to 10 feet of timber. The industrial models can plane both sides of the wood at once, while the shop planer requires you to flip the board over to smooth out both sides.

Costs

Costs for planers can vary based on type and location, but as of 2009, the average cost for a shop planer will be from $150 to $700, depending on whether you choose a bench or manual model, and industrial planers will be much more, starting at $1,000 on average.

Availability

Common planers can be found in stores like Menards and Lowes, but the heavy duty industrial planers need to be special ordered.

Not a Jointer

Planers are often mistaken for jointers, but these are completely different tools. A jointer straightens wood, and a planer simply smooths the wood.

Source:

Sawdust Making 101: Planer

Lowes: Choosing Planes and Planers

Resource:

Woodworking.com Home Page