Are benchtop planers worth it?

What is a benchtop planer?

A benchtop planer, also known as a portable planer, is a woodworking tool used to flatten and smooth wooden boards. It consists of a flat metal bed with a cutting head that contains blades that rotate at high speeds to shave off thin layers of wood as you pass a board through the planer. Benchtop planers are designed to sit on a workbench or table and are much smaller and more affordable than larger stationary planers. They allow you to flatten warped boards, create parallel edges, smooth rough sawn lumber, and achieve a consistent thickness along a board.

What are the key factors to consider when deciding if a benchtop planer is worth it?

There are several key factors to weigh when deciding if investing in a benchtop planer is worthwhile:

Your woodworking needs

Consider what woodworking projects you take on and how often you need to flatten or smooth lumber. If you only occasionally work with wood, a benchtop planer may not be worth the investment. However, if you regularly work with rough lumber and make furniture, cabinetry, flooring, crafts, and other wood projects, a planer can save you a lot of time and effort.

Cost

Benchtop planers range in price from about $200 to $1000. Consider how much you anticipate using it and whether the cost aligns with your budget. The more affordable benchtop models may be a good choice for hobbyists, while pricier planers offer features like more power and width capacity for avid woodworkers.

Portability

One of the main advantages of a benchtop planer is its portability compared to larger stationary models. If you need to move it between job sites or store it when not in use, a benchtop planer can be easily transported. Consider if portability is a priority for your needs.

Power and performance

Benchtop planers vary in their cutting width capacity, depth of cut, and power. Evaluate the types of boards and cuts you need to make to determine if a portable planer will be able to handle them. More powerful models can flatten wider and thicker boards but come at a higher price.

Smoothness of cut

The quality of the cut and how smoothly it planes boards are important factors. Benchtop planers with higher cuts per inch (CPI) ratings generally provide a smoother finish. CPI ranges from 96 to 179 CPI for portable planers.

Ease of use

Consider the complexity of changing settings, blades, and adjusting the cutting depth. Benchtop models are designed for ease of use but some offer more automated features than others.

Special features

Some benchtop planers have handy extras like digital displays, the ability to plane at an angle, and automatic thickness adjustment. Decide if any special features are worth paying extra for.

Dust management

Planers produce a lot of wood chips and dust. Benchtop models should have a port to connect to a dust collection system. If not, you’ll need to carefully clean up after using it. Consider your ability to manage dust and debris.

What are the benefits of owning a benchtop planer?

Here are some of the main benefits that a benchtop planer can provide:

Saves time

A planer quickly flattens and smoothes lumber instead of having to do it by hand using sandpaper or hand planes. This saves a significant amount of time and labor.

Consistent thickness

The planer allows you to mill boards to precisely the same thickness throughout for flatness and stability. This is key for many projects like doors, cabinets, and furniture.

Smooth boards

The cutter head with multiple blades leaves a very smooth finish on wood that requires minimal additional sanding.

Versatility

A benchtop planer can perform multiple tasks like flattening warped boards, creating parallel edges, chamfering lumber, and jointing short boards. Their versatility eliminates the need for several other tools.

Portability

Since benchtop models are small, they can easily be moved for use in different locations and stored compactly when not in use. This allows you to use them anywhere.

Cost savings

While there is an upfront investment, a planer can save money in the long run by allowing you to buy lower cost rough lumber and mill it yourself versus buying expensive pre-surfaced boards.

Professional results

Quality benchtop planers are capable of providing professional grade cuts and milling. They can save you from outsourcing milling services for special projects.

What are the downsides to benchtop planers?

There are also some potential downsides to consider:

Initial cost

While they are the least expensive type of planer, benchtop models are still a significant investment, especially for hobbyists. They range from $200 to over $1000.

Limited width capacity

The cutting width of benchtop planers maxes out at around 15″. This makes them unsuitable for wider boards like table tops or doors.

Limited cutting depth

Most benchtop planers can only handle lumber around 6″ thick. This restricts their ability to flatten thicker stock.

Snipe

All planers can sometimes cut deeper at the end of a board leading to an uneven edge called snipe. This happens more often with portable models.

Dust and noise

Planers generate a lot of debris and noise. Benchtop models require a shop vac or dust collection setup and ear protection.

Safety risks

The fast spinning blades pose a danger of kickback as well as potential injuries to hands if used improperly. Care should be taken when operating any planer.

Do you need a jointer with a benchtop planer?

A jointer is often used in conjunction with a planer to initially straighten and flatten one face of a warped board before sending it through the planer. However, for many hobbyists a benchtop planer may be sufficient without a jointer for these reasons:

Models with jointer beds

Some benchtop planers have wider beds and the ability to be used for jointing in addition to planing. This dual functionality eliminates the need for a separate jointer.

Planers can handle light warping

While jointers are ideal for flattened highly warped boards, a planer is able to flatten boards with slight cupping or bowing. This is sufficient for many small projects.

Hand planes as an alternative

Hand planes, scrapers, and sandpaper can be used to flatten and straighten lumber rather than a power jointer for occasional tasks. This prep can then be finished with the planer.

Purchasing surfaced stock

You can avoid the need for jointing by purchasing pre-surfaced lumber when only limited flattening is needed. A planer is then all that’s required.

However, for serious woodworkers milling large amounts of rough lumber, a jointer remains an important pairing with a planer for the best results. But jointers substantially add to the cost and shop space needed.

Should you buy a benchtop or a full-size floor model planer?

When deciding between a benchtop or larger floor model planer, here are some key differences to consider:

Factor	Benchtop Planer	Floor Model Planer
Cost	Approx. $200 – $1000	Approx $800 – $3000+
Portability	Easy to move around shop or jobsite	Stationary
Width Capacity	Up to 15″	From 13″ up to over 20″
Cutting Depth	Around 1/8″ to 6″ max	Up to 8″ or more
Feed Speed	Slower	Faster
CPI	Up to around 179 CPI	Up to 400 CPI
Dust Collection	Smaller port size	Full size 4″ port
Power	Up to 5 amp motor	10+ amp motor
Best for	DIYers, hobbyists, & small shops	Pros, production shops, & avid hobbyists

In summary, benchtop models provide great functionality for most hobbyists and small shops for a reasonable price. Floor standing planers offer faster milling of wider boards with smoother finishes but require a much larger investment.

What are the best benchtop planer brands?

Some of the top benchtop planer brands to consider include:

Dewalt

Known for power tools, Dewalt offers popular models like the DW735 with robust performance and sturdy build quality. Their planers range from around $600 to $800.

Makita

For benchtop planers, Makita offers the 2012NB model with a 12.5″ width capacity and 179 CPI for smooth cuts. It runs just over $700.

Cutech

This specialty woodworking brand provides a high-end benchtop planer, the 40200H-CT, with spiral cutter head and advanced dust collection for approximately $950.

Ridgid

Ridgid’s compact TP1300 model provides good value under $400 while delivering solid capability for light hobbyist use.

Wen

Wen offers an extremely affordable option at around $200 with the 6550 model. It’s a good choice for DIYers on tight budgets.

Rikon

Rikon provides an array of benchtop planers ranging from a basic 6.5″ model at $229 up to their deluxe 25-210H model with helical cutterhead for $999.

Jet

Jet’s JWP-12 benchtop planer is a bit pricey at nearly $1200 but provides excellent smoothness and precision for serious hobbyists.

Overall, Dewalt, Makita, and Cutech lead in quality but come at a higher cost, while Wen and Rikon cater well to value-conscious buyers.

What features should you look for in a good benchtop planer?

Here are the most important features to evaluate when selecting the best benchtop planer for your needs:

Cutterhead

Look for a model with a cutterhead that contains 2 or more double-edged blades for the smoothest results. Helical cutterheads with spiraled blades excel at minimizing tear-out but cost more.

Cuts per inch

Higher CPI ratings like 100+ CPI provide a finer, smoother planed surface. Look for the highest CPI in your budget.

Cutting width

The wider the better for accommodating larger boards up to 15″. Pay for the largest cutting width you can afford.

Cutting depth

Choose a model that can handle the thickest boards you plan to plane, typically 1/8″ to over 6″.

Feed speed

Faster feed speeds of around 26 feet per minute save time for planning batches of lumber.

Power

More powerful motors of at least 3 to 5 amps have the muscle for tough planing jobs.

Tables

Look for sturdy infeed and outfeed tables that support long boards. Some models have extra widths for jointing.

Dust port

A dust port allowing connection to a shop vac is vital for managing debris.

Safety features

Must-have safety elements include anti-kickback knives, guards, and emergency stops.

What accessories do you need with a benchtop planer?

The following accessories highly complement a benchtop planer:

Dust collection system

A shop vac or dedicated dust collector and hoses for attaching to the planer’s dust port to efficiently capture debris.

Additional blades

Extra sets of replacement blades allow quick change-outs when blades get dull. Look for blades specially made for your model.

Infeed and outfeed stands

Outfeed stands help support long boards after they exit the planer. Infeed stands can hold stock at an optimum height for feeding into the planer.

Planer gauges

Aftermarket thickness gauges that attach to the planer allow precise depth of cut measurements for consistent planing.

Push blocks

These provide an added level of safety for keeping hands away from the cutterhead while feeding stock.

Ear and eye protection

Planers are noisy and create debris so wear hearing and eye protection when using them.

Mobile base

A rolling stand or caster allows the planer to be easily moved around the shop floor as needed.

Extension cords & wiring

Ensure you have appropriate power cables for wiring the planer into your shop’s electrical system.

These accessories will help maximize utility and safety when using a benchtop planer.

Where can you buy a benchtop planer?

Here are some of the best places to buy a new or used benchtop planer:

Amazon

Amazon carries a wide selection of benchtop planers from top brands at competitive prices with fast shipping. Models range from under $200 to over $1000.

Home Depot

Home Depot offers a variety of portable planers both online and in most retail locations for convenient access.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s also stocks many benchtop planers in stores and has options for delivery or in-store pickup when ordering online.

Woodcraft

Woodcraft specializes in woodworking tools and carries premium planer models in their stores and website, along with expert advice.

Rockler

Rockler is another woodworking retailer offering various portable planers and compatible accessories.

eBay

eBay often has good deals on new, used, and refurbished benchtop planers, especially from past years’ models.

Craigslist

Check Craigslist classifieds in your area for benchtop planers being sold by local sellers at often heavily discounted prices.

Facebook Marketplace

Search Facebook listings for portable planers for sale in your community, both new and used.

These online retailers, improvement stores, specialty shops, and resale marketplaces provide quality options for purchasing benchtop planers.

Conclusion

For DIYers, hobby woodworkers, and small workshop owners, benchtop planers provide excellent functionality and value for flattening, smoothing, and milling smaller lumber. When chosen based on your needs and budget, a quality benchtop planer can be a wise investment that saves hours of labor. Paying key attention to power, cutterhead design, width capacity, and dust collection will ensure you select a model that suits your projects. With the right accessories and safety precautions, a portable planer can be a valuable addition to your woodworking toolkit for years to come.