Choosing a bench planer depends on the size of wood to be planed, strong materials, adjustable height, accessible blades, dust collection system, weight, and size of the chamber. The width of the opening and support for long pieces of wood are also important considerations.
Choosing the best bench planer starts with determining how you will use the unit regularly. The size of the wood you plane will likely have the biggest impact on your choice, as the size of the plane itself will vary depending on how large a piece of wood needs to be planed. The bench planer unit must be constructed of strong materials; avoid all models that use plastic as structural materials, although in some cases plastic is fine for switches, handles and other non-structural parts of the car.
Adjustment is important when choosing a bench planer. Make sure you choose a model that allows you to adjust the height of the cutting reel inside the machine and find out how precisely the adjustment can be made. Some models have very fine adjustment capabilities, while others are not as precise. The blades should also be easily accessible for adjustment and replacement when needed. Some models of bench planers are equipped with a dust collection system, which is a good investment because it prevents sawdust dust from circulating in the air, causing dangerous respiratory conditions.
Many woodworkers prefer a bench plane because it is generally smaller than other plane models and is usually light enough to move around when needed. If weight is an issue, be sure to note it before purchasing a unit. Many planes are designed to work in conjunction with a planer table; the plane can be mounted on the table, which is very often equipped with castors or wheels to make moving the sometimes heavy plane assembly much easier. The wheels can lock into place when the planer is ready to be used and can be unlocked if the planer needs to be moved from one part of the shop to another.
The most important consideration when looking for a bench planer is its size. The size is dictated by how large a piece of wood the planer can actually plane. The width of the chamber will be the determining factor here, so take note of how wide the opening is for the wood. Choose a plane that can also support long pieces of wood; nearly all planes feature guide wheels inside the plane to help stabilize the wood as it passes through the machine, and larger models will come with a table on which the weight of the board can rest. This will help prevent uneven planing and damage to the ends of the boards.
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