Choosing the right planer knife involves considering factors such as tungsten content, size, and sharpness. Tungsten increases blade life and strength, while reversible blades last longer. Sizing must be exact, and sharper blades are better for cutting hardwoods.
A plane knife is used in a plane to shape or smooth wood, and getting the right knife depends on looking at several factors about the blade. Almost all planer knives are made of tungsten steel and tungsten will affect the life of the planer knife. The size of the knife must be exact, because too short or too long blades cannot be inserted into the appropriate plane. Reversible knives will be useful for much longer because when one side becomes dull, the user can simply reverse the blade and have another sharp edge ready for cutting. Sharpness is also important, because a sharper knife will usually hold its edge longer and shape the wood faster.
Most planer knife blades are made from steel with a significant amount of tungsten, 10% to 20% or more. Tungsten is a hard metal that increases the life and strength of the blade. This means that knives with higher amounts of tungsten will typically last longer and be better at cutting through hardwoods. This also helps the blade hold its edge, because the metal will be slower to degrade from use.
Planer knife sizing is important, because getting the wrong size blade will prevent the blade from fitting into the plane. Most blade packs will state which machines they work with, but sometimes the operator’s machine may not be listed. The operator must measure the last knife used, or the bay where the knife is held in the plane, so he knows the exact measurement required, both in length and width.
Reversible blades are not required to operate a planer, but provide operators with a planer knife that will last twice as long. With a regular knife, once the edge is gone, the operator must sharpen the blade or purchase a new one. If using a reversible knife, the operator simply removes the knife, flips it over, and has a new blade ready to cut.
Blades can have different levels of sharpness, depending on how they are created. If the operator is working with softwoods, a super sharp knife is not necessary, although it may be useful; hardwood workers will need the sharpest blades or the wood may not cut properly. Sharper blades also tend to hold their edge longer, increasing the overall life of the knife.
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