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Hand planes came to us from the distant past. They began to be widely used in the XV-XVI centuries. The first devices were quite bulky. They had a wooden block, and the blade was fixed with a special wedge. As you know, planers are mainly used for wood processing. With their help, craftsmen give the material the necessary roughness, straightness, flatness and shape. The parameters of the device are regulated by the amount of extension of the cutter. Also, devices are divided into those used for roughing wood, and those used for finishing.
To date, many manufacturers have significantly improved these devices. So, most of them are available in a metal case with very convenient adjustment levers. KP ranked the top 10 best hand planers. In particular, in the selection we examined sherhebels – they are used for starting processing of workpieces, and jointers for final touches. Note that there are a lot of models on sale, so choosing a quality device is quite problematic.
Top 10 rating according to KP
Editor’s Choice
1. Face planer STANLEY 60 1/2 1-12-060
Opens our rating device from a world famous manufacturer Stanley . This planer can be used in the processing of different types of wood, including very hard woods. For the most precise adjustment, the device is equipped with a special angle adjustment mechanism. All parts of the planer are made of metal. This feature significantly increases tool life. In addition, the stylish design of the planer should also be noted.
Key Features:
| Type: | face |
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Knife width: | 35 mm |
| Knife angle: | 13° |
| Outsole Length: | 150 mm |
| The weight: | 720 g |
| Intended for: | for processing the end surfaces of wooden blanks and laminated plastics |
Advantages and disadvantages
2. Planer Kraftool 18527-35
Next on the list is a planer. Kraftool 18527-35. It is designed for primary processing of soft woods. Also ideal for working with fiberboard, chipboard, plastic and drywall. High productivity is achieved through multiple cutting edges and chip control. However, the device does not withstand bumps and drops, as the alloy can easily crack.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | дерево |
| Knife width: | 50 mm |
| Outsole Length: | 350 mm |
| Outsole Width: | 50 mm |
| The weight: | 2930 g |
Advantages and disadvantages
3. Finishing planer Sparta 210795
This planer is perfect for cutting out excess wood to obtain smooth planes on small, hard-to-reach parts. The high-strength case does not deform even under heavy workloads. Also, the design provides a customizable function of automatic centering of the cutting knife. In addition, the planer is equipped with a small chipbreaker for finishing the plane of the tree.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | дерево |
| Knife width: | 58 mm |
| Outsole Length: | 245 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
What other hand planers are worth paying attention to
4. Planer ZUBR Expert “Single”
With its appearance, the instrument reminds of the times of the USSR. However, don’t let this feature scare you. This planer is simple and reliable in operation. It must be used for primary (rough) processing. The sole of the tool needs to be polished and the plane straightened, as it is initially slightly concave. Also requires editing and sharpening the knife. It has a different radius of rounding corners on the right and left.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | plastic |
| Outsole Length: | 250 mm |
| Outsole Width: | 50 mm |
| Adjustments: | planing depth and transverse blade position |
| Blade material: | steel hardened to HRC 53-63; single knife; knife width 30 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
5. End planer Irwin T06012
The Irwin brand metal planer is a high quality tool. Its body is completely made of metal. The lightness of the product ensures high performance. The high-quality steel of the knife keeps sharpening for a long time. However, it is problematic to sharpen it in case of bluntness. Quite expensive, but the price is fully consistent with the quality of the tool.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | metal |
| Knife width: | 42 mm |
| Knife angle: | 12.5° |
| Outsole Length: | 265 mm |
| The weight: | 680 g |
Advantages and disadvantages
6. Planer Biber 85071
Plane Pepper 85071 designed for rough and high-speed woodworking. The body of the tool is cast from steel and equipped with additional stiffening ribs. The handle of the device is ergonomic and as comfortable as possible. There is also a function to adjust the positions of the blade and knife. The smooth sole allows you to get started right away without unnecessary adjustments.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Knife width: | 50 mm |
| Outsole Length: | 240 mm |
| Knife material: | tool steel |
Advantages and disadvantages
7. Stayer Master planer
Following in our ranking is an extraordinary model from Stayer. The body and handle of the device are made of hardwood. This planer can be used for both rough and smooth woodworking. A significant drawback of the tool is its fragility and high probability of breakage. However, all this is offset by a very low price. Also, it does not provide additional stoppers for adjusting the blade.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | дерево |
| Handle Material: | дерево |
| Knife width: | 52 mm |
| Outsole Length: | 240 mm |
| Blade material: | steel |
Advantages and disadvantages
8. Planer “Practice” 64 089
This planer is designed for roughing wood. The strong handle makes it easy to control the tool when removing the coating. The reliable design of the metal case is not deformed even under the heaviest loadings. The guarantee of a long service life is the high quality of the tool steel. For the most precise adjustment, a cut-off adjustment mechanism is provided on the screws.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | plastic |
| Outsole Length: | 235 mm |
| Outsole Width: | 45 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
9. Finishing planer FIT 43714
This device is suitable for use in the field of carpentry and metalwork. The planer’s metal body and alloy steel blade ensure long tool life and increase wear resistance. The tool has small dimensions – 235×45 mm, thanks to which it is convenient and not tiring to work with it.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | дерево |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | дерево |
| Knife width: | 45 mm |
| Outsole Length: | 235 mm |
| Outsole Width: | 45 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
10. Peeling planer Kraftool 18843
Another type of these tools is peeling planers. The sole of the device is a metal grater. The tool does not have a knife. It is used exclusively for leveling the ends of drywall. Such a grater allows you to correct the defects that were made when cutting drywall sheets before assembling them into various designs. The Kraftool rasp is equipped with multiple cutting edges, so it almost instantly removes chips, allowing you to work faster and more efficiently.
Key Features:
| Processing material: | drywall, wood, chipboard, fiberboard, plastic |
| Case material: | metal |
| Handle Material: | plastic |
| Outsole Length: | 250 mm |
| A pen: | adjustable |
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose a hand planer
Let’s move on to the most exciting question. Choosing a hand planer is not an easy task. The abundance of tools on the market is seriously misleading. As we already wrote, each device is designed for a certain type of work and surfaces. To deal with the issue of choice, we turned to founder and host of the Voron-M joinery YouTube channel Oleg Ivanov.
Surface
First you need to decide on what surface the hand planer will be used on. For example, it can be wood, chipboard, fiberboard, drywall and other materials. Hardwoods require reliable and sharp knives. Blades of lower quality are suitable for working with chipboard and fiberboard.
Convenience design
Unlike an electric planer, work with a hand tool is carried out at the expense of physical strength. And this means that the handles on the device should be located so that long-term work does not tire the person. In addition, they must be very securely attached to the main structure.
Adjustability
Each type of work with the tool requires a certain angle of the cutter. Calibration is carried out using special levers and screws. You should make sure that you can carefully set up the tool for the type of work you need. It depends on the range of tasks that you can perform.
Verification check
So, before buying a manual planer, you should make sure that the knife of the device is made of high-quality steel and is held motionless, the handles do not dangle and are firmly fixed, it is comfortable for you to hold the tool in the palm of your hand.