Among the huge variety of power tools that are designed for wood processing, one of the first places is occupied by an electric planer. Which is better and how to choose it will be described later. With it, you can give the wood a complete look, the processed material is not only pleasing to the eye, but also pleasant to the touch. There are a lot of such devices on sale today. Therefore, it is worth knowing how to choose an electric planer?
Features
Understanding the intricacies of the selection of such a device, you must first decide what frequency and duration the device will be used with. From here it will become clear which device to choose: household or professional. Both types can be produced by various manufacturers, both well-known and little-known brands. When choosing, it is important to be based on the fact that a trusted brand is the best option compared to everyone else. The country of origin is no less significant factor, as some do not indicate that the product is manufactured in China, and this misleads the buyer. If you need an electric planer, which is better, not only an experienced consultant will tell you, but also the experience of other people.
You can, of course, purchase a device manufactured in China, but you should not expect from it any special performance or long service life. When working, it does not need to be overloaded excessively, that is, all actions must be neat and gentle.
Specifications
If you decide to buy an electric planer, which one is better to choose, its characteristics will tell you, in particular power, depth and width of planing. The first parameter varies between 400-2100 watts. The greater the power indicator, the greater the width and depth of planing can be specified by the manufacturer for a particular model. The standard widths are considered 82, 100, 102 and 110 mm. There are models with a larger planing width, but in most cases a width of 110 mm is quite enough. There is also a size that is not very common, it is 92 mm. For devices with an unexpanded planing width, it is quite difficult to find the legs. Various electric planers, reviews of which can be found quite simply, are characterized by a maximum planing depth of 1-4 mm. The deeper differences the surface being machined is characterized, the greater the depth of planing is needed. It turns out that with the same width and depth of planing, it will be most correct to give preference to a more powerful planer, while not forgetting that its weight and size can also increase.
How does an electric planer work?
The basis of this device is a drum rotating thanks to a powerful motor. Power on different units ranges from 600-1100 watts. Knives are fixed to the drum. With the help of a motor and a drive belt, the drum is driven. The belt is located under the side cover, making it easy to remove for replacement. Another casing is placed above the motor. The design features of the electric planer allowed to achieve a gradual increase in speed after switching on, after which it is supported by built-in electronics. This all serves as a preventative measure against motor overvoltage.
In front and behind the drum placed knives for work - the so-called sole. It consists of two parts: the first of them is regulated and busy with wood processing, and the second remains motionless, passing along the initially processed surface in order to smooth it. The speed of the carpentry work depends on the quality of the knives and their ability to stay sharp for a long time. That is why, if you are interested in how to choose an electric planer, you should pay attention to the metal used for the sole. Most often it is hard hardened steel, tungsten.
The thickness of the chips and the depth of cut of the board can be adjusted using the handle or the button with divisions. The thicker the chips are removed, the slower the movement of the planer will be.
Features of work
Most models, with a planing width of 82 mm, are equipped with narrow knives that cannot be sharpened. They are bilateral, so after both sides become dull, they are usually thrown away, and new ones are installed in their place. They are inexpensive, so there’s no reason to worry about sharpening. However, there are also models with sharpened knives. There are also combined options where you can install either those or other knives. Planing widths starting from 100 mm require the use of exclusively sharpened knives. If you decide to buy an electric planer, which one is better to choose - with sharpened or non-sharpened knives - it's up to you to decide, while taking your own convenience into account.
Revs
When searching for a suitable device, pay attention to this parameter. Here it is assumed the number of revolutions of the drum with knives per minute. The higher this indicator, the cleaner the planer will plan. That is why, ceteris paribus, choose the model that has a large number of revolutions of the drum. This indicator usually varies between 11000-17000 per minute.
Additions
If you are looking for the best electric planer, then you should pay attention to such a parameter as the presence or absence of the ability to remove a quarter. If this option is chosen, then this feature can be very useful when you decide to make yourself, for example, a lining.
Electric planers are capable of chamfering a beam or a corner of a board. To do this, the front of their soles is equipped with a special longitudinal recess, which allows you to center the planer so that it runs exactly along the corner of the timber or board. The presence of a special guide complete with the device allows you to make angles equal to 45 degrees.
Some household models have the option for stationary installation. The plane is mounted upside down on a special rack, which allows you to work with it as with a machine. With such devices, racks can be bundled or sold separately. If this opportunity is important for you, then you can choose a manual electric planer of this particular category.
Complete set of electric planes
In addition to the technical characteristics and features of the device, it is also necessary to take into account its ease of use, ergonomics, as well as a complete set of various additional devices. In this case, the sole should be smooth, and its dimensions have a direct impact on how stable the device will be during operation.
So, you have decided to buy an electric planer. Of course, it is up to you to decide which one is better to choose, however, it is believed that it will be more convenient to work with a device equipped with a pair of handles: the front one is intended to give direction, and the rear one is to push the tool. Using the front handle, the depth of chip removal is adjusted and the required pitch is set. This is a depth gauge. One step should be equal to 0.1 mm, and the scale should start from 0. Practice shows that even in this position, thin chips are removed with a planer, so it is recommended to choose a device whose scale starts below 0.
If the device is equipped with a spiral blade, then it planes the wood more smoothly and efficiently.
In the configuration of many devices there are replaceable drums, as well as fasteners in order to use a professional electric planer as a machine, jointer and knife sharpener.
To prevent the chips from flying apart, it is necessary that the socket for the chips is included in the package. A vacuum cleaner can be connected to individual models for this purpose. Some appliances have a two-way waste disposal system.
Technical equipment
Electronic sensors allow you to maintain the tool at a stable level, we are talking about a constant number of revolutions in the process, adjustment at idle, as well as the most smooth start. Safety is provided by the presence of a protective casing, blocking from accidental switching on. For example, an electric bison "Zubr" is equipped with a casing, which is discarded automatically if the device touches the surface of a tree while pressing the handle located in front.
conclusions
If you decide to buy an electric planer, which is better, you should decide on the totality of factors that have been described. It is important to hold it in your hands and ask for precautions when working, as well as the warranty period.