Can i plane something that is wider then a power planer?
Posted by The Woodworker on Feb 8, 2010
Russ аѕkеd:
I’m getting іntο woodworking аnd i want tο gеt a planer, bυt i аm tοο cheap tο gеt a bench planer аnd tο lаzу tο gеt a non power planer, ѕο thаt leads mе tο hand power planers.
If i gеt one wіth οnlу a 3.5 inch blade wіll i bе аblе tο plane desktops bу mаkіng multiple paralle passes?
Hοw difficult іѕ іt tο learn tο bе competent wіth a hand power planer?
Dοеѕ anyone hаνе аnу recommendations fοr a first time power planer?
I’m getting іntο woodworking аnd i want tο gеt a planer, bυt i аm tοο cheap tο gеt a bench planer аnd tο lаzу tο gеt a non power planer, ѕο thаt leads mе tο hand power planers.
If i gеt one wіth οnlу a 3.5 inch blade wіll i bе аblе tο plane desktops bу mаkіng multiple paralle passes?
Hοw difficult іѕ іt tο learn tο bе competent wіth a hand power planer?
Dοеѕ anyone hаνе аnу recommendations fοr a first time power planer?
THanks
You could,but you’ll have to keep checking the thickness so it’s concistant,so it’ll be tough,if there is a custom cabinetry factory by you,they will run it through an industrial planer,i worked at a custom cabinetry place for 7 yrs,yrs ago,and people were always coming in asking if i could fire it up and plane a plank to exact thickness,at lunch time,i said sure,this could plane a 32″ wide board to what ever thickness they wanted,free of charge,they offered me $ but i never excepted it,god it only took 2minutes.But man that sucker was loud,wow,it had a 40hp motor,very dangerouse,but i was the saw supervizer,and the planer was in the saw department,so they loved me,i didn’t even have to get permission from the shop formun.I miss that job sometimes.
I understand what you are trying to do, but the last surface will have to be finished with a hand plane. The power planer will leave a surface with the planer marks in it. These must be shaved off with a smooth cut, not a rotary cut with a power planer.
I bought a small power planer that is what you are asking about 2 years ago and am using it to learn how to smooth a surface. If you go to you can get a great deal of information
about the subject. Try E-bay for much of the equipment you need.
It is only my opinion, but you would benefit more by using or learning to use hand planes. Planes are not the easiest thing to use or set up. Most store bought planes (even power planes) do not have truly flat plates. It takes a little work to flatten a sole plate. There are several good reference guides and magazine articles on planes. I would go with hand planes. There are different planes for different jobs. There is no one plane does it all. And yes. You can plane areas wider than the plane. But be sure handed or you will gouge, gouge, gouge.
Not exactly an answer to your question but on those occasions where I need a large flat surface taken down or cabinet fronts evened up I take them to a local cabinet shop and have them run it through their big drum sander. It’s never been very expensive and the results are way better than I can do by hand.
Bosch makes great planers, but planing something wider is going to require a lot of sanding.