How to Plane Wood with an Electric Planer (Step-by-step Guide)

An electric planer is a powerful woodworking tool. It consists of sharp rotating blades housed in a planing base that can shave off layers of wood from the surface.

It allows you to adjust the cutting depth. It can significantly save time compared to a hand planer, especially if you need to smooth a thick or large area. On the other hand, a little mistake can ruin your workpiece and also can harm you. That’s why safety should be your utmost priority while using this tool.

Always wear safety goggles and a dusk mask to protect you from the wooden chips and debris flying around while working with a power planer. Moreover, you can also consider hearing protection because an electric planer makes a loud noise.

Selecting the right type of wood is essential for a successful planing process. Softwoods like pine are easier to plane, making them ideal for beginners. Hardwoods, however, require more expertise and a powerful planer.

Choose a planer that suits the size of your woodworking projects and invest in a high-quality one that will last for years.

It’s essential to secure the workpiece to ensure safety. When an electric planer removes the wood shaving, it applies a repulsive force on the wood, resulting in sliding, especially if the wood piece is small.

You can secure the workpiece on a workbench or sawhorse to avoid this potentially dangerous situation.

First, you should set the cutting depth on your electric planer. It is recommended to start with shallow depth to prevent the planer from removing too much material at once. As you progress, you can gradually increase the depth until you achieve the desired thickness.

Pro tip: When you start the electric planer from the edge of the wood, apply more pressure on the front, and when you’re about to touch the end of the wood, put more pressure on the back. It will keep your planer in the horizontal position throughout the whole process and avoid making a snipe (a slight depression at the beginning or end of a board).

It’s easier to plan with the grains because the wood fibers support the blade, resulting in cleaner cuts. It’s recommended to plain the wood in the direction of the grains to achieve a smoother finish and avoid splintering.

If you need to plan the wood across the grain, lower the electric planer depth and move it gradually and steadily to avoid tearing out. Moreover, avoid stopping the planer in the middle.

To achieve a smoother surface, make multiple passes over the wood, slightly overlapping each pass. It will eliminate any unevenness and ensure a consistent surface throughout the board. This technique is helpful when working with a broad and large wooden surface, such as a tabletop.

Knots and imperfections in the wood can pose a challenge while planing. You should lower the cutting depth when encountering knots and move the planer slowly. It avoids chipping or damaging the planer blade. You can also use a hand plane or chisel to address stubborn knots manually.

An electric planer can also be used for chamfering the edge of your wood piece, which adds a decorative touch. It would be best to use a guide or a straightedge to achieve precise and uniform chamfers.

Different types of wood require slight variations in your electric planer settings and the way you use your planer. For example, softwood won’t mind if you set the cutting depth a bit higher and run your planer faster, but hardwood may blunt the blade quickly.

Therefore, tweaking the planer’s settings according to the wood type is always a good practice. You should always start planing with a shallow depth at a slower pace and test how wood performs.

Regular maintenance is crucial to keep your power planer in optimal condition. Always clean your planer’s base plate and blade after each use, and also check for any signs of wear and damage.

Please don’t use the dull blades because they can put an extra toll on your planer’s motor and degrade the planing quality. Some planer comes with sharpenable blades, which can be done with silicon carbide stone. In some planers, you have to replace the blade.

Excessive Cutting Depth: Don’t set the cutting depth too deep it can cause the planer to remove too much material at once. This can lead to uneven surfaces and even damage the wood piece.

Inconsistent Pressure: Applying unstable pressure while planing can cause poor finishing. You should always maintain constant pressure to achieve a smoother surface. Also, remember, to avoid snipes, in the beginning, you should apply more pressure on the front and reverse it at the end of the board.

Ignoring Grain Direction: If you want to avoid tear-out and rough surfaces, always check the wood grains’ direction. Planing against the grain should be done cautiously, especially in hardwoods.

No Securing the Wood Piece: Poorly secure wood can cause it to move or vibrate, resulting in inaccurate cuts and potential safety hazards.

Ignoring Knots and Imperfections: Always look for knots and imperfections in the wood to avoid blade damage and injury. Set the cutting depth lower when you encounter any knots. You can also remove them manually with a chisel or planer.

Fast Planing Speed: Using a high planing speed without proper control (as discussed above) can lead to a snipe, which is a slight depression at the beginning or end of the wood piece.

Skipping Safety Precautions: Always wear safety gear such as goggles and hearing protection to minimize the health risk from flying debris and loud noise.

Not Checking Blade Sharpness: Using a dull blade can result in poor planing performance and put extra strain on the motor.

Inadequate Maintenance: Always clean your tool after use and check before use. Overlooking maintenance can decrease the efficiency of the device and shorten its lifespan.

It’s always a good idea for beginners to practice on scrap wood before the planer touches the actual workpiece. It will allow you to gain confidence and improve your technique.