Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Mar 24, 2010 12:39pm | #1

   Terminology may be getting in the way here. In the U.S. "planer" usually refers to a thickness planer, while in Europe the term generally refers to what we call a jointer, which is used to flatten a face and to square edges. Flattening, squaring and dimensioning can, of course, be done with hand planes. The use of hand planes, however, requires more physical effort, and the development of the associated skills - use, sharpening, and "tuning" or "fettling" the planes themselves.

   To "four-square" a board with machines, a jointer (wider than the board being worked) would be used first to flatten one face and then to square the edeges. Running a cupped board through a thickness planer only results in a thinner, still-cupped board. (The feed rollers flatten the board before it runs through the blades, and then it springs back to cupped as it exits the machine.) There are techniques to be learned with the jointer and thickness planer in order to avoid tapering the board along its length, but those skills may be easier and quicker to learn than hand planing. And, the machines must be adjusted ("tuned") well in order to work properly.

   There are numerous discussios about hand planes here, along with many articles in the FWW archives that can be read here if you are an online member of the FWW site (different than being a member of Knots).

   OH, and speaking of terminology, hand planes aren't actually used to plane hands. ;-)

2. 
   davcefai | Mar 25, 2010 02:00pm | #2

   I think you mean an electric hand held plane. If so, from personal experience, it's OK for planing wood down to a size but you will never get to a lovely smooth finish.

   I use such a planer to get close to the line but then finish off with hand planes.

   The wost thing about the hand electric plane is that if you are planing a surface wider than the blade it is almost impossible to avoid "tram lines" (for want of a better word).

   Your mileage may vary. I am cack-handed.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Mar 26, 2010 01:59pm | #5

   Terminology

   >"tram lines" (for want of a better word)<

   I call them plane tracks.  With hand planes, they are eliminated by easing the corners of the blades.  Would this work for power planers?  I realize that balance is crtical, so it must be done quite precisely.

   By the way, I did buy myself a Makita 6-3/4" power planer as was being discussed a few months back.  It's nice, though I haven't done any real work with it yet - only tests.

1. 
   davcefai | Mar 26, 2010 04:05pm | #6

   I don't think that easing the corners will help. The marks are too deep. It only takes the slightest tilt of the plane to really mess up the surface.

3. 
   JohnWW | Mar 26, 2010 09:20am | #3

   A small hand held electric power planer is very useful for getting rough stock cleaned up quickly so it can then be brought to a finished surface by either using a traditional hand plane or by passing the stock through a stationary thickness planer, but by itself the hand held planer won't yield finished stock.  The tool is best thought of as being the electrified equivalent of a scrub plane.

4. 
   JohnWW | Mar 26, 2010 09:21am | #4

   A small hand held electric power planer is very useful for getting rough stock cleaned up quickly so it can then be brought to a finished surface by either using a traditional hand plane or by passing the stock through a stationary thickness planer, but by itself the hand held planer won't yield finished stock.  The tool is best thought of as being the electrified equivalent of a scrub plane.