When a woodworker wants to take his craft to the next level, he invests in a kickass wood planer. Wood planers are advanced workshop tools for shaping wood, scraping off layers, and trimming wood. And, from their design, they were made to shave wood layers into new, smoother surfaces.
Artisan woodworking will likely never go out of fashion, but some methods can definitely use an upgrade. Cue the ultimate wood planer – with your hands on one of these, your craft can hit new quality milestones. But the question remains, “Where does one find the best wood planer for sale?”
Read on as we explore the best wood planer in different categories and which craftsman wood planer best suits your project.
Best Wood Planer for Different Woodwork Projects
Every wood shaver has a central purpose – to cut and shape wood, but not all of them behave similarly. For example, a rabbet plane will do a better job of making a rabbet joint than a surform plane.
Getting confused? Follow me as I explain the unique use of different planers and review the best in each category:
| Product Image | Product Name | SimpleWoodWorking Rating | Where it Shines | Where it Flops | Link |
 | Jiozermi 9” Adjustable Spokeshave Planer | Best for Curved Surfaces | – Whether you buy a used planer or not, it finesses curved surfaces easily – The extra four replacement blades buy time before any needed sharpening – The cast iron blade is durable and corrosion-resistant. | – It won’t do a flat surface much justice. | Check Price Here |
 | SCRUBIT Smoothing Surform Plane | Best for Control | – Its added control makes it suitable for beginners – This surform has a uniquely designed blade function, making it useful outside in other delayering projects – You can adjust the handle for more specific needs | – The blade was blunt on arrival, and it didn’t feature additional blades, so you may have to sharpen it. | Check Price Here |
 | Wen Two-blade Benchtop Thickness Planer | Best for Trimming With High-speed Blades | – The blade adjustments are easy and accurate – Upon arrival, the blades were already installed, and since they are reversible, they shouldn’t need changing soon – The planer was solidly built and stable as I worked | – The blades weren’t as sturdy as I had expected. | Check Price Here |
 | GreatNeck C4 Bench Jack Plane | Best for Dressing Down Timber | – The plane has a solid sole – The cutting blade can be adjusted for more customized projects – The comfortable ergonomic handles reduce strain as you work | – The iron blade needed flattening, but perhaps it is because I bought a used planer. | Check Price Here |
 | WEN 6534 8-Amp Electric Hand Planer | Best for Quick Projects | – Its powerful 8-amp can produce up to 32,000 cuts every minute – It features convenient dust ports to avoid loose-flying wood shavings – The planer is easy-to-understand – The price of this planer makes it a steal | – The blade was curved, causing it to cup the wood – The dust port isn’t built to fit a hose or adapter | Check Price Here |
 | Vevor Router Plane | Best for Tuning Joinery | – The plane is solid and sturdy when working – Its stainless steel blade is made from durable material to withstand tough projects | – The planer’s base was too small – The blade could have been sharper | Check Price Here |
Best for Curved Surfaces: Jiozermi 9” Adjustable Spokeshave Planer
This craftsman wood planer looks as fancy as it sounds and is primarily used for concave, convex, and curved surfaces. There are different types of these planers, depending on their blades and soles. So you’ll see convex, rounded, and even combination spokeshaves.
The Jiozermi 9” Adjustable Spokeshave Planer outshines other wood shavers in this category for two main reasons: comfort and convenience. Aside from the comfortable epoxy-coated handle, my package came with four replacement blades. It served me well to shave exotic chair arms and legs like our latest Egyptian chair.
Where it Shines
- Whether you buy a used planer or not, it finesses curved surfaces easily
- The extra four replacement blades buy time before any needed sharpening
- The cast iron blade is durable and corrosion-resistant.
Where it Flops
- It won’t do a flat surface much justice.
Best for Control: SCRUBIT Smoothing Surform Plane
A surform plane is a little less complicated than the spokeshave, but it is just as effective. Its grater-like blade shaves away the wood surface as the woodworker carpenter pushes down. Leading this category is the SCRUBIT Smoothing Surform Plane.
Adding to the surform’s already impressive control, the SCRUBIT Smoothing Surform Plane featured an adjustable handle that allowed me to tailor the cutting depth to my specific needs. It is designed with both plane and file functions, maximizing its precision and versatility.
Where it Shines
- Its added control makes it suitable for beginners
- This surform has a uniquely designed blade function, making it useful outside in other delayering projects
- You can adjust the handle for more specific needs
Where it Flops
- The blade was blunt on arrival, and it didn’t feature additional blades, so you may have to sharpen it.
Best for Trimming With High-speed Blades – Wen Two-blade Benchtop Thickness Planer
Benchtop planers are a little different from hand planers, but only in their mode of function. Unlike hand planers, a bench planer is an electric machine that’ll make light work of tough wood. For example, the Wen Two-blade Benchtop Thickness Planer can perform over 20,000 cuts per minute.
With one of these heavy-duty bad boys, you can save money on perfectly pre-cut wood to fit your preferences. The catch? – Using a benchtop wood planer can be time-consuming.
Where it Shines
- The blade adjustments are easy and accurate
- Upon arrival, the blades were already installed, and since they are reversible, they shouldn’t need changing soon
- The planer was solidly built and stable as I worked
Where it Flops
- The blades weren’t as sturdy as I had expected.
Best for Dressing Down Timber – GreatNeck C4 Bench Jack Plane
Coming in at 12-18 inches, the jack plane is the ideal tool for shaving off rough stock. The blades are slightly arched, which allows the wood shaver to remove layers without damaging the wood.
The GreatNeck C4 Bench Jack Plane won our hearts for wood planers in this category. Its 2-inch blade adjusts with a screw and glides across rough wood surfaces. The planer’s plastic ergonomic handles make working a complete breeze, and medium pressure yields full control over the alloy cutter.
Where it Shines
- The plane has a solid sole
- The cutting blade can be adjusted for more customized projects
- The comfortable ergonomic handles reduce strain as you work
Where it Flops
- The iron blade needed flattening, but perhaps it is because I bought a used planer.
Best for Quick Projects – WEN 6534 8-Amp Electric Hand Planer
The handheld planer is your go-to shaver for quick and versatile projects. Unlike manual hand planers, the WEN 6534 8-Amp Electric Hand Planer uses electrical energy to reduce strain. So, carpenters can exert far less stress to do more work.
Its monstrous 8-amp motor can perform up to 32,000 cuts per minute, and the cutting capacity is spacious enough to accommodate 2×4 and 4×4 planks. And check this – it features two-way dust ports that shoot loose sawdust to either side of the planer.
Where it Shines
- Its powerful 8-amp can produce up to 32,000 cuts every minute
- It features convenient dust ports to avoid loose-flying wood shavings
- The planer is easy-to-understand
- The price of this planer makes it a steal
Where it Flops
- The blade was curved, causing it to cup the wood
- The dust port isn’t built to fit a hose or adapter
Best for Tuning Joinery: Vevor Router Plane
If your project involves smoothing out sunken panels or surface depressions, you probably need the Vevor Router Plane. Router planes have a thin blade that cuts through wood, removing rough material and carving out mortises.
The Vevor Planer is a premium router plane delicately fashioned for sharp and accurate work. It features an adjustable blade made from thick steel to minimize chatter in the workshop. I found this router plane useful for different applications like laminate trimming, edge forming, and dovetail cutting.
Where it Shines
- The plane is solid and sturdy when working
- Its stainless steel blade is made from durable material to withstand tough projects
Where it Flops
- The planer’s base was too small
- The blade could have been sharper
Our Verdict: Wen Two-blade Benchtop Thickness Planer
After carefully reviewing the best wood planers in every category, our favorite is the Wen Two-blade Benchtop Thickness Planer. Since it is a benchtop wood planer, it requires much less strain from the carpenter during work. Add that to its impressive 20,000 cuts per minute, and the Wen Two-blade Benchtop Thickness Planer is every carpenter’s daydream.
Chop Chop…
Wood planers do the job of leveling wood lightning-fast. Apart from speeding up the process, they are fine tools for performing delicate and precise cuts in the workshop. So, whether you use a hand planer or a benchtop planer, you’re bound to have a leg up.
Take it slow, match your project to the appropriate wood planer, and watch yourself create masterpieces!
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