How to Compare Hand Planes Versus Power Planer Tools

In earlier times, woodworkers created the hand planer to get a smooth finish to the wood. It was a wonderful creation that reduced sanding. Today we have power planers that have replaced the old hand planer. However, you may find that there are times when it's wise to use a hand planer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look for the proper hand plane. You should use a jack plane for doors, a block plane for camfered surfaces, a smoothing plane for most wood surfaces and a rabbet plane for creating rabbets in wood are all types of hand planes.

2. Use a power plane to do all the jobs that many different hand planes can do. The power plane replaced the old planes for most tasks.

3. Save time with a power plane. The jobs that planing by hand would have lasted for hours are now done in minutes with a power plane.

4. Notice a cleaner cut when you use a power planer rather than the old hand planer. A power planer that is used to cut with the wood grain has a more controlled cut and cleaner cut.

5. Control the depth better with a power planer. Because the blade is cutting continuously at a set depth, you simply move the power planer in an even stroke.

6. Use the hand planer for smaller jobs that require just a few strokes of the planer to remove the excess wood.

7. Decide on the hand planer in small, tight areas that would not accommodate a power planer.

Tips & Warnings

• When you use a planer always situate yourself so that the movement of the planer goes with the grain of the wood. This avoids chips and tear out.
• When using a smoothing planer put one hand on the front knob and the second on the handle in back. This allows for more control over the plane.
• Always wear safety glasses when you work with wood cutting tools. The few seconds that it takes to put them on can protect your eyes for the rest of your life.
• Never hold the wood while you plane it. Use a clamp or vise to hold the wood. It's far too dangerous to hold it while you plane, whether you use a power planer or an old hand plane.