The hand planers used to process lumber have been replaced by their electric counterparts. Universal electric planers are widely used not only in workshops, but also in everyday life, allowing you to increase labor efficiency.
The tool market offers a wide selection of electric planers with different functionality, equipment and prices. The best option for domestic, semi-professional or professional use can be selected based on the rating and reviews of electric planers.
Brand
On the German market, not only the Bosch brand is represented, but also TTS Tooltechnic Systems AG&CO, which produces the Festool and Protool professional tool lines. Industrial grade carpentry tools are manufactured under the Mafell brand.
The Japanese analogue of Bosch is the Makita brand, which released the world's first electric planer. No less common among other Japanese brands are Hitachi tools.
Bulgarian brand Sparky Professional has been popular sinceTHE USSR. The company's plant is the largest in Europe.
The Russian "Fiolent" and the Latvian Rebir have gained popularity due to their long service life and durability. Factories of Interskol, which produces tools under the Fiolent brand, are located not only in Russia, but also in Spain and China.
Which electric planers should not be bought?
Trademarks in the era of globalization migrate between manufacturers and countries, so it is not worth chasing a famous brand - for example, the names Riobi, Milwaukee and AEG belong to Techtronic Industries Company Limited from Hong Kong.
The quality and reliability of Bosch tools varies by country of assembly. It is impossible to exclude the possibility of a collision with a fake. Many Asian manufacturers disguise themselves as Russia, giving their products Russian names. An electric planer purchased for less than three thousand rubles is likely to disappoint.
Compact and lightweight planers for infrequent use
The rating of electric planers for home use is opened by the Skil 1550 AA - an ergonomic and lightweight device that fits comfortably in the hand. Small jobs are facilitated by two 60 mm knives. The power of 450 W is enough for a 7 mm quadruple cut and a planing depth of 1.5 mm. The aluminum base has two bevelling notches.
Flaws:
- Mechanical parts wear out quickly;
- Not suitable for long-term work.
Kolner Kep 600
The decent weight of the second electric planer in the rating for home use is offset by high accuracy in work, which is not typical for tools in this price category. The maximum number of revolutions per minute is 16000, the power is 600 W, which is acceptable for an inexpensive planer. The design is reminiscent of Makita appliances. In terms of durability, Kolner Kep is inferior to Japanese counterparts, but much cheaper.
Flaws:
- Knives dull quickly;
- Build quality leaves much to be desired.
Caliber Master RE-650M
The main advantage of the model is the price - 2900 rubles. The weight is relatively small - 2.4 kilograms. This electric planer in the ranking of inexpensive most powerful - 650 W, which is enough for 82 mm knives. Planing depth - 2 mm.
Flaws:
- Missing fold selection;
- The quality of individual pieces does not match even such a low price.
Universal planer for home use
The quality rating of electric planers is opened by Makita KP 0810 - an attractive external tool. Optimal weight - 3, 3 kilograms, excellent ergonomics. Speed constancy under load and soft start are provided by Japanese electronics. Power of 850 W and a rotation speed of 12,000 rpm is enough for cutting a fold up to 25 millimeters deep and 4 mm planing. For high power and frequency, it produces a moderate and non-irritating noise. Passes 170 cm in a minuteon a pine beam, leaving no chips or burrs.
Flaws:
High cost - 15,200 rubles
DeW alt DW 680
The planer can cut hard rocks with 600W of power and high RPM of 15000 rpm. The cutting depth is 2.5 mm, the rebate selection is also small - 12 mm. The second place in the ranking for the quality of DeW alt electric planers is due to branded reliability. The kit comes with carbide blades that stay sharp for a long time.
Flaws:
No rotation speed adjustment
Bosch GHO 15-82
Junior electric planer from the professional rating. The device, small in weight, is intended for finishing work. The 4 meter long cord allows you to process products outside the workbench. Adjustable groove sampling depth - up to 9 millimeters, planing - 1.5 millimeters. Planer power - 600 watts. Reversible blades are easy to change.
Flaws:
- The metal casing gets very hot.
- Low engine power.
- When buying a planer, it is necessary to check the parallelism of the soles.
Fiolent P3-82
The best electric planer in the rating, designed to work with hardwood and characterized by durability, strength and relatively low weight - 3.5 kilograms. An excellent combination of quality, power and price. Production is completely Russian, all details, includingelectric motors are assembled on an Italian automated line. Planer power - 1050 W, which allows you to work for a long time without overheating. The factory gives a guarantee of 36 months.
Flaws:
- The power button is inconveniently located on the handle.
- Front outsole is often skewed by 0.2-0.5mm.
Sparky P 382
Compact and lightweight device (3.1 kilograms). The original design with a separate handle, not combined with a planing depth control, and a raised and forward-shifted engine received a lot of positive feedback due to its high accuracy. The rotors are balanced during production. For three knives, 750 W is not enough power, but it is enough for measured homework.
Flaws:
- Insufficient motor power for three knives.
- Noticeable rear outsole distortion.
Next, consider the rating of the best electric planers for construction.
Rebir IE-5708C
Rebir IE-5708C is a brand of high quality and proven by many years of experience. Compact dimensions and high power - 2000 W - allow the device to be used as a planer. The width of the knife is 110 mm, which makes it possible to plan a one-hundred timber in one pass to a depth of 3.5 mm, a two-hundred timber - in two passes. Chips are ejected to the right and left, the chamfer is removed by three notches. The power of the planer is enough to work with oak and acacia wood. A weight of 7 kilograms complicates the selection of a quarter to 16 mm.
Flaws:
- Big noise and heavy weight.
- The transfer of production to China from Latvia affected the reliability and quality of equipment.
Makita 1911B
The only model of the eminent brand that got into the quality rating by the number of reviews about electric planers. Reliable and simple model without unnecessary frills. High build quality. Low power - 900 W - allows you to work with pine wood. Can work for a long time.
Flaws:
- No quarter sampling option.
- Not enough power to handle hardwoods.
Interskol P-110/2000M
The model that occupies the last place in the rating of electric planers in terms of reliability. The length of the sole - 440 mm - allows you to classify the tool as a jointer and work effectively with long workpieces. Power is similar to the Rebir model. The electric planer is ideal for working with hardwoods.
Flaws:
- Tools are made in China at the Status Power Tools factory, resulting in reduced reliability.
- Long work is impossible due to the large weight of the planer - 7.75 kg.
Now let's introduce the best planers for precision work.
Festool EHL 65 E-Plus28 270
Festool EHL 65 E-Plus28 270 - a compact tool with a power of 720 W and a weight of 2.4 kg allows you to perform complex work with one hand, removing up to 4 mm in one pass through wood. The noise level is reduced to a minimum thanks to the spiral blade, which is not parallel to the edge of the sole. The handle is ergonomic, fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The surface after planing is perfectly even and smooth.
Flaws:
Lack of support for the left hand. A moot point as it is not required in most cases
Mafell MHU 82 912710
The next model in the ranking of electric planers with medium specifications with a power of 800 W, 12000 rpm, rebate up to 22 mm and depth up to 3 mm. Planer for professional use with the possibility of long-term operation without overheating for many years. The package includes a Mafell-MAX case with a dust collector and equipment for stationary work. A clumsily made handle during prolonged use of the tool leads to the appearance of calluses on the hands, which is why it is advisable to use professional gloves. The range of prices for this model exceeds 7 thousand rubles, which depends on the quality and reliability of the tool.
Flaws:
- High cost - 47,800 rubles.
- Poor handle ergonomics.
DeW alt D26501K
American electric planer model weighing 4 kilograms and high power. Equipped with a lot of electronics. Small revolutions - 11500 rpm - are compensated by a shaft of increased diameter, which maintains a high linear speed of the knives. The accuracy of work is ensured by the ideal geometry of the knives and soles. Two knives thankshigh power easily plan hardwood up to 4 mm in one pass and select rebates up to 25 mm. For a professional device, it has a small price - 20,300 rubles.
Flaws:
- Lack of proper service support in Russia.
- Big weight.
- The bright yellow hue of the body strains the eyes when working.
The following models represent the best professional planers for heavy carpentry.
ZH 205 Ec
Weight 12.5 kg for a device equipped with a 2.3 kW motor and capable of processing a two-hundred timber to a depth of 4 mm is rather small. Electronic adjustment ensures uniform rotation of the blades and a smooth start. Unlike the model of the same brand above, the ZH 205 Ec has good ergonomics.
Flaws:
- Problems with service in Russia.
- The cost of both the electric planer and the knives is too high: the device will cost 270 thousand rubles.
Makita KP 312 S
In the rating of electric planers, this model is optimal in terms of the ratio of functionality and price. However, it loses to more expensive counterparts in power - 2.2 kW - and planing width - 312 mm. Unfortunately, the capacity of a 19 kg tool may not be in demand due to the fact that carpenters rarely use workpieces wider than 205 mm in their work.
Flaws:
- The assembly of the Japanese instrument is British, which does not guarantee high quality and reliability.
- Big weight.
PL 205 E Festool
ThanksWith its width, a planer weighing 13 kilograms can be used to the maximum. Chip ejection is optimized, the machining line is clearly visible. The planing depth can be precisely adjusted from 0 to 3 mm. The power of the electric planer in 2000 W is enough to work with surfaces up to 205 mm wide. Overheat protection and soft start functions are provided.
Flaws:
Small tool power
Which electric planer is better: key features
The main advantage of electric planers is the ability to perform high-quality work in the shortest possible time and with minimal effort. How to choose an electric planer by rating? Before purchasing a tool, you need to pay attention to the main selection criteria.
Power
The performance and class of an electric plane are determined by its power. The type of device - battery or mains - also affects this indicator. The thickness of the cut in one stroke will be greater for the model with more power.
The household category includes electric planers with a power of 500 to 700 watts. Their weight does not exceed 3 kilograms, the dimensions are usually compact, the shape is ergonomic. Such models are best suited for homework or use as additional tools in production.
The power of professional appliances varies from 1000 to 2000 watts. Such models are larger and heavier, and therefore are used in workshops, construction sites and production.
Turning onpowerful engine is accompanied by a strong jerk, and therefore it is advisable to choose models equipped with a soft start function. The option reduces the power supply during the start-up of the appliance.
Knives
Width of wood processing depends on installed knives and drum width. A more effective result can be achieved when using planers with two knives.
Top-ranking electric planes are equipped with 82 mm wide blades - it is enough for working with boards, door frames and working out furniture details. Blades over 100mm wide are designed to work on large surfaces such as boards and timber for construction.
Electric planers can be equipped with different blade shapes:
- Rectangular. Used for processing objects whose width is narrower than the planing width of the tools.
- With rounded edge. Knives are suitable for working with wide surfaces. Planers with such blades are not designed to process the entire area at once, and therefore there are almost imperceptible transitions between the planing lines.
- Rustic. Experts advise using them to give objects the effect of antiquity.
The type of cutting element should also be considered when choosing:
- Regular.
- Regrindable, made from HSS.
- Tungsten carbide reversible knives.
Knives of the latest variety are sharpened on both sides, so they can be turned over during operation, but they cannot be resharpened.
Depth of planing
Determines the thickness of a cut made in one pass. The maximum parameter found in planers is 3 mm. For greater depth, tools with a planing depth of 4 mm can be purchased.
The position of the blades of the planer can change. A special scale placed on the body of the device allows you to adjust the depth and pitch. The minimum value of the parameter is from 0.1 to 0.5 mm. With this adjustment, you can work on a flat surface.
Number of turns
In the operating manuals, the manufacturer indicates the number of revolutions of the planer at idle. The parameter depends on the size of the knife shaft. The optimal blade rotation speed is 45 m/s. With a drum diameter, the number of revolutions of the electric planer is 18 thousand rpm. The number of revolutions for a large shaft with a diameter of 56 mm is slightly less - 13 thousand.
Specialists who advise how to choose an electric planer in the rating ask you to pay attention to this indicator, but the most important thing is the presence of a speed support system. It is required to maintain the performance of the device when working on an uneven surface. The stabilization system maintains the speed of rotation of the knives, regardless of the load exerted on the product.
Handle
Electric planer should have an ergonomic and comfortable handle. It is desirable that it be equipped with an anti-slip coating that will reduce the risk of blisters on the palm during the operation of the tool.
The accuracy of working with the tool increases with an additional handle. She usuallyplaced in front of the planer.
Design Features
- Parking shoe. The planer can be installed on a special sole if necessary, a break in work without turning off the knives.
- Stationary fixture. The presence of fasteners allows you to make a compact stationary machine out of a planer, the functionality of which makes it possible to work with long workpieces.
- V-grooves. They form beveled edges. The sole usually has several similar grooves, differing in depth.
- Start button lock. The presence of this option eliminates the need to hold the button and makes it easier to work.
- Rip fence. Limits planing width.
- Quarter selection. The option allows you to adjust the depth and parallel stop. When moving along the edge, the planer forms steps. Several passes are made to obtain the required depth. Depending on the selected model, the processing depth can vary from 8 to 20 mm.
