Any carpenter knows that raw boards can be bought several times cheaper. But it will not work to use them for the manufacture of some products, since they have an unpresentable appearance. Therefore, if you want to save money, you will have to process the wood yourself, this will require a planer. A necessary thing in the household, especially for those who like to make something with their own hands. It remains to learn how to choose an electric planer. Let's start from the very basics and get acquainted with the main technical characteristics of the unit.
Features of the structure and principle of operation of the electric planer
This tool allows you to significantly speed up the processing of wooden boards. A small motor is installed in its body, which rotates the drum with knives. An average electric planer ("Zubr", Makita, "Interskol" and other popular models) is capable of speeds up to15,000 rpm, and its maximum power is up to 1.2 kW.
The power from the engine to the drum is transmitted using a toothed belt. If the belt breaks, repairing the electric planer is very simple. It is easily replaced, just remove the side cover and get the unusable belt, replacing it with a new one. Another removable cover hides the motor brushes. The principle of operation is as follows.
The drum removes a thin layer of rough wood from the board. The planer itself rests on a smooth sole that slides along the board. There is a hole in the sole through which the drum removes chips. For convenience, the height of the sole can be adjusted, reducing or increasing the thickness of the chips. At this time, the back of the planer further smoothes the machined surface.
The electric planer can be used to create neat grooves in boards, cut edges and do other carpentry work.
What should be the sole of the planer?
In order for the quality of the processed wood to be at its best, pay attention to the sole of the equipment. Before you choose an electric planer and rush to the checkout to pay for your purchase, inspect the sole of the tool. It should be perfectly smooth, without any burrs or other irregularities.
The sole is made of aluminum. Along the edges, it is necessary to have a notch in the form of the Latin letter V. Only under such conditions will it be possible to plan a flat board. In the absence of these recesses, an air gap is created between the tool and the work surface. Under the influence of her power planesleads in different directions, and the cut is uneven. For the stability of the tool, a wide and long base is created, the larger these indicators, the more stable the equipment. When choosing a model, do not forget about it. For a perfect cut, it is important to maintain the exact distance between the knives and the sole. To do this, the best electric planers are equipped with height adjustment of the upper part of the sole. This makes the operation of the electric planer more convenient.
How many handles do you need?
The handle on the tool plays an important role. The speed and productivity of work depends on its convenience. Otherwise, unpleasant painful sensations will appear, dropsy and calluses will be rubbed, and the hands will quickly get tired.
For ordinary hand planers, it was enough to have one handle, since the device was small and light enough. Modern electric planers are bulky and heavy. Therefore, it is important to have two handles to control the tool. The rear handle allows you to push the planer, and the front serves to guide the tool. For convenience, a button on / off the equipment is placed on the front handle.
When choosing an electric planer, the ergonomics of the handle is important. To do this, hold the tool in your hands and determine whether it is convenient for you to work with this type of handle. If you feel the slightest discomfort, it is better not to buy such an electric planer. Prices for it may be pleasant, but the hand will quickly get tired, and you will not be able to work with such a tool for a long time. Also pay attention to the angle of the handle. From this valuedepends on how much force you need to expend to push the tool.
How to adjust the thickness of the layer to be removed?
Before you choose an electric planer, determine which category you belong to: beginner, experienced, master. If you do not have enough experience and skill, pay attention to models that have special notches on the front handle. With their help, the thickness of the chips can be adjusted from three to half a millimeter. More experienced craftsmen make these adjustments on the fly, but I repeat, this requires a lot of experience in carpentry.
However, there is one indicator that both beginners and gurus of this business need to pay attention to. When choosing an electric planer (prices also depend on this), pay attention to the lower value of the scale, which regulates the thickness of the chips. The lower this indicator (and the step does not exceed 0.1 mm), the higher the quality of the machined surface will be. You can smooth out any unevenness and give the product a perfect look.
How to choose an electric planer with reliable blades?
The knife on the drum of an electric planer is one of the most important parts in the structure of the tool. The speed of work and the quality of the product depend on its condition. Made from the finest metal, a blade that is blunt will not result in a smooth, burr-free surface.
So, when working with hardwoods, hardened steel knives are used. They have a special design and are most often maderemovable. As a result of a breakage or the need to sharpen the knife, the clamping bolts are removed, the knife is removed. Such knives have a small feature - the sharpening angle is not the same as that of other knives. A groove is made on each blade of the knife, which helps to center and install the cutting element in accordance with all the rules.
Regular double-sided knives are made of tungsten and carbide. When using straight blades at the end of the work, you may find waves on the surface of the product. They were formed due to inaccurate adjustment of the knives. To avoid such a collapse, use equipment with spiral blades that are arranged diagonally.
Protection first
The speed of rotation of the knives is simply huge, so it is important to take precautions when operating an electric planer. The instruction for its use states that there is protection at the bottom and side of the device. It can be played by:
- retractable legs;
- auto stop;
- protective cover;
- protective plate.
Each of these items can help keep you safe.
Where do the chips go?
Some electric planers are equipped with a chip catcher. You do not have to clean up a pile of wood chips in the room, as all the garbage is collected in a special compartment. Working with such a device is quite pleasant and not troublesome. All garbage flies to the exact designated place. In addition, upon completion of work, you do not have to long and tediously clean the device fromshavings. It can be used as bedding for hamsters or to shift apples for the winter.
What should be included? Optional Accessories
For convenient operation, the equipment must be equipped with a cord for power supply with a length of 5 m. The first device allows you to measure the required width and depth of the chip. With it, it is easier to maintain the balance of the tool and cut the corner at the desired degree. With a depth gauge included, you can create a perfectly flat and smooth surface.
Additional accessories that will be useful include wavy knives and a device that will allow you to fix the tool in one place. In this way, we will get a planer and an automatic jointer.
Choosing a manufacturer based on customer reviews
The world market is flooded with many popular brands that represent various modifications of electric planers in their assortment. The most famous brands are: Bosh, Skil, Makita, AEG, Black & Decker, DeW alt, Metabo, among this list there is also the Russian company Interscope. The Makita electric planer has gained particular popularity, according to user reviews, it becomes clear that it is in demand among both professionals and beginners. Buyers noted the high build quality, power, ease of use, high-quality knives and light weight. Among the shortcomings, the weak design of the instrument and the lack ofsuitcase to store it.
Concluding, we can note the following: when choosing an electric planer, consider the equipment, the quality of the sole and knives, the presence of two handles and a compartment for collecting sawdust.
