Planer

Planer is a term used in woodworking to describe tools and machines that create flat, smooth surfaces on wood. Its meaning varies by region and context, covering both handheld tools and larger stationary machinery.

Handheld planer

In many places, especially in Britain, a planer refers to a portable electric hand tool with a sharp cutter blade that shaves thin layers from a wood surface. Hand planers are used for smoothing rough stock, trimming door bottoms, and shaping edges. They are maneuvered by hand and require careful control to produce consistent thickness and flatness.

Planer/thicknesser (thickness planer)

In North America, a planer often means a thickness planer, a stationary machine that automatically feeds a board past a rotating cutter head to remove material and create two parallel faces with a uniform thickness. Proper use typically follows flattening one face and edge on a jointer; the board is then planed to the desired thickness, producing a straight, parallel pair of faces.

Planer machine (planing machine)

Historically, a planer (or planing machine) is a large, fixed machine that uses a reciprocating cutter to plane long workpieces along their length. Planers were common in old machine shops for producing flat surfaces on rails, beams, and other long parts. Modern shops may replace large planers with jointers, thicknessers, and CNC equipment, but the basic goal remains flat, true surfaces.

Distinctions

- Handheld planer versus stationary planer/thicknesser: difference in scale, feed method, and primary purpose.

- Jointer versus planer: jointer flattens and squaring along a edge or face; a planer provides final thickness and parallel faces.

Safety

Always follow manufacturer instructions, secure workpieces, use push blocks or guides, and wear eye and hearing protection.