ELECTRIC PLANE – Criteria for choosing an electric plane. The design and principle of operation of the tool.

A power-driven carpentry tool used to level wood surfaces is called a power planer. This device facilitates the work of the master when performing planing work of various types of wood along, across and at an angle to the direction of the fibers. Before you buy an electric planer for your home or garden, it’s worth understanding its types, how it works, and what criteria you should use to choose this tool. Indeed, on the modern market there is a fairly large selection of electric planers of various brands and models.

Main features and types of electric planers

Unlike similar manual mechanical tools, which require the worker to apply quite a lot of effort, an electric planer has many advantages. This tool:

makes work easier, since work does not require excessive physical force;
increases productivity due to the presence of an electric drive;
increases the accuracy and cleanliness of surface alignment;
has a number of additional functions that allow you to remove a neat, uniform chamfer or make a quarter cut, that is, removing solid wood of the required size along the edge, which is very difficult to achieve with a conventional mechanical plane.

Among the features of the electric planer is its highly specialized focus. With this tool you can perform only a certain type of work on one single material - wood. Therefore, the greatest need for it arises among people involved in wood processing and the manufacture of wooden products. And in the arsenal of an ordinary home craftsman you can rarely find it.

If you need an electric planer, you should understand that the productivity and quality of work performed by it will depend on the compliance of the technical characteristics of the device with the tasks for which this tool is purchased. You need to pay special attention to this when choosing an electric planer.

Today you can find several types of electric planers on sale, namely:

manual with commutator motor
This tool uses a commutator motor.
or stationary - with asynchronous.

The asynchronous motor used in the tool has larger dimensions and weight than the commutator motor, which affects the size of the machine
network, operating on 220 volts

The tool works only from the network
or battery-powered, which do not require connection to a household electrical network (usually an 18-volt battery is used);

These devices use an 18 volt battery.
professional or household, differing in power and other technical characteristics.

Pros and cons of electric planes

Unlike a simple plane, an electric one is capable of removing up to 3 mm of wood in one pass; a tool used by professionals has this ability; a tool designed for doing housework (household work) removes up to 2 mm per pass. Of course, this indicator depends on the type of wood.

The cutting width is also incomparable with a hand plane. The minimum width that can be processed is from 60 to 312 mm. That is, in one pass, a master with an electric planer in his hands can do a much larger amount of work in the same time.

At the same time, the use of an electric planer may be limited by its continuous operation time. That is, using a household plane, which can work uninterruptedly for no more than 20 minutes per hour, cannot be used for constant work in production, for example, as the basis for a stationary machine.

Electric planers can be safely classified as a particularly dangerous tool.

It's all about having a rapidly rotating drum with knives mounted on it. And although manufacturers take measures to ensure the safety of the person working on it, it is simply necessary to follow safety regulations.

Design and principle of operation

The design of any electric planer is simple and straightforward, if you do not delve into the design of the electronic speed control system. Even externally, all hand-held tools are similar to each other, and consist of the following basic elements:

Design diagram of a manual electric planer

Front movable support with adjustable height.
Aluminum housing with removable belt gear housing.
Front handle with planing depth adjuster.
Electric motor of commutator type.
Trigger with safety button against unintentional activation.
Rear handle.
Fixed rear support plate.
A drum with knives attached to it. In most cases there are two knives, but there are models with more of them.

Bottom view of the electric planer. Three longitudinal grooves for air removal are visible on the sole
Aluminum smooth sole with a longitudinal slot for air removal, providing better surface treatment. There may be two or three such grooves.

Some models of electric planers have a chip discharge pipe, to which a vacuum cleaner hose is connected, as well as removable parallel stops for adjusting the cutting width.

Some models have a chip outlet and removable parallel stops

The operating principle of an electric planer is quite simple. Its working body is knives mounted on a drum. While moving along a wooden surface with the engine turned on, torque is transmitted through a belt reducer to the drum, and the knives cut off the top layer of wood. In this case, the thickness of the chips is set by the difference in height between the moving and stationary parts of the sole of the electric planer.

The planing depth is determined by the difference in height of the rear and front soles of the electric planer

The planing depth is adjusted using a screw combined with the front handle of the tool. To obtain a high-quality, even surface, the electric planer must be moved at a uniform speed. Moreover, its power must be at least 600 - 900 W, and the rotation speed of the knife drum must be from 10 thousand rpm. The operating principle of the electric planer is presented in more detail in the following video.

Video: how to use a plane

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Electric planers went on sale in the middle of the last century. And since then there have been no fundamental changes in their design. It remains an indispensable tool for carpenters and DIYers to this day. Its main function is wood processing and rebate selection. This article will talk about how to plan with an electric planer.

Advantages of an electric planer over a conventional one:

labor productivity increases significantly;
the quality of the result improves;
no significant effort is required, which allows you to process a large amount of material at a time.

When working with a simple plane, you have to make swinging back-and-forth movements, which quickly exhaust you. The operating principle of an electric planer is based on the rotational movement of the blades, which move independently, without human effort.

Electric planer design

The cost of the plane will depend on its main working part - the drum with knives. The number of blades can vary from 1 to 4, but most often they are produced with two blades. It is their quantity and the speed at which the drum rotates that determines the productive power of the instrument, and, accordingly, the price. For home use, it is enough to choose a plane whose blade rotation frequency is within 10 thousand / min.

In addition to this important element, the electric planer consists of:

the body itself with a handle;
pipe for draining or collecting chips;
start button with soft start system;
Electrical engine;
base of the body - sole;
closed drive;
regulator to limit the depth of chip selection.

Tip: more expensive models often have a special system that automatically controls the drum speed depending on the load applied.

The difference between household electric planers and professional ones

This division is quite arbitrary, since for working at home it is best to buy a high-quality plane. But their cost is so high that few people can afford to purchase it for single jobs.

It is best to choose a household electric planer from the middle price category. This will ensure that you purchase a good and functional device for short-term use. It is also worth paying attention to the weight, which should be in the range from 3 to 4 kg and the power of the electric motor - at least 1000 W.
Advice: when choosing an electric planer, its data sheet indicates two powers. The first is maximum, and the second is effective. For processing hardwood or wood with a large number of knots, the second value should not be less than 400 W.
The next thing that plays a role when choosing a tool is the engine speed of the electric planer. For housework or private construction, a value of 10,000 rpm will be sufficient.
If you need to buy a more powerful professional tool, then its power should not be lower than 1.5 kW. Moreover, the weight of such a plane will be almost 10 kg.

Another parameter is adjusting the planing depth. A household appliance can be set to a depth of 3 mm, while professional ones can plan to a depth of 4 mm. The adjustment step is also important, which varies from 0.1 to 0.25 mm. The more positions, the better quality you can achieve when working.

Advice: sometimes manufacturers are cunning and provide deliberately false information. You need to know that the possible depth of planing directly depends on the power of the electric planer. Thus, a tool with a low power of up to 1000 W and a weight of 3-4 kg cannot be buried by 4 mm.

A distinctive feature of a professional-level electric planer is the presence of a function to support the number of revolutions when processing complex areas. You can hardly find it in cheaper household models.
It is very convenient when the kit includes a stand that allows you to permanently mount the electric planer with the blades facing up. All expensive models are equipped with it; it is rare in household versions.

The average price for an electric planer for home use is 5-8 thousand rubles.

Choosing an electric planer for work

Appearance

To allow repair and maintenance, the housing must be dismountable. Typically, it consists of a removable cover for the belt drive and a main part that covers the motor and soleplate.

The tool should fit well in your hands and be balanced in weight. When taking an electric planer, you should pay attention to how convenient it is to press the start button with the same hand that holds the tool. It is better to refuse a model that has to be turned on with the other hand, as this will quickly lead to fatigue during operation.
There should be a groove on the sole of the plane. Its functions are to remove air during operation and to process chamfers. Even if there is no need to frequently process chamfers, air removal greatly facilitates the work, eliminating the formation of an air cushion.
The planing depth regulator can be rotary or made in the form of a button. This does not matter; it will be equally convenient to use.

The pipe used to drain chips must be equipped with a collection bag and be able to rotate in a convenient direction.

Technical indicators

Electric motor power. It can be from 600 to 2000 W. The more powerful the tool, the more electricity it consumes, the heavier it weighs and the more expensive it is. All this is justified only for active use.
Speed . Manufacturers indicate this value at idle speed. So, if the indicated figure is 12,000 rpm, when working with medium-hard wood, the actual rpm will be approximately 8,000.
Planing width . The width of the sole also depends on the power of the electric planer. There is no need to buy one that is too narrow, otherwise it will be inconvenient to work with wide surfaces. It is optimal to take a tool with a working surface of 90-100 mm and a power of 1000 - 1200 W.
Planing depth . This has already been written above, but it is worth adding one nuance. It is very rare that homework requires a depth of even 3 mm, so it is enough to choose a model with a possible recess of up to 2 mm.

How to work with an electric planer

An electric planer is a rather serious tool and working with it requires concentration and increased attention. Therefore, having just bought it, you should not immediately start working; first, it is recommended to study the operating instructions for the electric planer.
This tool can be used to perform primary processing of wood, removing knots, wane and other rough irregularities. And do the finishing touches to a perfectly smooth surface. The desired effect is achieved by adjusting the blades. So, for the initial work, the knives must be set more strongly, and for the final work, on the contrary, the distance between the sole and the knives must be reduced.
Before you start working with an electric planer, you need to try to get your hands on the rough material; if you fail, you won’t mind ruining it. This will allow you to sufficiently feel the tool and understand and configure the electric planer.
In the wrong hands, an electric planer can leave scratches instead of a smooth surface. This can be corrected by adjusting the protrusion of the blades, this is done using a hexagon. After several adjustments, the tool will be ready for the main work.

Tip: when adjusting the knives, you need to make sure that they do not touch the body.

Having started work, the wooden product is laid so that it does not move. It is advisable to secure it with something. Ultimately, this will greatly affect the quality of processing. Inattention to this moment can lead to injuries to the master. The knives rotate at high speed and, upon reaching a knot, can catch for a moment and throw the board out of its position.

Planing begins from the edge of the board, gradually moving towards the opposite end. The instrument is held firmly with both hands. With one hand they hold the main handle with the start button, and with the second handle they help to correct the direction.
Every time before using an electric planer, you need to check that the blades do not come into contact with the wood being processed. Otherwise it will lead to injury.
To create a smooth surface, you need to know how to plane correctly. The sole of the tool is positioned strictly parallel to the board. This can only be achieved by equal force exerted by the hands on both handles of the plane. In addition, work must be carried out with the same movements and at the same speed throughout the entire surface being treated.

Working with an electric planer video

If the electric planer has a support-stand, then working with it will be significantly different. In this case, it performs the function of a machine while being in a stationary position. The master needs to move the board itself, applying the necessary pressure on it. With this method of work, it is important to securely fasten the support itself to the tabletop using the fasteners that come with the kit. It is convenient to work in this way with an assistant, who should also be warned about the peculiarities of using the tool.

Instructions for disassembling the electric planer

If the tool was purchased new, you cannot disassemble it yourself until the warranty expires, otherwise it will be void. For household electric planers, this period, as a rule, does not exceed 2 years. In case of any breakdown during this period, you should contact the warranty center, which is located in every city.

It’s another matter when the instrument is no longer new or was purchased in “used” condition. To simplify the task of possible repairs, it is necessary to study the internal structure of the electric planer.

Regardless of the model, each plane consists of:

electric motor;
shaft with knives;
planing depth regulator;
plastic case;
Belting;
sole.

The operating principle of this power tool, of course, depends on the motor. When receiving an electrical impulse, the motor redirects rotation to the cutter. The transmission of torque itself occurs through a belt.
The sole of the electric planer is not monolithic, but consists of two parts. Thanks to the movable front part, it becomes possible to adjust the blades, while the rear part remains stationary.

Variety of knives for electric planer

Knives are consumable items that become dull or break over time. Therefore, periodically you have to buy them again. There are two main types of knives - carbide and high-speed blades.

High speed blades. They belong to the reusable category, as they can be sharpened repeatedly. Which makes them more economically profitable. But their alloy does not allow working with hard woods such as oak or larch.
Carbide blades . They last longer than their high-speed counterparts, wear out more slowly and are ideal for hardwood. But their main disadvantage is that they cannot be sharpened again. In addition, in case of accidental contact with a metal object, for example, an unnoticed nail in the material, there is a high probability that the blade will break. Manufacturers offer a double-sided version of such knives; when one side becomes dull, it can be turned over with the other sharp side.

How to set up an electric planer

As with any repair work on any electrical appliance, the plane must first be de-energized.
As a rule, replacing knives is required after long-term use, which means that a lot of resin has accumulated on its working surface. You can clean it with white spirit.
Next, check that the knives are installed correctly. To do this, apply a metal ruler to the edge of the sole and check whether it touches the ends of the blades. If not, then they need to be adjusted first.
Next, use the special key that came with the tool to slightly loosen the knives on the drum. In this case, the cutting part of the knives must be strictly parallel to the sole and protrude no more than 0.5 mm. But a rounded knife is set twice as large, from 1 mm or more.

Living in an apartment, you may not need a tool such as an electric planer. It’s another matter if you have a country house, a dacha, or even your own workshop, in which case it is simply necessary. Thanks to the article, you can make the right decision in choosing the right model of electric planer for private use.

How to choose the right electric planer: basic criteria

In order to choose the right electric planer from the wide variety of existing models, you must first decide on the mode of its use. If you need a tool to regularly perform woodworking work, you need to buy a professional electric planer. For occasional use at home, a household power tool will be sufficient.

The main characteristics and parameters that must be taken into account when choosing an electric planer include:

engine power, which can range from 0.5 to 2.2 kW;
planing width, determined by the length of the knives (models with knives 50, 75, 82, 100 and 110 mm are available).
planing depth equal to 0.1 - 2 mm for household tools and up to 4 mm in increments of 0.1 for professional ones;
rotation speed of the knife drum (in different types of electric planers it ranges from 10 to 18 thousand rpm);
weight of the tool - household electric planers weigh 2.5 - 4 kg, and the weight of professional ones reaches 9 kg.

For use at home or in the country, for small volumes of work, you need to choose an electric planer with a motor power of up to 1 kW, a planing width of 82 - 110 mm, and a rotation speed of 10 - 12 thousand rpm. The longer the knives, the fewer passes the tool will need to make to process a wide board. This means that the quality of its surface will be better .

In addition to technical characteristics, when choosing an electric planer, you should pay attention to such important details as appearance and some design features. The ease of use of a power tool and the quality of its work can be significantly affected by:

Electric planer sole. It should be absolutely smooth, and have V-shaped longitudinal grooves (1 - 3 pieces) on the front, height-adjustable platform. After all, the air cushion formed during work does not allow you to remove chips of the same thickness. It would be good if there was a plastic stop at the back of the stationary half of the sole, which would serve as protection for the treated surface.
Single flute tool model
Some models have two or three grooves on the forefoot
The support on the back sole protects the treated surface
Handles, of which there must certainly be two, to make it more convenient to move a tool of considerable weight over the surface being processed. The main requirement for them is the presence of a convenient ergonomic shape, as well as the location of the starter and lock buttons so that you can easily reach them without letting go of the handles of the electric planer. It would be good if the tool handles had rubberized pads, which would provide a more secure grip and prevent your hand from slipping.
Blade adjustment screw. It is better to buy an electric planer with internal notches on the adjustment mechanism, which is combined with the front handle, so as not to accidentally reset the planing thickness setting. If you choose a tool with an external notch to adjust the chip thickness during operation, then you need the scale on the screw to start with negative values. After all, some planes remove chips even at zero setting.
Knife protection. A folding guard or automatically ejected foot protects more than just the worker's fingers. but also the treated surface from contact with knives.
Chip ejection. It must be provided in the design of the electric planer, because shavings clog the working surface. It is desirable that it be possible to remove chips in both directions on the sides of the tool, which is convenient for right-handed and left-handed people.

Using a switch, the chip discharge pipe can be extended to the right or left.
Tool kit. It is best to choose an electric planer that comes complete with necessary accessories such as parallel stops or a side stop with a depth gauge. This will expand the functionality of the device, allowing you to process narrow edges or make quarter cuts. Some models include equipment that allows you to fix the electric planer motionless in an inverted state, turning it into a mini planer. This is convenient when processing long workpieces.
Tools make it easier to pick out quarters
It is advisable to choose a tool equipped with stops
Transformation of an electric planer into a machine is convenient for processing long lumber

An equally important criterion is the price of electric planers. For home use, more budget models of medium power with a set of the most necessary functions are quite suitable.

Options for choosing an electric planer

The more information the buyer has about the parameters of the tool, the more suitable the model he will be able to purchase.

Device power

Electric planers are available with motors whose power ranges from 0.5 to 2.2 kW. Power affects performance. The stronger the motor, the faster the device will be able to perform various manipulations.

If a tool is purchased for periodic use and nothing depends on the daily volume performed, then you can buy a model with a not very high power rating - 0.5-0.7 kW. This way you can save money.
But in the professional sphere, the amount of processed boards affects the number of products produced and can significantly slow down the process, which affects other production operations. It is for this reason that for large-volume production it is worth purchasing equipment with a power of 1.2-1.5 kW.

Processing width

The work of this tool is that it is carried along the surface being processed. In one approach, the device can process as much width as the parameters of the drum and blades allow. This parameter ranges from 82-312 millimeters.

Models with intermediate values (110 and 170 millimeters) are also common. It follows from this that if the board has a width of 1 thousand millimeters, and the minimum value of the ski is 82 millimeters, then it will be processed in 12 approaches, but with a ski width of 110 millimeters, then in 9. This saves effort and time.

But the presence of an appropriate drum and a wide ski is justified only when working with large boards, but a beam 150 millimeters wide will have to be re-passed with both tools.

A ski, the width of which is 82 millimeters, is bought for processing and making chairs, stands, beams, and window frames.
For larger products (cabinets, doors, tables), wider skis 110-170 millimeters are suitable.

Idle speed

This indicator indicates how many revolutions the drum can make in 60 seconds without any load on the surface. There are several blades on each rotating element. The number of revolutions indicates how many times each blade will touch the material. And in the end, how quickly can it be processed?

Rotation speed should not be equated with power. Models with the same power are capable of making different numbers of revolutions. This is achieved using parts in the drum structure and the torque transmission system.

The idle speed can range from 12 to 19 thousand revolutions per minute.

For rare use in the country, 12-13 thousand revolutions per minute will be enough.
For professional activities, a model is selected whose speed varies from 15 to 19 thousand revolutions per minute.

Sampling depth

The number of millimeters cut off on the surface depends on the difference in the level of the ski parts. To adjust this difference, a setting handle and a rotation system are provided. Electric planers are capable of removing 0.1-18 millimeters, but each model has its own range.

A tool with a large run-up (0.1-10 millimeters) is needed by those who work only with sawn boards or with bark on the sides. A less dense layer can be quickly removed by setting the plane to a deep level.
A model with a parameter of 0.1-2 millimeters will be sufficient for those who work on dried boards on which it is only necessary to remove the last irregularities.

Using an electric planer, you can select part of the corner to carefully fasten wood parts together. It is used in making windows and furniture. Sometimes, to install additional wooden elements and ensure sufficient seating space, up to 10 millimeters need to be removed. It is because of this that the sampling depth in this case matters and models with an indicator of 4-5 millimeters are needed.

The presence of a groove on the sole

The base of the electric planer, which goes forward of the knives, may have one or more V-shaped grooves.

A model without grooves can be purchased if you plan to use it only for sanding flat boards (beams, beams).
For the manufacture of windows, tabletops and benches, it is very important to have beautiful bevels on the edges, which give the product a more neat appearance. In this case, the groove on the sole is important.

Sampling quarter

There are models in which the drum is shifted to one side. This allows you to bring it close to the end of the board and select a small area, while the equipment body does not interfere with the execution. On the front side of the device there is a stop for maintaining an equal distance along the entire length of the board.

Comfortable handle

Every electric plane has a main handle with a trigger. Pulling the trigger should not be with an interception, but should occur from the main position of the hand.

An auxiliary handle is valued with a mushroom-shaped pronounced shape, so that it is possible to lift the tool by it, if necessary. The coating must be rubberized. This will make it convenient to hold the machine in wet hands.

Which brands and models are best to choose?

When choosing an electric planer, the brand and model of the tool are of great importance. Products from more well-known brands are in increased demand and popularity compared to cheap Chinese products. Despite the higher cost, branded power tools continue to be in demand due to their reliability and quality.

Among the most well-known brands that are constantly in demand among consumers, both for home workshops and for professional use, the following brands can be named:

Bosch from the German manufacturer, the Robert Bosch GmbH group of companies, which has production all over the world;
Makita, owned by the Japanese corporation of the same name, which is famous for high-quality professional power tools;
De Walt and Black & Dekker, produced by the same company Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. from USA;
Hitachi from Japan;
Interskol from a Russian manufacturer;
Sparky, a brand from Germany, whose products are manufactured in German factories and in Bulgaria.

When choosing an electric planer, you should pay attention to the country in which it was assembled. Products of original origin have the best quality, reliability and durability . Unfortunately, on the modern market you can find Chinese counterfeits of well-known brands not only of Western companies, but also of Russian origin. These models even have Russian names “Grad” or “Bison”, which often confuses the buyer. You should immediately decide, so as not to run into a cheap fake, that it is better not to consider an electric planer costing up to 3 thousand rubles as an option for purchase.

The most popular models include the following.

Bosch GHO 15–82 , with a planing width of 82 mm, which belongs to the category of professional tools, but is lightweight (2.5 kg) and designed for finishing work. With this planer you can select a groove up to 9 mm, and with the help of the accessories included in the kit, transform the hand tool into a convenient planer. According to customer reviews, it is good for large volumes of work. But it is recommended to buy only an original German device or a European-assembled product.

“I purchased a bosch gho 15-82 plane. The test of planing 102 m2 of boards was passed perfectly. In general, I worked without a smoke break for almost half a day non-stop.”
Pavel Pavlovich
https://forum.woodtools.ru/index.php?topic=39094.0

Electric planer for finishing work

Makita KP 0810 C , equipped with a soft start system. ensuring a clean start to the cut. This tool has high productivity, given the optimal ratio of time and roughing area. According to user reviews, the electric planer of this model does a good job of chamfering and removing quarters.

An ideal plane for cutting quarters and planing narrow products. It removes chamfers very well with the help of a special stop, which I purchased separately. Assembly Japan.
Sergey
https://www.220-volt.ru/catalog-30830/0/0/

Equipped with a side rip fence and soft start system

Bosch GHO 40–82 C 0.601.59A.760 has a comfortable, ergonomic design with high-quality assembly. The presence of electronics allows for a smooth start and a clean surface finish when planing hardwood boards. Not very suitable for processing timber and large volumes of work, due to the presence of only one blade on the drum, which will have to be changed frequently. But the machine is suitable for home use. Blades are changed quickly and easily. The tool is supplied with 10 interchangeable knives; together with the key required for replacement, they are attached directly to the body of the electric planer. According to customer reviews, this model is very easy to use.

Small, light, rarely clogged even when he was given full depth. The fact that there is one knife is even better - savings. The knives are incredibly easy to change and you don’t need to make any additional adjustments.
257 BalBes
https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/115827/

I have a Bosch 40-82. Knives get dull pretty quickly. Otherwise, it's an exceptionally nice unit.
Hippopotamus
https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/115827/

Hardwood Tools

De Walt D 26500 K . This model is ideal for processing any wooden surface, including hardwood. Quartering and chamfering functions are available. When working, the tool makes little noise. With its help you can process boards and bars that are not too wide. The device has an electronic soft start system and can also be transformed into a machine.

The impressions are positive, before the purchase I was tormented by only one doubt, there is a lot of information on the Internet about problems with the support heel, as it turned out, all this is a little untrue, there is nothing wrong with the heel, but it does not work according to the same principle as other planes. I was also pleased with the set of planer, a suitcase, a bag for collecting chips, a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, a guide ruler, a depth limiter for cutting a quarter, a key for replacing knives - this set is additional. accessories will not hurt. The power of the plane is beyond the eyes, it calmly takes larch to a depth of 4 mm, there is no drop in speed as such (of course they decrease under load, but this is not noticeable) The plane does not overheat.
Dimon14
https://www.forumhouse.ru/threads/205239/

Designed for large volumes of work with any type of wood

Interskol R-102/1100EM is an inexpensive but functional and convenient electric plane with a wide sole (102 mm), designed for processing wide beams and boards with an uneven surface. It has the function of removing quarters up to 15 mm, and is suitable for large volumes of work. The model is interesting due to the presence of a soft start, adjustable rotation speed of the knife drum and a system for maintaining a certain number of revolutions under load. This tool is ideal for home and garden use, and has a lot of positive reviews from consumers.

The Interskol R-102 plane, in my opinion, is the most optimal choice both from the line of planes from different manufacturers, and among planes from the Interskol company. If you take a tool for the home, then there is no point in overpaying almost double or even triple the cost for Makita or Bosch, Interskol R-102 will last you until you want to buy a new one. Unlike its Interskolov brothers, the R-102 is equipped with overheating protection, which means that it is almost impossible to burn, the smooth start of the device reduces the chances of injury and increases the service life of the engine. The 1200 W engine easily planes even complex rocks wood, and with a knife 102 mm wide it is very convenient to process ten-bar timber. It is a pity, of course, that the R-102 was not equipped with a stationary unit like its brothers, but for me this turned out to be a solvable problem, I built it myself!
IKSA22
https://otzovik.com/review_409076.html

Video: how the electric plane Interskol R-102/1100EM works

Tips for choosing and using electric planers. Pros and cons of these devices

Previously, we already figured out the structure and operating principle of an electric planer, as well as the main differences between the models. All this information was useful primarily for those who are just deciding to make a purchase and are looking for the most suitable option.

Now we will describe the general pros and cons of electric planers so that you can make a final decision, and also give advice on their selection and use.

So, the main disadvantages of electric planers :

— There is no possibility of a folding planer or additional planer for processing corners or ends.

— It is difficult to scrape surfaces (for example, for applying primers).

— High degree of danger due to careless work.

At the same time, electric planers clearly have more advantages. Among them:

+ Savings. Untreated boards cost almost half as much as planed ones, and with an electric planer, planing them is a breeze. The tool pays for itself within a day, processing several cubes of material.

+ Easy to maintain and use.

+ Increased productivity.

+ An electric planer makes it easier for you to cut out a quarter or fold. To do this, the kit includes an angular stop (ruler) and a side stop that prevents you from cutting out excess.

+ An electric plane from a simple hand tool, if equipped with the appropriate equipment, can easily become a jointer and a planer or thicknesser (see the picture on the right).

+ Electric planers are ideal for chamfering.

+ Absence of any effort during work. Both women and older people can use an electric planer - unlike a simple plane, which required good muscles during long-term work.

In general, if you plan, renovate a dacha or house, or just like to work with your hands, then such a tool will definitely come in handy. And, if you have decided, it's time to talk about it...

How to choose an electric planer

The main parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing an electric planer are the rotation speed of the knife drum, the depth of planing, the length of the knives and the drive power.

1. The rotation speed should be above 10,000 rpm; if you frequently work with dense and knotty material, preferably from 12,000. Moreover, we are talking about the actual, not the declared frequency. If possible, ask the seller or check in operation to see if the number of revolutions drops depending on the load. If the frequency changes, this not only complicates processing, but also reduces the quality of the output material: “steps” and “waves” can form on it.

Some electric planers are equipped with control electronics that regulate engine power and keep the speed constant in all conditions (for example, PHO 16-82 from ]Bosch[/anchor]).

Electric planer 1560-AB from Skil

2. Power is no less important than speed. Moreover, here we can also talk about theoretical and practical power: not all the energy consumed from the outlet is transferred to the blade shaft. The actual output power is often indicated in the specifications, and do not be surprised if it is 2-2.5 times less than the rated power consumption. In general, the actual power should be at least 350 W so that the device does not have problems processing dense or uneven wood. The required power directly depends on the planing width of the electric planer.

It is better to choose a more powerful electric planer, and then load it at half capacity - this way you will not experience difficulties with any type of work, and the service life of the tool will increase significantly. The highest power found in household models is 2000 W.

3. Planing width (and, accordingly, the length of the plane knives) is a parameter that you must choose yourself, depending on the width of the workpieces you want to work with. As already mentioned in the first article, the planing width of manual units can be 50, 75, 82, 102 or 110 mm. That is, if you want to plan fence boards and their width is approximately 10 cm, then you have a choice between two options. No, of course, you can take a plane with 50 mm knives, but then you will have to go over each side of the board several times, and even if you are a master three times, you will not get a perfectly flat surface.

Usually they choose 82 or 110 mm; devices with 50 and 75 are considered “pioneer”. Of the two, 82 knives are cheaper and more often in stock.

4. Planing depth. It’s good if the maximum depth of the plane is 3-3.5 mm. For every additional millimeter there are several hundred watts and, accordingly, several extra kilograms of the device, so you won’t find more than 4 mm in hand-held household tools.

In some models, especially with large planing depths and high wood humidity, the chip ejection hole may become clogged. Cleaning it, of course, is not difficult, but you don’t want to interrupt your work for this. The tendency of the electric planer to clog can be judged by the diameter of the nozzle.

Electric planer Stern EP-820 with a dust bag on the nozzle

5. You also need to pay attention to how often you need to change knives and drive belts. Usually no more than once a year, but sometimes right after each other. Removing and replacing the belt is not difficult: it is located directly under the removable casing - that black panel that is turned towards the camera in all photographs. However, each new belt will cost you about 300 rubles - almost a tenth of an inexpensive device! Manufacturers, of course, do not write information about the erasure speed, but it can be found on specialized forums. It is also worth considering that some knives dull faster, but they are double-sided and therefore will last you longer in total.

6. One of the main advantages of an electric planer is its ease of operation. In order not to neutralize this advantage, it is better to choose light models that can be kept suspended for at least ten minutes (3-4 kg is optimal). More powerful and hefty units are more suitable for trained workers who work with a plane every day and put planing speed above convenience.

Here we also need to say about the convenience of the handle. Check how comfortable it is for you to hold this plane in different positions: when you hold both handles, when you drive it by pushing the back one. Make a couple of test moves. It’s good if the handle is rubberized, then your fingers hold it tightly and don’t slip.

7. Some electric planers continue to remove chips even with a planing depth of zero. Therefore, as already mentioned in the first article, it is better to give preference to a tool whose notches on the front handle (planing depth regulator) start not from zero, but from negative values.

8. If you don’t want to fill the whole house with shavings, you need to choose a model with a dust collector (one or two, for example). Of course, you can make it yourself or find the right size at a flea market, but it’s safer to use the kit from the manufacturer.

Electric planer BPL 600 from Einhell

9. An important parameter for electric planers that you want to use all day long is the degree to which they heat up during continuous operation. An ordinary manual unit is unlikely to be able to plane for more than half an hour, after which it needs to cool down (a little more detail). The maximum permissible temperature of the electric planer body is about 60 °C.

10. The sole of all electric planers, as a rule, is of high quality and smooth - after all, this is the first thing that the buyer pays attention to. However, you should know that in order to chamfer the corners of parts, one or more V-shaped grooves (with an angle of 90°) must be located on the sole of the electric planer, and in general, in order for the cut to be of the same thickness, the sole of the device must have grooves that interfere formation of an air cushion during operation.

If you don't see grooves on your device, don't worry. It is almost impossible to notice them with the eye, unless you feel them with your fingers.

11. Availability of knives and spare parts. Drive belts and blades will need to be replaced at least every two to three years, and perhaps more often. Therefore, we advise you to choose popular models so that you don’t have to run around and look for the part you need.

In general, among the manufacturers of household electric planers, Bosch, Black&Decker, Makita, Sparky and Skil stand out - their devices have long won a name for themselves in our market. Inexpensive options include Skil 1560-AB and Sparky P 282; more advanced models include Bosch GHO 26-82 and Makita KP0810.

And in order for the electric planer in your hands to become as efficient and durable as possible, we’ll give...

Some tips for beginners

To use your first electric planer most effectively, you need to know a few simple subtleties. Now we will tell you about them.

After receiving the electric planer, turn it on at idle speed several times in a row. This way you will check the smoothness of the start-up, the quality of the shaft braking system, and the presence of vibration during starts and, most likely, you will immediately determine for yourself some key pros and cons of the tool. This is the normal operating mode of the electric planer, so there should be no complaints about its behavior.
When processing rough, uneven material, first set the plane to the maximum cutting depth. On the second pass, reduce it greatly, and then start sanding fractions of a millimeter. By the way, the thicker the chips being removed, the slower you need to move the tool. The average speed recommended by manufacturers is 3 meters per minute.
Plan in the direction of the grain of the wood. If the workpiece is made up of several bars or boards, then work at an angle to the fibers and glue joints.
Sharp edges of slabs or boards may chip over time. To prevent this from happening, they are chamfered. The V-shaped grooves on the sole, which we have already mentioned, will help you in processing the chamfer.
If the electric planer starts to get stuck or produce “shaggy” chips, then you should replace or sharpen the knife (if you have a sharpened one). For this, a sharpening machine with an adjustable angle of inclination of the part is used. Usually the front side of the knife is sharpened at an angle of 25°, and the cutting (back) side is 45°, but there are also cases when the front surface is not sharpened at all. The uniformity of sharpening is very important here, without bulges or depressions, otherwise the plane will plane poorly (carefully check the roughness of the blade with your finger). If you are not confident in yourself, leave the knife sharpening in the hands of professionals.
Do not put pressure on the plane while working. Because of this, the edge of the planed part may be rounded.
The smoother the front and back sides of the sole are relative to the shaft, the better and thinner the cut. It is also very important that all blades (if you have two or three on your drum) protrude the same length from the plane. If the difference is at least 0.1 mm, then the first knife will remove chips, and the second will simply scratch across the surface, wasting its resource and your time.
The main thing is that it is not the sole of the plane that follows the line, but the ends of the knives. Accordingly, if the part is small, adjust the position of the tool precisely along the knife shaft.
The main irregularities are formed at the beginning and end of the workpiece - where the plane has already (or is still) going unevenly. If you want a perfect surface, leave a small amount of wood on both sides, which can then be trimmed.
When working with a side stop, keep in mind that it simply moves along the edge of the block, and, accordingly, if this edge is uneven, then the groove (or quarter) may turn out to be “ribbed”.
To keep the planing depth approximately the same throughout the entire block, apply more pressure to the front of the tool at the beginning of the pass, and more pressure to the back at the end.
If you are working with a long board, it is advisable to calmly move along it parallel to the plane while planing. This way you will avoid accidental steps or entire staircases.
Be very, very careful! Being left without fingers during such work is like two fingers on a knife drum...

We hope that these tips can help you in your work or clarify any points regarding the use of electric planers.

Conclusion

An electric planer is not the simplest device. Both in choice and in handling. Nevertheless, due to a number of its advantages, it is practically the only tool for household carpentry or carpentry work. If you don't want to buy processed boards at exorbitant prices, then buying a plane is the way to go.

Next, we will look at the leading manufacturers of electric planers and the specific models they provide. Hold on!

Cordless tools

Using a power tool, including a plane, requires connecting it to an electrical network. which requires a certain connection between the work site and the existing electrical wiring. Of course, if you are far from connection points, you can use extension cords, but this brings with it some inconveniences. The way out of this situation is battery-powered electric planers. Externally, they are no different from conventional similar devices, except for the presence of a battery and its connection point, which are located on the rear vertical stand, behind the handle. Most of these electric planers operate on 18-volt batteries, but there are models designed to use a 14.4-volt battery.

The battery socket is located on the rear pillar, behind the tool handle

Today, cordless planers are produced by almost all power tool manufacturers. This is due not only to their ease of use, which does not require connection to power distribution points, but also to a certain fashion for cordless tools. Battery-powered electric planers have similar characteristics, design and functionality to corded tools. Only their cost is significantly more expensive, therefore, in the absence of the need to carry out constant woodworking work far from sources of electricity, the purchase of such a plane is not economically feasible.

Parameters and functions of the electric planer

Let's start with knives. Divided into two types:

Sharpening blades are used repeatedly, gradually becoming worn out. If dull, replace and set aside. The sharpening device is extremely simple. This is a frame where two blades are attached at once at a certain angle. This way it is possible to maintain the desired degree of sharpness without controlling the quality of sharpening. The blades stand at the desired angle on different edges of the device, setting the correct position. For sharpening, you can use any abrasive bar; before carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to soak the device for several minutes in cool water. Move the knives smoothly from side to side until their former sharpness returns.
Disposable knives are divided into two types. The first, like sharpening ones, is made of tool steel and is marked HSS (high-speed steel). Iron mixed with carbon is not able to withstand high loads. Alloying with vanadium, molybdenum, cobalt and tungsten is used. This ensures the steel is red-resistant (withstands high heat from friction). However, the material is inferior in hardness to the absolute record holder - tungsten carbide. TCT steel blades tipped with this material provide incredible abrasion resistance and a hardness rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. It is second only to diamond and is on par with corundum. This makes TCT steel knives excellent for cutting hard wood. For obvious reasons, they cannot be sharpened. When the tungsten carbide coating chips away, the blade needs to be thrown away.

Powered planer

Electric banks differ from each other in the installation slots for the blades. As a result, on some it is permissible to use any, more often - either sharpening or disposable ones. Please consider this fact when purchasing. It is believed that professionals use sharpened blades; they last longer. At the same time, HSS is especially suitable for soft woods. Decide for yourself. It’s better to take an electric planer, which can accommodate blades of both types. Disposable ones are easy to recognize, they are extremely narrow, while sharpening ones are more substantial in size, the difference in width reaches 5 times.

It is possible to try sharpening disposable blades. The difficulty is in the technology: for sharpening ones, a special device is sold, described above; for disposable ones, you will have to fence the garden yourself. As for tungsten carbide, at this stage of technology development, the coating cannot be restored at home. Disposable blades for electric planers are divided into three types:

Straight blades with no noticeable features.
Wavy ones are used to create the effect of deliberately rough processing of wood. Required for decorative purposes.
Straight disposable blades with rounded ends are used on wide surfaces, significantly exceeding the 82 mm working width of an electric planer. Specially processed ends do not leave sharp marks. The appearance of the surface is incomparably better.

Disposable blades are usually double-sided. When it becomes dull, turn it 180 degrees. After use, the disposable blade is thrown away.

Safe work rules

The working element of an electric planer is sharp knives mounted on a drum rotating at high speed. This unit poses the main danger to the person working with the tool. Therefore, you should follow simple rules for safe handling and work with an electric planer, namely:

work clothes should not have long, hanging sleeves;
Before starting work, you need to make sure that the tool is in good working order and that the knives are securely fastened to the drum; this should only be done when the power cable is disconnected from the network;
if necessary, clean and adjust the tool without plugging it in;
before starting work, check the surface to be treated for the presence of nails or screws;
When working, be sure to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from chips;
the workpiece must be securely fixed on the work table using a vice, clamps and other devices;
It is allowed to use only those blades that are recommended by the tool manufacturer;
do not leave the electric plane connected to the network unattended;
store the instrument out of the reach of children.

Following these simple rules will help protect you from painful injuries and injuries.

Safety precautions

An electric planer is a device, when using which it is imperative to follow safety rules. The main danger is the current passing through the device and the operating drum.

Safety precautions:

Do not use electric tools in rooms where there is a high probability of fires due to the presence of flammable liquid or gas compositions.
the workplace must be clean and well lit;
you should not be distracted by other things while working, as this will disrupt control of the power tool;
It is forbidden to allow strangers near the switched-on plane; it must be stored in a place inaccessible to children;
if an extension cord is used, it must be selected taking into account the load and be without damage;
It is unacceptable for liquids to come into contact with a working electric tool, or to carry equipment while holding it by the cord;

When working with an electric planer, be sure to use safety glasses and headphones Source jet-online.ru

When working with an electric planer, the operator must not come into contact with ungrounded surfaces (for example, batteries);
The power cord must be located away from sources of high temperature and sharp objects;
It is necessary to periodically perform preventive maintenance of the device;
If you are intoxicated or under the influence of medications, you cannot use a power tool;
Do not touch the rotating drum with your hands.

On a note! Connecting an electric planer via an RCD will increase the safety of using the tool. Protection is selected taking into account the load.

Typical malfunctions and methods for their elimination

Among the typical, particularly common malfunctions of electric planers, the following can be noted:

sparking of the electric motor, which can occur due to wear of the commutator brushes, poor contact in wire connections or mechanical wear (damage) of the shaft;
wear of the blades, which causes tool overload and can lead to engine failure;
wear or rupture of the belt transmitting torque from the engine shaft to the knife drum.

It is better to entrust electric motor malfunctions to professionals who can diagnose the motor and determine the cause of the sparking. Replacing the commutator brushes alone may not do anything. Other typical faults can be fixed yourself.

The knives of the electric planer are mounted on the drum in special grooves; to replace them you must:

Disconnect the tool from the power supply.
Set the planing depth regulator to “0”.
Having manually turned the drum so that there is access to the three knife mounting bolts, use a wrench of the required size to loosen the nuts of the bolt connection.
Remove the blade clamp from the groove;
Disassemble the clamp, removing the worn blade from it;
Insert the new blade into the clamp and reassemble in the reverse order;
Repeat all procedures for the second blade.

The process of changing knives is presented in more detail in the following video.

Video: replacing knives on an electric planer

After replacing the knives, adjust them. To do this you need:

By placing a ruler or corner with its edge perpendicular to the cutting line, resting against the back and front of the sole, we determine whether the tip of the knife touches the ruler. On both the right and left sides, the knife should be in equal contact with the control ruler. This will ensure uniform chip removal across the entire planing width.
If both planes of the sole and the tip of the knife are not on the same line, you need to loosen the bolts.
Using the hex key included with the tool, you need to set the desired height of the left and right sides of the knife, as shown in the video below.
Having reached the desired level, tighten the bolts.

Video: setting up knives

The belt must be replaced in the following order:

Disconnect the power cable from the electric planer.
Remove the protective cover.
Loosen the fastening screw on the pulley;
Remove the belt and install a new one in its place.
Reassemble the tool in reverse order.

Do-it-yourself electric planer

Sometimes craftsmen decide to make a tool that would suit them in all respects. In order to make a manual electric planer for wood, you will need a little skill, patience and some tools and materials. Main spare parts for electric planer:

electric motor;
switch;
protective casing;
drum with knives;
transmission mechanism.

The sole is not necessary because the table can serve as its function. This is even more convenient; you won’t need to construct a frame. The following sequence is:

Place the drum under the hole for it and secure it.
Attach the motor so that its shaft extends beyond the table.
Place pulleys and a transmission belt on the motor shaft and drum.
Pull it tight, and then install and secure the casing.
Mount the switch.
Assemble the electrical part (power and control button, cord, fuses).
Perform a test run.