What Does A Planer Saw Do?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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“A planer is a thicknesser. It

takes a thick board and makes it thinner

. To use a planer, the board should already have one flat side. That smooth side goes down onto the bed, and the thicknesser (planer) cuts slices off the top (unsmoothed) side.

When would you use a planer?

Woodworking jointers and planers are used

to mill wood

so they can be used to build furniture and other projects to correct dimensions. If your workshop doesn’t have a jointer to square up an edge or your wood piece is too large to fit through, you can use your planer to flatten both pieces of wood.

Do you really need a planer?

A thickness planer serves three unique purposes that other tools do not: 1) It makes the second face of a board parallel to the other face; 2) It smooths rough stock; and 3) It reduces stock down to the

exact thickness you need

. … If you really want to get into woodworking, a thickness planer is worth the cost.

What is a planer saw used for?

Function. A thickness planer is a woodworking machine

to trim boards to a consistent thickness throughout their length and flat on both surfaces

. It is different from a surface planer, or jointer, where the cutter head is set into the bed surface.

Can you use a table saw as a planer?

Simply run the board through the table saw to remove the 1/16′′ or 1/32′′. Make sure you hold the board as tight against the fence as possible and be careful with the blade up so high. Use push sticks and pads, keeping your hands away from the blade after starting the cut.

Do you have to sand after using a planer?

If you are happy with the surface as it is now,

there is no need to now sand it

. To determine if the surface is ready for the color coat, wet a clean rag with alcohol or lacquer thinner. Wipe and wet the surface. This will highlight any sanding miscues or other surface blemishes.

Can you use a planer to remove old finish?

You could plane off an old finish, but it’s not worth the risk. Planer cutterheads can generate sufficient friction to soften such finishes as polyurethane, gumming up their knives. Instead, use a

belt sander set to about half its maximum speed and an 80- or 100-grit belt

to remove the old film finish, as shown above.

What to do if you dont have a planer?

  1. Use a table saw. If you’ve got a large board to plane, a table saw might be a good option. …
  2. Use a router. You can use a router to substitute for a wood planer in a similar way to a table saw. …
  3. Use a jack plane. …
  4. Use a wide-belt or drum sander. …
  5. Get out the sandpaper. …
  6. Take it to a cabinet maker.

Can I use a table saw instead of a jointer?

Using Your Table Saw as a Jointer. … With the addition of a simple shop-made fence, you

can easily edge joint

on your table saw. Remember that man-made materials like plywood can be hard on steel jointer knives – but not on carbide table saw blades.

What’s the difference between a jointer and a planer?

A jointer creates a flat surface on wood, and yes, it can be used to correct bow and warp on one side of a board at a time. “A planer is a thicknesser. … In other words, you put a board into the planer

to make it thinner after you have already established

one flat side using the jointer (or a hand plane.)

Does a planer make wood smooth?


Smooth rough-cut wood stock

with a planer. The planer is a tool for woodworkers who require large quantities of planed stock and who elect to buy it rough cut. … It, too, cuts with a cutterhead, but the planer smooths the face of much wider stock.

What personal protective equipment should you wear when using a planer?

Wear

safety glasses or goggles

, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles), and use the appropriate hearing protection. Disconnect the planer from the power supply before making any adjustments to the cutter head or blades. Ensure switch is in off position before plugging in.

What is the difference between a sander and a planer?

Whereas

sanders are used to alter the finish of wood

, a wood planer is used to even out wood to an exact thickness. Planers produce boards of even thickness. … With a planer you can smooth rough lumber, clean up sawn edges and give new life to old wood.

What do you call a thing that shaves the surface off of a board to make it slightly thinner and flatter?


A plane

is an indispensable tool for smoothing and shaping wood. Planes are used to “shave” thin, uniform strips from a piece of wood, creating a smooth, level surface by removing “high spots.” Knowing how to plane wood is a vital skill for all woodworkers.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.