Types of Planer Machines
A planer machine, also known as a wood planer or thickness planer, is an essential component of the woodworking industry. It comes in a variety of types, each serving a different purpose.
- Benchtop Planer: As the name suggests, this kind of planer is ideal for working on a tabletop or benchtop because of its small size. It is geared for light projects and is a preferred use for DIY enthusiasts, homeowners and hobbyists. This also makes the benchtop planer portable and easy to store.
- Portable Planer: This variant of the wood planer is also easy to move around because of its lightweight nature. The machine is designed to help woodworkers straighten wood by removing any irregularities on the surface. Like the benchtop planer, it is best suited for smaller projects that require minimal planing. However, the portable planer lacks the power of a benchtop.
- Thicknesser: This machine is used to fine-tune the thickness of boards after planing. Essentially, the thicknesser works on the wood to achieve a desired thickness. It has multiple knives that cut from the bottom to the top. Once done, the wood is ejected. The thicknesser can also double up as a jointer.
- Jointers: A jointer is similar to a wood planer but generally more powerful. It includes a gantry and are mainly used to align boards by easing out the uneven spots on the surface. Jointers work to flatten the face and edge of the wood. They also come in a variety of types and sizes.
- Industrial Planer: This kind of wood planer is the big shot of the machine. It is used to make lumber in large scales such as for thriving businesses and commercial use. An industrial wood planer can be massive in size and uses more than one cutter to enhance its production. It also costs more than the rest of the planers.
- CNC planer: This machine uses computer numeric control to ease out wood to the desired shape and size. It's mostly used in large scale production of furniture or when handling large pieces of wood.
- Hand Planers: Hand planers are the simplest of all wood planers. They require no electricity and can be used literally anywhere. This makes planing easy, straightforward and quick.
Specifications and Maintenance
The quality of the wood planer machine is mainly reflected in its parameters and other specifications. Different types of wood planers have various specifications. The following are some of the essential specifications of a wood planer.
- Wood Planing Size: The size of the wood that a wood planer machine can be processed is its planing size. It includes the width, the length, and the height of planed wood. This size must be within the range of the machine's processing capacity.
- Power: Wood planers' processing power usually range from hundreds of watts to several kilowatts. The greater the power of the machine, the faster the planing speed and the smoother the processing.
- Rotating Speed: The rotating speed of the cutter head affects the cutting speed and surface quality of the machined wood. Wood planers typically have a rotating speed of several thousand to tens of thousands of revolutions per minute.
- Cutter Head Number: Wood planers usually have two to four cutter heads. More cutter heads allow for faster machining speed and higher finish.
- Cutter Material: The blades of wood planers are made from various materials, such as high-speed steel, carbon steel, etc. Different blade materials have distinct durability and cutting performance.
Maintenance
The service life and working effect of the wood planer machine will be better if it is correctly maintained and cared for.
- Clean: Before using the wood planer, clean the surfaces and shavings inside and outside the machine. Clean the surfaces of the tools to keep the wood planer's hygiene and reduce the risk of fire and dust explosion.
- Lubrication: Apply lubricant to the moving parts, bearings, gearing, etc. Lubrication can reduce friction and abrasion, ensure smooth operation, and prolong the machine's service life.
- Blade Maintenance: Check the blades at regular intervals for dullness, nicks, and damage. Sharpen or replace the blades as needed to ensure the machine's smooth and efficient planing operation.
- Check Fasteners: Regularly check and tighten the fasteners on the wood planer, such as bolts and nuts, to ensure stability and reliability. Loose fasteners can result in vibration, safety hazards, and equipment damage.
- Electrical Maintenance: Pay attention to electrical parts, such as checking for loose wires and stopping switches, to ensure their proper functioning. Keep the electrical parts clean and dry, and avoid exposure to moisture and dust.
- Cooling System Care: If the wood planer has a cooling system, periodically check the coolant level and circulating pump to ensure the proper functioning of the cooling system.
Usage scenarios of planer machines
Planer machines are used in many scenarios since they are an essential part of the woodworking industry. In furniture-making workshops, wood planers can trim edges and ensure wood pieces are of the correct thickness. This facilitates the assembly of furniture like tables, cabinets, and doors.
Carpenters also use the wood planer to make decorative structures like wooden beams and ceilings. When working on such projects, they usually aim to either maintain the natural look of the wood or enhance it with a smooth surface. One of the crucial features of wood planers is the ability to create chamfers and bevels. Hence, carpentry professionals can use the planer to create beveled edges on hardwoods commonly used in luxury and high-end constructions.
Wood planers are a key piece of equipment in timber yards and lumber mills. Whether manual or electric, these machines quickly plane large volumes of wood, which enhances production efficiency. Furthermore, they help manage and reduce defects on wood, maximizing the amount of lumber that can be used for construction and other applications.
Due to the constant movement and weight-bearing capacity of wood floors, the surfaces must be extremely smooth. Therefore, when installing or renovating wooden floors, the wood pieces must be perfectly planed to achieve uniformity and facilitate the proper fit of floorboards.
Wood planing machines are used to rehabilitate existing wood. Restoration experts working to restore historic buildings typically look for machines that can efficiently and gently plane wood to its original profile. This will help to preserve the architectural integrity of the building.
Whether in mass production or single-manufacturing settings, wood planers are essential for creating smooth and precise surfaces on wood. As a result, the pieces can be easily joined, and the overall quality of the final product is enhanced.
How to choose price of planer machine
Choose planer machines for sale depending on the factors below.
- Type of wood : The type of wood to be planed should guide one on the features needed in a wood planer machine. Some woods have tough grains and fibers that can wear out blades very quickly. Investing in a heavy-duty planer machine with replaceable blades is best to handle such wood.
- Workload : Consider the amount of wood that needs planing within a certain timeframe. A bench-top planer will suffice for small projects. However, invest in stationary planers with greater horsepower if planing large volumes of wood.
- Planer machine prices: Planers range from affordable to high prices depending on size, power, features, etc. Decide on the features needed and choose a wood planer machine that fits the budget.
- Dust collection system : Planing generates a lot of wood dust. Dust can clog the planer machine, reducing its efficiency. A good dust collection system helps extract the dust from the output chute. Shop planers with dust bags or ports that can connect to a vacuum for better dust management.
- Safety features : Check safety features like blade guards, kickback guards, and emergency stop buttons. The safety features of a wood planer machine are very important. The planing process can throw back pieces of wood, which can be fatal if not prevented.
Q & A
Q1: Do plank wood machines use the same process as stone plaining machines?
A1: No, they do not use the same process. Wood planers trim wood along the grain or across it to achieve a uniform thickness. On the other hand, stone planers trim rocks in parallel to create flat surfaces for building foundations or other structural elements.
Q2: Are there portable wood planing machines?
A2: Yes, there are portable planer machines like the plank wood machine that allow for on-site planing of wood.
Q3: Does the wood planing machine only work on wood?
A3: No, there are specialized planing machines that can plane other materials such as metal and plastic. However, they are not suited for wood.
Q4: Do all planer machines use blades?
A4: No, not all planer machines use blades. Some machines, like the disk sander, use sanding belts to trim the wood or rough up its surface.
