Planing help please

[JMYBFFT]

I just got an electric hand planer and tried to smooth out a couple of boards and all I managed to do was create some nasty ridges. Is this a technique issue or something else. Any advice is appreciated.

[gmack5]

Jimmy, to my knowledge, Electric Planners are more suitable for planning the edges of panels as opposed to thicknessing or cleaning up the surface of a board, YMMV. If working on the surface of your boards is your intent, you'd be much better off to return the Electric Hand Planer and put the money aside for a Portable Thicknessing Planer and a Jointer.

Portable Electric Planners are quite often used to trim doors to size by planing the edges so they will fit in their intended opening.

I realize this is considerably more expensive but what you're attempting to do is like trying to run a Tracter in the Indy 500, not the right tool for the job, IMHO.

[JMYBFFT]

Thanks qmack. I have come to that realization and intend to get a portable planer soon.

[LCHIEN]

quote:Originally posted by gmack5

Jimmy, to my knowledge, Electric Planners are more suitable for planning the edges of panels as opposed to thicknessing or cleaning up the surface of a board, YMMV. If working on the surface of your boards is your intent, you'd be much better off to return the Electric Hand Planer and put the money aside for a Portable Thicknessing Planer and a Jointer.

Portable Electric Planners are quite often used to trim doors to size by planing the edges so they will fit in their intended opening.

I realize this is considerably more expensive but what you're attempting to do is like trying to run a Tracter in the Indy 500, not the right tool for the job, IMHO.

well said, george