Just where does a electric hand planer come in

[lcm1947]

This is the one tool that I just don't understand the need for but it may just be me not understanding exactly how or where you use it. Anybody mind giving me examples? I guess the only thing I can see it good for would be like where two boards are fastened together and there is a 1/8" or greater overhang so you need to eliminate the 1/8" allowing the boards to meet flush or 90 degrees. I would just use a hand belt sander but maybe the planer would be better? Anyway, would appreciate some examples if you would please?

[germdoc]

A friend of mine installed a stage made of leftover planks used as flooring for truck beds. These were fairly rough cut planks, and onece they were installed he did the initial smoothing of the surface with the hand planer.

So, you would use it where you might use a regular planer to smooth a surface, but where the surface is fixed and not removable or too large.

[sweensdv]

An electric hand held planer is more of a carpentry/construction tool than a woodworking tool. They're great for removing some material from a door that fits a bit too snug in the frame.

[lcm1947]

Thanks for the replies. So it's kind of like you'd use an Electric hand planer where it would require too much sanding. I would think that's what I need as I am always cutting boards or whatever a little oversize on purpose and then sanding them down to fit exactly.

[Tequila]

I just used one about a month ago to trim down 4 doors in a couple of newly carpeted rooms. It really cut down on time - I didn't have to set up a straightedge for a saw, and I knew exactly how much I was taking off on each pass. For the spots on the top of the door where years of paint had built up too thick, I could plane them down without pulling the doors off the hinges.

[lcm1947]

Thanks tequila. Yeah, it sounds like I need one of those. Thanks again.

[monte]

I use mine for trimming door fit more than anything else. Actually I've found very little use for it with woodworking.

[LCHIEN]

quote:Originally posted by monte

I use mine for trimming door fit more than anything else. Actually I've found very little use for it with woodworking.

What Monte said.
Well, actually I don't have one. Wouldn't use it for "original" woodworking.

[final_t]

Seen it used for surfacing a built up workbench. Seemed like a lot of post-production work when a little up-front effort would solve it better .

[lcm1947]

OK, OK you guys seem to be telling me that one isn't necessary in woodworking and since I don't see myself having to do a door in the near future maybe I don't need one. So how do you trim the mistakes up. And if you tell me that you can cut a board like a selve and it fit in between the sides then I got to ask you what's the trick? I mean there is no way. [:O]

[silverfox]

Well, a belt sander or even an ROS with those new stainless discs that Don Hart reviewed would serve the purpose. I had a hand held electric planer years ago and didn't use it much and didn't like it much when I did use it. Sweens has the right idea IMHO, ... electric planers are more for construction than wood working. Although, I do mostly construction and I don't own one. There are times I could use one, I guess, but, rather than buying one that won't get much use, I just make other tools suffice.
Mike

[LarryG]

Something I don't THINK has been mentioned (apologies if it has) is that virtually every power tool we use is an offspring of a hand tool. An electric hand planer is essentially a mid-sized bench plane (around a #5, I reckon) with a motor attached. I suppose the argument might be made that they are an answer to a question only a few people have asked.

A properly sharpened and well-tuned hand plane is an absolute joy to use, but a dull, poorly set-up one is a pretty miserable experience. I think electric hand planers might be popular with those who need to do the kind of job at which a hand plane excels but who don't know how to sharpen and/or use a hand plane very well. I agree with the others that fast, let's-git-r-done-by-lunchtime carpentry work is a better application than fine woodworking.

[Jim-Iowa]

quote:Originally posted by LarryG

Something I don't THINK has been mentioned (apologies if it has) is that virtually every power tool we use is an offspring of a hand tool. An electric hand planer is essentially a mid-sized bench plane (around a #5, I reckon) with a motor attached. I suppose the argument might be made that they are an answer to a question only a few people have asked.

A properly sharpened and well-tuned hand plane is an absolute joy to use, but a dull, poorly set-up one is a pretty miserable experience. I think electric hand planers might be popular with those who need to do the kind of job at which a hand plane excels but who don't know how to sharpen and/or use a hand plane very well. I agree with the others that fast, let's-git-r-done-by-lunchtime carpentry work is a better application than fine woodworking.

Very good answer Larry!!
From my experience, it is worth the extra time to learn to sharpen and tune a handplane. At first I wondered why anyone would use one?
Now that I have learned to sharpen and tune, I have to resist the urge to grab a piece of scrap and cover my shop floor with curls.
I see no need for a power plane.

[final_t]

One thing that *must* be mentioned about handplanes is that you can't use a crappy one, and good ones cost real money. I think this is what makes people go towards the powertool option: $80 for a Ryobi or Hitachi power planer at HD/Lowes or $160+ for a Vertas or Lie-Nelson tool which is ONLY at Woodcraft or mail-order.

[lcm1947]

Thanks for the replys guys. You all make very good points and I see and have to agree after hearing them. OK, so a electric hand plane is out the door. Thanks again for taking the time to help me answer this question. I really appreciate it.