If you are into woodshop, one of the most necessary and important tool you will need is a benchtop thickness planer. These benchtop planers are perfectly designed for small home woodshops and there are also some which are perfect for contractors that need portable options. Though the ones that we shall feature in this article, are not huge and powerful as the full sized shop thickness planers, they are effective in planning a wide range of different wood products.
The thickness of a planer allows you to perform important tasks such as smoothing rough stock, making faces of a board parallel and bringing stock to consistent and specific thickness.
In this article, we shall also feature and test the following:
- Delta 22-555
- Delta 22-590
- DeWalt 734
- DeWalt 735X
- Makita 2012NB
- Porter Cable PC-305TP
- Ridgid R4331
- Triton TPT 125
Features and Specifications:
With the limitation of having to put all the power into a small space of a portable thickness planer, we have tested each machine that we will feature in this article and we came to conclusion that they are capable of planning boards with 12 to 13 inches wide and 6 inches tall.
Delta 22-555
- Weight: 58 lbs
- Capacity (width): 13″
- Max depth of cut:3/32″
- Max stock height: 6″
- No-load speed:9400 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 2
- Feed rate (feet per minute):28
- Outfeed table length: 6-7/8″
Delta 22-590
- Weight: 76 lbs
- Capacity (width): 13″
- Max depth of cut: 1/8″
- Max stock height: 6″
- No-load speed: 10000 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 3
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 26
- Outfeed table length: 12-1/2″
DEWALT DW734
- Weight: 80lbs
- Capacity (width): 12-1/2″
- Max depth of cut: 1/8″
- Max stock height: 6″
- No-load speed: 10000 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 3
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 24
- Outfeed table length: 11-1/4″
DEWALT DW735X
- Weight: 92 lbs
- Capacity (width): 13″
- Max depth of cut: 1/8″
- Max stock height: 6″
- No-load speed: 10000 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 3
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 14(low) 26(high)
- Outfeed table length: 9″
MAKITA 2012NB
- Weight: 62 lbs
- Capacity (width): 12″
- Max depth of cut: 1/8″
- Max stock height: 6-3/32″
- No-load speed: 8500 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 2
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 27.9
- Outfeed table length: 9″
Porter Cable PC305TP
- Weight: 64.8 lbs
- Capacity (width): 12-1/2″
- Max depth of cut: 3/32″
- Max stock height: 6″
- No-load speed: 8000 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 2
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 26.2
- Outfeed table length: 6-7/8″
Ridgid RA4331
- Weight: 79 lbs
- Capacity (width): 13″
- Max depth of cut: 1/8″
- Max stock height: 6-1/8″
- No-load speed: 9000 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 3
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 23.5
- Outfeed table length: 12″
Triton TPT 125
- Weight: 64 lbs
- Capacity (width): 12-1/2″
- Max depth of cut: 1/8″
- Max stock height: 6″
- No-load speed: 17500 RPM
- Number of cutter knives: 2
- Feed rate (feet per minute): 19.7
- Outfeed table length: 7″
Thickness Planer Testing Procedures and Evaluations
Upon testing planers, we have used different types of wood such as:
- Mahogany decking
- White Oak
- Poplar
- Hard Maple
We have used different categories to evaluate and test bench top thickness and they are the following:
- Pre-Test Inspection and Adjustment – this is the level of infeed and outfeed tables.
- Feed Rate (Speed) – this is the measurement of no-load feed rate.
- Maximum Depth of Cut Performance – this is the measurement of amp draw for each thickness planer.
- Depth of Cut Accuracy – in this category, we have checked the accuracy of the planers remove specific depth.
- Snipe Evaluation – this is the comparison between length of snipe for each planer and material type
- Surface Finish Evaluation – this category is the evaluation of surface finish.
- Blade Change Evaluation – this is the time that your blade lasts on each of these planers.
- Warranty coverage – we also included this as part of our review.
- Price – the time that this article has been published.
Pre-Test Inspection and Adjustment
To set up our test for these bench-top thickness planers, we have set up dust collection manifolds and included the accessories. We also included and adjusted the in-feed and out-feed tables. This way, we could be assured that they are level with the planer bed. In setting up your bench-top thickness planers, it is important that your in-feed and out-feed tables are consistently leveled. Upon tests, all machines except for DeWalt DW735X needed a few adjustments to reach level surface.
The other planers had to be adjusted through a bolt. We were highly impressed with the Makita machine as it was easy to adjust.
Dust Collection
Thickness planers usually has high volumes of wood chips and dust when used. All the planers except for Porter Cable featured in this article includes a dust shroud which is attached to a dust collector.
Feed Rate (Speed)
In this category, we could say that the best are the DeWalt DW735X and Triton TPT125. Both models were able to keep feed rate which are closer to the no-load rate.
In this category, the best three are DeWalt 735X, Triton TPT 125 and Delta 22-590.
Maximum Depth of Cut Performance
As mentioned earlier, another category that we have tested is the maximum loads at which each machine could perform in a single pass. We have set each planner to its maximum depth of cut (3/32 inch) and ran four types of wood. Each wood was 45” in length. The results of the test were very informative. The DeWalt DW735X proved to be the most powerful in terms of its motor.
Depth of Cut Accuracy
In this category, we could say that the DeWalt DW734 has bagged the price. It has performed the best in terms of an average deviation from 3/32” of under 2 one thousandths of an inch.
Snipe Evaluation
In this category, we have tested how much material will be lost to snipe and to do this, we have adjusted each planer’s table to flat. We have used maple wood for this test. The results showed how well the snipe length relates to the distance of the rollers inside the planers. We have found that the DeWalt DW735X waste more material.
Surface Finish Evaluation
To test this category, we have applied blue chalk to the surface. This way we could highlight the milling marks and scallops for easier visualization. In this category, we also tested the smoothness of each surface. Each produced a smooth finish, however, we could attest that the best was the DeWalt DW735X. Next in place was the TPT125 and lastly the Ridgid R4331.
Blade Change Evaluation
The difficulty level of each machine in changing the blades differ from one another and we have tested this category as well. In this category, however, it is a bit more difficult to identify which is better as each machine varies with two blades and/or three blades and the frequency as to how many times each machine’s blades had to be changed differs as well.
Warranty
In this category, we could say that Delta offers the longest warranty period of 5 years. All you need to present is your original receipt with date of purchase or product registration number. The exclusions of the warranty are the following: Normal wear, abuse of unauthorized repairs/modifications and lastly, shipping to service center and back to the customer’s place.
Price Evaluation
We all know that one of the major categories in purchasing a benchtop thickness planer is the price. In this category, we have considered the value for money for each machine. We have realized that in this category, the best priced is the Porter-Cable PC305PT which is priced at $320 and the most expensive is Makita 2012NB which is priced at $650.
Overall Winner
Upon summarizing and taking into consideration all the categories mentioned above, the overall best winner is the DeWalt DW735X and upon our evaluation, we highly recommend this model and brand. Of course, depending on one’s needs, the best bench top thickness planer would vary. You could also check Triton TPT125 and Ridgid R4331 which placed second and third.
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