How to choose an electric plane – expert advice

The desire to automate all areas of construction work is quite logical and justified – everyone wants to get maximum productivity, while making a minimum of effort to get the job done. It is for this reason that all kinds of mechanical analogs of traditional devices with a 'manual' drive are now so developed. A striking representative of such devices is the electric plane, invented by Makita in the middle of the last century. According to the most conservative estimates, the electric plane is three heads higher in specific productivity than its mechanical counterpart, and the effort required is minimal.

Varieties and design features of electric planers

The key element of the electric planer design is the all-metal drum on which the blades are fixed. It is they who carry out the processing of wood, however, unlike the mechanical model, in which there is only one knife, electric planers are equipped with two or four knives. Together with a fairly high drum rotation speed (about 10-15 thousand revolutions per minute), high-quality and fast wood processing is carried out.

In addition to the drum, the compact and robust body of the electric planer includes the following elements:

1. Electric motor;

2. Control console, including a quick and soft start button, as well as a depth control;

3. Planer travel stop located on the outside of the body;

4. Nozzles for removing chips and a bag for storing it;

5. Main mechanism belt drive system;

Household and professional models – how they differ and which one to choose

Currently, all models on sale can be divided into two large groups – household and professional electric planers. This division is, in fact, very arbitrary, because both types can be used in very different conditions, and the area of ​​the treated surfaces in other living conditions can exceed those at any enterprise, but the fact remains. The differences lie mainly in the functional features of this or that plane, as well as in its power characteristics:

1. Home models are compact and miniature, their weight almost never exceeds 1 kilogram, and the installed engine power is at the level of 0.6-0.8 kW, while developing 8-10 thousand revolutions per minute at a peak cycle. Adjustment of the planing depth of such devices is at the level of 0-2.5 millimeters.

2. Professional models differ significantly in terms of technical characteristics. In almost all cases, a more powerful electric motor is installed here, capable of developing up to 1.5-2 kilowatts of power at a rotational speed of 15-17 thousand revolutions per minute. The depth of operation of such devices can reach 4 millimeters, which makes it possible to cope even with sufficiently deep scratches. The weight also differs – most professional models weigh 3-3.5 kilograms or more.

Since the difference in the functional features of the above types of electric planers is significant, significant differences should be expected in cost. If a compact household electric planer can be purchased for 3-4 thousand rubles, then for a professional model you will have to pay 2-2.5 times more.

Which electric plane is better to buy

At present, the range of stores selling electrical products includes a huge number of different devices of this class – there really is plenty to choose from. However, before giving preference to a particular model, you should familiarize yourself with its characteristics and determine whether it is suitable for use in your environment. After that, you need to decide on the budget and analyze the models that fall into it:

1. If you have enough money to buy a good electric planer from a well-known manufacturer, preference should be given to models made by Hitachi, Bosch, Makita and other world-famous companies. In this case, the buyer can be sure that his electric plane will last a long time and will not cause much trouble;

2. In the case of selecting an inexpensive budget-level model and planning to use it a couple of times a year, it is quite possible to give preference to a device of conditionally Russian production. Conditionally Russian because, in the presence of a Russian name, all these devices are assembled in China and differ only in the color of the case and the inscription on it. Otherwise, the functional features and the schematic diagram are almost identical;

When choosing an electric planer, you must remember that even budget models from well-known world-famous manufacturers will probably turn out to be more functional and durable than models positioned as high-quality and reliable ones, which bear the stigma of a little-known brand from the Middle Kingdom. This feature, in general, applies to almost all types of modern household and construction equipment.

What are the main criteria for choosing a planer?

Exterior and appearance

Before purchasing, you must carefully inspect the electric plane and evaluate the overall build quality, as well as the technical solutions used by the manufacturer. The enclosure should create a solid feel, the gaps should have the same width and an overall sense of quality and solidity should be created.

Pay attention to the overall balance of the device, as well as to the ergonomics of parts and main controls. Buttons and switches should be within easy reach and not cause discomfort when using the device. The device should lie comfortably in the hand and not cause discomfort during prolonged use.

Electric motor characteristics

The more powerful the engine installed in a particular electric plane, the more productive the device is and the larger areas it can handle without 'rest'. The vast majority of electric planers are equipped with motors up to 1 kW, but professional models are very often equipped with more powerful motors – about 1.5-2 kW.

Another characteristic to look out for is peak rpm. Many manufacturers deliberately overestimate this parameter, indicating the idle speed, no load. These measurements are not entirely accurate – as a rule, when a load is applied, the engine speed drops by 15-20%. For example, if the device has a declared rotational speed of 10 thousand revolutions per minute, it is very likely that under load it will give 8-8.5 thousand.

Width and depth of woodworking

Planing width is a parameter that directly affects the performance of the device. It is impossible to give any specific recommendations here: the planing width is selected individually for the type of boards being processed. If we talk about some kind of universal formula, then we should highlight electric planers with a planing width of 50-75 mm. It should also be remembered that the proportions are as follows: every 100W of electric motor power is suitable for processing a board 10 mm wide. This means that to work with boards with a width of 100-120 millimeters, it is necessary to select an electric plane with an engine power of 1-1.2 kW.

Similar words can be said about the depth of surface treatment. Almost all modern devices have the ability to adjust the working depth in the range from zero to 4-5 millimeters. The upper numbers are rarely needed – as a rule, when it comes to a very unsatisfactory surface quality. It is for this reason that a device that allows adjustment in the range from zero to 2.5-3 millimeters is sufficient for household (and, in general, also for professional) use.

Device weight

There is also a very clear tendency here – the more powerful the device, the more functional it is, the more weight it has. The same feature is also the reverse side of the coin – large and bulky devices are laborious and inconvenient to control and maneuver, especially when it comes to processing surfaces of complex shapes. It is for this reason that preference should be given to those devices whose weight does not exceed 2.5-3 kilograms.

In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose a grass trimmer and the secrets of choosing a spray gun for painting your home.

Electric planer selection video

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.