Last Updated on 2021-03-01 by Harry Masterton

Power tools will save you time in the workshop. In many cases, they are easier to master than traditional hand tools. Learning how to use an electric hand planer properly will improve your enjoyment of your woodworking hobby and allow you to build projects that are beautiful as well as functional.
How To Use An Electric Hand Planer
What is an electric hand planer?
A hand planer consists of a rotating set of blades positioned between two base plates. The plate behind the rotating blades is non-adjustable, providing a stable surface for the tool to rest as it passes over the face of the lumber. Its front plate is adjustable, allowing you to move it to set the depth of cut.
Is using a power hand planer difficult to learn?
Using an electric hand planer is reasonably simple, as this power tool does not require many adjustments. Many electric planer designs use just a power switch and a depth adjustment knob.
A lock control prevents unwanted shifts in blade height. Manufacturers will include a dust exhaust port for debris clearing, as well as ergonomic handle designs that provide comfort along with control. With this minimalistic power tool design, you can learn how to use an electric hand planer quickly.
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Another consideration is the small amount of material that these tools remove. A power hand planer will take no more than 1/16 inch of wood off of the surface you are planing.
Hobbyists will find this tool available in cutting widths between 3.25 and 6.5-inches. Thinner blade widths are easy to control, while wide blades cover more surface with each pass.

- Dimension rough sawn timber
- Smooth out surface textures
- Prepare edges for joinery
As you learn how to use an electric hand planer, you will take rough timber down to the desired board thickness for a project. You can thin out pre-cut lumber as well.
Rough sawn timber has surfaces that will require aggressive cleaning. Panel glue-ups contain joints that may not butt together evenly. Learning how to use an electric hand planer will allow you to clean these surface textures accurately and quickly.
Creating clean edges on boards is critical to making a butt joint that holds and looks good to your eye. Learning how to use an electric hand planer correctly speeds up this process. For some woodworkers, it also helps to get even surfaces the first time.
This tool can also help with many projects around the house or on the job. Carpenters and DIYers will find it useful for squaring up doors or trimming them to fit frames correctly. A good power hand planer can speed up wooden floor jobs, also.
Tips On How To Use An Electric Hand Planer For Various Projects
How to use an electric hand planer on a table top

Image curtesy of woodworkmag
One project that this tool excels at is cleaning the surface of your workbench. It will quickly remove surface-level stains, paints, and protective coatings. You can also smooth out a tabletop that has cuts, dents, or gouges in it.
Cleaning the surface before you use your power hand planer is critical in preventing damage to your blades. Use a rag soaked in water to remove loose debris. A cleaner may be necessary to remove residue that can affect the blade edges or the foot of the planer.
Also, take the time to clear any hardware in the tool's path. If you are planing your workbench, make sure that imbedded metal fasteners are removed before you cut into the wooden surface.
Pay attention to the grain direction. Some tabletops have alternating patterns that may require using the planer at a 45-degree angle to prevent damage.
Using a power hand planer on wide boards
The blade width of your planer will determine how many passes it will take to plane a board's surface. Learning how to use an electric hand planer effectively will allow you to work quickly with wide boards and prevent frustrations.
Use a surface that is larger than the board to provide adequate support. You can use shims to help keep a board from rocking as you work. If you mark the edges with a gauge, you will have a clear idea of where you want to stop.
Planing down high points will help to create a flat surface for cleanup. Winding sticks are an easy way to help determine if your wood is flat, so do not hesitate to use a pair. Wider boards have more even coloring and patterns, and fewer grain changes to fight with than a glue-up can.
How to use an electric hand planer to trim a door
A popular DIY project for homeowners is to install new doors or to trim an existing one that is sticking. Using a power hand planer quickly trims edges, saving time as you test fit between cuts.
Once the door is hanging, you need to find the point where it makes contact with the door jam. Use cardboard or paper between the surfaces and mark the start and end of areas that need trimming.
Remove the door and mark across the entire edge with a pencil. You can use your planer to remove sections of wood in the desired spaces while avoiding removal on any areas that are fitting nicely.
While it might be temping, never use a powered hand planer on an installed door. It is unsafe to run the planer on edges that can move on the hinges, and is also more difficult to control when using it vertically.

Using an electric hand planer on floors
Resurfacing or leveling hardwood floors is another home project that many woodworkers use planers on. The debris generated is not as finite as the dust created when sanding, making it an option that many homeowners prefer.
Your knowledge of how to use an electric hand planer properly must include surface preparation. Various methods used to secure flooring materials can affect your work.
Remove all fasteners so that they do not damage your blades. Caution is required when planing tongue and groove boards to prevent weakening the joinery.
Your blade set can become clogged when removing protective coatings. Cleaning residue from the edges will keep the blades cutting while preventing waste from gumming up the wood's surface.
An electric hand planer can quickly level off high spots on your floors and expose even layers of wood grain that enhances its overall appearance.
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How to use an electric hand planer on ceilings joists
An often overlooked function of your power hand plane is the ability to even out joists in the ceiling of your home. Replacing walls and ceilings exposes the wood framing underneath. You might be surprised by the amount of shifting that framing timber experiences as the house settles.
Paneling will fit evenly across joists that have flattened. Using an electric hand planer requires extra safety precautions when working overhead.
A proper footing is your most important concern here. Use scaffolding, if possible. Two ladders with wide boards between them can work in some situations. Your height should provide enough reach to operate the planer comfortably overhead.
Another consideration will be the debris collection port. You want a planer that allows waste to be ejected away from you as you work. That allows you to concentrate on holding the tool as it cuts instead of dodging wood chips dropping towards your face.

You will want to clean off any outdoor wood before you begin work. The elements will carry dirt and other debris onto the wood's surface (as well as in the grain). A damp rag should suffice in most cases, but a hose can remove caked-on mud.
Fences and some decks use fasteners in easy to find locations. You will want to scan the entire surface to be safe, however. Furniture and fence slats may require removal before you plan them.
Make sure that the wood is completely dry before you use the electric hand planer. That will prevent accidental damage from green or wet woods splitting. Performing this type of outdoor maintenance will help exterior wood last longer and keep it looking nice.
How to use an electric hand planer as a jointer
Using an electric hand planer as a joiner may be the only option for small shops with limited space or areas that serve multiple purposes. It is often more economical, making it a budget-friendly choice for novice woodworkers as well as those with little money to spend.
Using an edge-guide or your hand to hold the planer correctly will produce an edge that is perpendicular to the face of your board. Allow the planer to feed itself so that you do not force it to dip to one side of the edge.
The wood that you are working on must be secured to prevent it from moving under the planer. You want to clamp boards horizontally when possible, so it is easier to plane longer swaths. Converting your hand planer as a benchtop jointer (see below) provides better results in most cases.
Video – How To Use An Electric hand Planer As A Jointer
How to use an electric hand planer as a benchtop jointer
Amateur woodworkers enjoy converting tools with jigs and other simple modifications. These provide more versatility and allow you to create a wide range of projects. Converting your power hand planer into a benchtop jointer is not difficult, with two major components to consider:
- Jig body
- Jig fence
You will find a multitude of designs using an electric hand planer, each specific to the power tool the jig builds around.
No matter what jig pattern you select, a key component will be the base that holds the planer in place (either on your bench or in a vise). The base section will cradle the handle and top of your electric hand planer, supporting it within the jig.
You will have a board running up from the base, supporting the planer along one side. This board will stand above the jig's baseplates when it sits upside down. It runs perpendicular to the foot and cutting blades and will be used as a fence to support boards as you run them across the planer.
One side of the jig should remain open to allow debris to escape and air to circulate. Using a power hand planer jig in a vise may require building a third side, though. Your benchtop jointer jig needs to hold the planer in an upside-down position while keeping it securely in place.
Keep access to the depth adjustment knob available so that you do not have to remove the planer each time you want to adjust the cutting depth. The fence should stand at least two inches above the cutting blades, with more height equating to more stability as you move edges across the cutting blades.
Use a combination or T-square to check that the fence is perpendicular to the planer's shoe. Use shims to raise one side of the planer to help level it, where possible.
How To Use An Electric Hand Planer To Improve Your Woodworking
In the end, using an electric hand planer will improve your speed in the shop. The tool is faster to use than a traditional hand plane, and most hobbyists find it easier to learn how to use it. That will allow you to dimension your lumber and move on to assembly and finishing.
Learning how to use an electric hand planer properly will improve the results you achieve. Using a power hand planer removes high points on a board or panel surface. That helps with assembly and overall appearance.
You can save money by learning how to use an electric hand planer. You can use this tool like a planer and jointer, freeing up money to buy other tools.
Hand planers can dimension pieces of lumber that you can not insert into a standard wood planer. The narrow cutting width allows you to concentrate removal on high spots.
Most importantly, you will find woodworking more enjoyable by learning how to use an electric hand planer in your hobby.
How to use an electric hand planer safely
Practicing safety in your shop will keep woodworking enjoyable for years to come. Before you start cutting, make sure to:
- Wear eye protection or a face shield, as well as hearing protection
- Inspect the wood for fasteners or other debris that can cause issues
- Secure material in place using clamps or a vise
- Inspect the planer to make sure it is ready for use
Learning how to use an electric hand planer safely during cuts includes:
- Allow the cutting head to reach speed before starting your cut
- Begin with the front shoe resting on the wood
- Stand securely with your feet apart
- Use both hands to control the tool
- Allow the blades to stop before setting it down
Finally, read the documentation so that you know how to use an electric hand planer as the manufacturer intended. If your a fan of the manual hand plane then check our woodworking hand plane review with 14 types of hand plane reviewed and how to use them
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