Four planers by their makers' figures
| Planer | Power | Width | Deepest cut | Rabbet | Blades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita KP0800 | Corded (European edition) | 82 mm | 2.5 mm | 9 mm, with the edge fence | Conventional or mini blades, in pairs |
| DEWALT DW680K (page) | Corded, 7.0 A | 3-1/4 in (83 mm) | 3/32 in (2.5 mm) | Fence included; depth not stated | Resharpenable HSS or reversible carbide |
| Milwaukee 2623-20 | 18 V battery | 3-1/4 in | 5/64 in | 27/64 in | Carbide, double-edged, not sharpened |
| DEWALT DCP580B (page) | 20 V MAX battery | 3-1/4 in | 5/64 in (2 mm) | '5/64 in', as stated | Replacement blade DW6654 |
Each figure is the maker's own. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
3-1/4-in hand planer kit
DEWALT DW680K
DEWALT's corded DW680K from the table above: 3/32 in per pass, three chamfer grooves and resharpenable high-speed steel blades, by its page.
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Matching a planer to the work
| Work | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Heavier stock removal | The deepest cut per pass | DW680K: 3/32 in; KP0800: 2.5 mm; the battery planers: 5/64 in |
| Rabbets | A stated rabbet depth and a fence | Milwaukee: 27/64 in; Makita: 9 mm with its edge fence |
| Chamfering edges | A chamfer groove | DW680K: three grooves; Milwaukee and DCP580: one |
| Away from an outlet | A battery planer | See the cordless guide |
| Resharpening blades | A planer that takes HSS blades | DW680K: resharpenable high-speed steel; carbide blades are reversed, not sharpened |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Corded or battery. The battery planers reviewed cut 5/64 in a pass; the corded ones 3/32 in or 2.5 mm. Battery details are in choosing a cordless planer.
- Depth adjustment. Milwaukee and DEWALT's DCP580 step in 1/256 in; Makita's pointer reads the setting on its knob.
- Rabbet and chamfer. Check the stated rabbet depth and whether a fence comes with the tool.
- Blades. Matched pairs, set as the manual shows; some planers take only carbide, some also resharpenable steel. More in planer knives and inserts.
- Rest and dust. A kickstand or foot keeps the blades off the bench; bags or vacuum hoses take the chips.
- Speed figures. Rpm and cuts per minute measure different things and do not compare.
An electric hand planer is not a hand plane: a plane with no motor is chosen differently, in choosing a hand plane. Nor does it replace a jointer or thickness planer for flattening and thicknessing boards — see jointer vs planer.
Safety— Rules the planer manuals share
Clamp the work; hold the tool with both hands; start it clear of the work and at full speed; never put fingers in the chip chute; unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or clearing a jam; wait for the drum to stop before setting it down (Makita, Milwaukee).
Before choosing an electric hand planer
- Corded or battery, and which battery platform
- Depth per pass and rabbet depth
- Fence and chamfer grooves
- Blade type and how it is set
- Kickstand or foot; dust bag or vacuum
How the tool works is in the electric hand planer guide; the overview of jointers and planers is the planer guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own, DEWALT's from its product pages. Speed is given as rpm by Milwaukee and Makita and as cuts per minute by DEWALT, and the two are not converted; corded power is in amps where stated. The Makita manual is the European edition. No planer was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Planer KP0800 instruction manual (multilingual European edition), as hosted by a retailer. Makita.
Used for: The KP0800: corded; 82 mm; 2.5 mm deepest cut; 9 mm shiplapping with the accessory edge fence; 17,000 min⁻¹; 2.6 kg; conventional or mini blades set in a gauge and changed in pairs; a dust bag or Makita vacuum on an optional nozzle; a foot under the rear base; a lock-on or lock-off switch by version; European edition.
- 2.
DW680K 3-1/4 in. (83 mm) Planer Kit, 3/32 in. (2.5 mm) depth of cut. DEWALT.
Used for: The DW680K: corded, 7.0 A; 3-1/4 in (83 mm); 3/32 in (2.5 mm) per pass; resharpenable high-speed steel or reversible carbide blades, two carbide included; three chamfer grooves; a kickstand; a rabbeting fence; a kit box.
- 3.
M18 3-1/4" Planer, Cat. No. 2623-20, operator's manual (58-14-0026d3). Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2623-20: 18 V battery; 0–14,000 rpm; 3-1/4 in; 5/64 in; 27/64 in rabbet; 1/256 in detents; a guide fence for bevels to 45°; a chamfer groove; a kickstand; a switchable exhaust for a bag or a 1-1/2 in vacuum hose; carbide double-edged blades only, in pairs, not sharpened.
- 4.
DCP580B 20V MAX* XR Brushless Cordless Planer (Tool Only). DEWALT.
Used for: The DCP580B: 20 V MAX battery; 3-1/4 in; 5/64 in; a 'rebate capacity of 5/64-in'; 1/256 in steps; '30,000 cuts per minute'; 6.8 lb; a kickstand, chamfer groove and guide fence; dust bag sold separately.
About this buying guide
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