Six planers by their makers' figures
| Planer | Class | Width | Thickness | Full-width cut | Cutterhead | Supply as stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita 2012NB | Portable | 304 mm | 3–155 mm | 1.0 mm | 2 blades | 1,650 W (European edition) |
| DEWALT DW734 (page) | Benchtop | 12-1/2 in | Up to 6 in | Not stated on the page | 3 knives | 120 V, 15 A |
| DEWALT DW735 | Benchtop | 13 in | 1/8–6 in | 1/8 in only up to 6 in wide | 3 knives | 120 V, 15 A |
| Grizzly G0633 (planer mode) | Combination | 12 in | Up to 8 in | 1/8 in | 3 knives (G0634: spiral) | 5 HP, 220 V, 25 A |
| Powermatic 15S / 15HH | Stationary | 14-7/8 in | 3/16–6 in | 1/8 in | 3 knives / 74 inserts | 3 HP, 230 V, 1-phase |
| Powermatic 209 / 209HH | Stationary | 20 in | 1/8–8 in | 3/32 in | 4 knives / 100 inserts | 5 HP, 230 V 1-phase or 230/460 V 3-phase |
Each figure is the maker's own. Weight runs from 28.1 kg (2012NB) and 80 lb (DW734) to 507 lb (15S) and 801 lb (209HH). Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
13-in thickness planer package
DEWALT DW735X
DEWALT's DW735X package: its page gives a 13 in, 3-knife planer with two speeds for 96 or 179 cuts per inch, as for the DW735 in the table above.
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Matching a planer to the shop
| Shop | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Household circuit, boards up to 12 in | Benchtop or portable | DW734, DW735: 120 V, 15 A; 2012NB: 304 mm |
| Boards up to 15 or 20 in, regular use | Stationary | 15S: 14-7/8 in; 209: 20 in; feeds of 16–31 ft per minute |
| Thick stock | Up to 8 in capacity | 209 and G0633: 8 in; benchtop machines stop at about 6 in |
| Very thin stock | The smallest stated minimum | 209: 1/8 in; 15S: 3/16 in; DW735: 1/2 in |
| No jointer yet | A combination machine, or a jointer as well | DEWALT: a planer works best on stock jointed first |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Width and depth together. The deepest cut falls as width rises; compare the full-width figure, not the headline one.
- Feed. Faster feeds move stock; slower feeds and more cuts per inch give a finer surface, which is why DEWALT gives the DW735 two speeds.
- Knives or inserts. Insert heads (Powermatic's HH models) turn each insert to a fresh edge; knives are reset or replaced as a set. More in planer knives and inserts.
- Supply. A stationary planer may need a 230 V circuit — 30 A for the 15S — or three-phase power, wired as its manual says by an electrician. Check before choosing.
- Minimum stock. From 1/8 in (209) to 1/2 in (DW735) thick, and 6-3/4 in to 12 in long.
- A jointer. A planer does not flatten warped stock; see jointer vs planer.
Safety— Rules the planer manuals share
Guards and covers on; full speed before feeding; never reach into the cutterhead, rollers or chute while running; jams and chips cleared only with the power off and the head stopped; minimum length and thickness respected; long stock supported (DEWALT, Makita, Powermatic).
Before choosing a thickness planer
- Widest and thickest board, and the full-width cut
- The supply in the shop: voltage, phase, circuit
- Floor space and weight, or benchtop portability
- Knives or inserts
- Dust collection for the port size
- A jointer, or a combination machine
Benchtop and portable planers are compared in more detail in choosing a benchtop planer and choosing a portable planer; handheld planers in choosing a cordless planer. How a planer works is in the planer guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own. Powermatic's motors are stated in horsepower and amps, DEWALT's in amps and Makita's in watts; they are different measures and are not compared. DEWALT's manual gives 13 in as the DW735's width but 12 in as the widest stock to plane. No planer was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
DW734 12-1/2 in. Thickness Planer with Three Knife Cutter-Head. DEWALT.
Used for: The DW734: 12-1/2 in, 6 in capacity, three knives, 96 cuts per inch, 120 V, 15 A, 80 lb.
- 2.
Used for: The DW735: 13 in (stock no wider than 12 in), 1/8 to 6 in, 1/8 in on 6 in or less, three knives, 14 or 26 ft per minute, 120 V, 15 A on a separate circuit; 12 in minimum length, 1/2 in minimum thickness; it works best on stock jointed first; helical cutterheads not recommended.
- 3.
Used for: The 2012NB: 304 mm, 3.0 to 1.0 mm by width, two blades, 8.5 m per minute, 130 mm minimum length, 28.1 kg; European edition.
- 4.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 15-inch Planer, Models 15S and 15HH (M-0460286, edition 8). Powermatic, 2024.
Used for: The 15S/15HH: 14-7/8 in, 6 in, 1/8 in full width, 3/16 in minimum thickness, 8 in minimum length; three knives or 74 inserts; 16 and 20 ft per minute; 3 HP, single-phase 230 V, 15 A on a 30 A circuit; 507 and 502 lb.
- 5.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 20-inch Planer, Models 209 and 209HH (M-0460283, edition 17). Powermatic, 2025.
Used for: The 209/209HH: 20 in, 8 in, 3/32 in full width, 1/8 in minimum thickness, 6-3/4 in minimum length; four knives or 100 inserts; 24 and 31 ft per minute; 5 HP, single-phase 230 V (23 or 28 A) or three-phase 230/460 V; 770 and 801 lb.
- 6.
Model G0633/G0634 Jointer/Planer Combination Machine owner's manual (revised February 2018). Grizzly Industrial, 2018.
Used for: A combination machine's planer: 12 in, 8 in, 1/8 in full width, 22 ft per minute, 5 HP at 220 V, 672 lb, with a jointer on the same cutterhead.
About this buying guide
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