Two battery planers, two corded ones
| Planer | Power | Width | Deepest cut | Rabbet | Speed as stated | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2623-20 | 18 V battery (M18) | 3-1/4 in | 5/64 in | 27/64 in | 0–14,000 rpm | Not stated in the manual |
| DEWALT DCP580B (page) | 20 V MAX battery | 3-1/4 in | 5/64 in (2 mm) | '5/64 in', as stated | 30,000 cuts per minute | 6.8 lb |
| DEWALT DW680K (page) | Corded, 7.0 A | 3-1/4 in (83 mm) | 3/32 in (2.5 mm) | Fence included; depth not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Makita KP0800 | Corded (European edition) | 82 mm | 2.5 mm | 9 mm | 17,000 min⁻¹ | 2.6 kg |
Each figure is the maker's own. The battery planers reviewed take a shallower cut per pass than the corded ones. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
20V 3-1/4-in cordless planer, tool only
DEWALT DCP580B
DEWALT's DCP580B from the table above, sold as a bare tool: 3-1/4 in wide, a 5/64 in deepest cut and 6.8 lb, by DEWALT's page; battery and charger are separate.
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Matching a cordless planer to the work
| Work | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting doors and trim away from an outlet | A battery planer on a battery you already use | M18 for Milwaukee, 20 V MAX for DEWALT; Milwaukee says to use only the battery packs designated for the tool |
| Deep rabbets | The largest stated rabbet | Milwaukee: 27/64 in; DEWALT's page gives 5/64 in |
| Heavy stock removal | A deeper cut per pass | The corded planers here take 3/32 in or 2.5 mm, the battery ones 5/64 in |
| Fine finishing passes | Small, repeatable depth steps | Both battery planers adjust in 1/256 in steps |
| Work in the cold | A stated operating range | Milwaukee: 0 °F to 125 °F; DEWALT's page states none |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Battery platform. Milwaukee's manual allows only the battery packs and charger designated for the tool, and DEWALT's page names its 20 V MAX system; the tool-only versions come without them.
- Depth and rabbet. Both battery planers stop at 5/64 in per pass; check the rabbet depth if you cut steps.
- Speed figures. Milwaukee states rpm, DEWALT cuts per minute; they measure different things and do not compare.
- Guides. Both have a chamfer groove in the front shoe and a guide fence; Milwaukee's fence also sets bevels to 45°.
- Dust. Milwaukee's exhaust switches sides and takes a bag or a vacuum hose; DEWALT sells its dust bag separately. Empty bags at half full — dust from oil finishes can self-ignite (Milwaukee).
- Blades. Carbide, double-edged, reversed or replaced in pairs and never sharpened. More in planer knives and inserts.
Safety— Battery planer rules
Remove the battery before changing blades, adjusting or clearing a jammed chute. Clamp the work; hold the tool with both hands; let it reach full speed before it touches the work; wait for the drum to stop before setting it down (Milwaukee).
Before choosing a cordless planer
- Which battery platform you already own
- Depth per pass and rabbet depth you need
- Fence, chamfer groove and kickstand
- Dust bag or vacuum connection
- Whether a corded planer would do the job
Corded and battery planers are compared together in choosing an electric hand planer, and the tool is explained in the electric hand planer guide. For thicknessing boards a machine is needed: see choosing a thickness planer and the planer guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own, DEWALT's from its product pages. Two DEWALT figures are shown as printed: a rabbet capacity equal to its depth of cut, and a depth step of 1/256 in given as about 0.01 mm, though 1/256 in is about 0.1 mm, the figure Milwaukee gives. Rpm and cuts per minute are different measures and are not converted. No planer was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
M18 3-1/4" Planer, Cat. No. 2623-20, operator's manual (58-14-0026d3). Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2623-20: 18 V DC on M18 batteries and chargers; 0–14,000 rpm no load; 5/64 in deepest cut; 27/64 in rabbet; 3-1/4 in wide; 0–125 °F operating range; 1/256 in (0.1 mm) depth detents; a guide fence for widths up to 3-1/4 in and bevels to 45°; a chamfer groove; a kickstand; a left or right exhaust with an accessory dust bag or a 1-1/2 in vacuum hose; double-edged carbide blades changed in pairs, not sharpened; the battery removed before any adjustment and before clearing jams.
- 2.
DCP580B 20V MAX* XR Brushless Cordless Planer (Tool Only). DEWALT.
Used for: The DCP580B: 20 V MAX battery, brushless; 3-1/4 in; 5/64 in (2 mm) deepest cut; a 'rebate capacity of 5/64-in'; a depth knob in 1/256 in steps, given as '0.01mm. Approximately'; '30,000 cuts per minute' with no rpm stated; 6.8 lb; a kickstand, a chamfer groove and a guide fence; battery, charger and dust bag sold separately.
- 3.
DW680K 3-1/4 in. (83 mm) Planer Kit, 3/32 in. (2.5 mm) depth of cut. DEWALT.
Used for: A corded planer for comparison: 7.0 A, 3-1/4 in (83 mm), 3/32 in (2.5 mm) per pass.
- 4.
Planer KP0800 instruction manual (multilingual European edition), as hosted by a retailer. Makita.
Used for: A corded planer for comparison: 82 mm, 2.5 mm per pass, 9 mm shiplapping, 17,000 min⁻¹, 2.6 kg (European edition).
About this buying guide
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