Hand power planer vs bench type planer for small stock of wood?

Question

I need to get some pieces of wood to a smaller thickness. Some pieces are only 5"X3"X.75" and they need to be 5"X3"X.50", what is the best tool and how do I prevent the piece from flying off.

Answer 1

Bench plane stock to 1/2".You should do this before you cut 5x3 cut to size with chop or table saw (with finish blade)Bench planer is the tool to use.

Answer 2

I have a couple of suggestions that won't get you into an unsafe position, hopefully.

First of all though, the hand help planers are great tools, but it's the operator who supplies much of the effort in an even planing. The bench type aren't subject to variances in muscle exhertion, etc.

You might try this, on a table large enough to accomodate the suggestion.

With the target piece of stock, build walls around it, of the same or simialr stock of the original thickness. In effect that closes in the target piece on 3 or 4 sides. That also allows (with a hand held) that the edges will be as even as the balance of the piece. (Again there may still be variables)

OR,,, the frame pieces can be at the 1/2 inch thickness allowing a gauge of sorts, as you plane away the excess 1/4 on the target pieces. Certainly continuing to measure is advised.
FRAME the target piece might be easier to visualize?

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

If you have access to a thicknessing machine you can do very thin sections if you tape the workpiece to a sled to take it through the machine. The sled helps to keep the stock from bending and acts as a base you form a hook at one end to hold the work against the cutters. Double sided tape on the sled will hold the work on to it for the cut.

You could use this method on a bench planer but the results will not be as good as a thicknesser.

DWD

Answer 4

I use extra blades I have for my european mitre box. They look like a giant hack-saw blade...they are very much longer, wider, and stronger. I mark the boards on all 4 edges, and put it in a vise so that I can cut each side by pulling the blade thru the cut with a glove on my hand. YOu are actually using the blade as a rip saw. It will do the job if you use the kind of blade I suggest. Woodcraft sells them as replacement blades for the Champion Mitre box. YOu can also use a Japanese dozuki type blade made by Tajima, available locally. Pull the saw thru the cuts. Cut on the outside of the line, and finish with a plane, or rasp, or sander. YOu can turn the sander upside down and take tiny runs with your piece of wood. If you try this, however, on a belt sander, have your medical insurance paid up, and maybe invest in a spare hand. 1/4" is too much to take off on such a small piece with a plane, but I have old wood planes that will do that just fine. However, Remember to mark your lines, first. A man can not do this kind of work without first establishing the lines he must work to.

Answer 5

a bench type planer is your best to use to get your wood to.50.
hand planers are usually used to edges of wood.
good luck itch

Answer 6

the pieces you mention are too small to use a planer of either type on safely! sanding them is your only real option

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

you might be able to use a table saw if you turn the board on edge and cut only half way through and then flip it over to finish the cut.