Which produces a more smooth surface. A hand held electric planer or a Surface planing machine?

Question

I would imagine this would depend on the number of cuts per inch. So which would produce a smoother surface?

I understand that using any planer will not produce a smooth finish, but which would produce a less rough surface?

Answer 1

Neither would produce a smooth surface.

The machine planer will produce a surface that is true in thickness to the opposite side. That is the benefit of a machine 2 sided planer it produces uniform thickness.

The slower speed of travel thru the planer will produce less ridges in the piece if examined under magnification and Id assume both are running at about the same RPM speed so neither has a benefit in this regard.

A hand held machine planer is used for clearances and fitting of such things as wood doors and the like and has not much benefit in producing a smooth finish as these surfaces are hit with a belt sander as a final finishing.

A smooth finish is achieved by sanding with a belt and the higher the grit # the smoother the belt.

Answer 2

A stock fed planer, even with an extremely sharp set of blades and at the highest RPM's possible isn't meant to give a finish smooth surface. Beyond that, the fact that it's MDF means the stock is basically a composite, and can shred or chip in the process. Without knowing your reason for plaining other than reducing thickness, is the sanding Not going to accomplish that to an adequate reduction? Certainly sanding will take longer or more effort, and you can reduce the grit size during the sanding process. I'm thinking you've been asking questions about this project in series, and is it an edge you need smooth or the face of the stock? If it's an edge a table/belt sander will work as well, if the grit is fine enough to remove blade marks. in the end you may have to do some hand sanding depending on how smooth you want the surface to be. Steven Wolf

Answer 3

A handheld electric planer is used primarily for shaving doors to fit. It will produce a a smooth finish in parts, but will not be as uniform as a surface planer.

Answer 4

Far be it from me to disagree with three top contributors but both machines when correctly set with sharp blades will produce a smooth surface. Both methods should produce a finish equivalent to at least 220 grade sandpaper.

Answer 5

James has a great thought,and I'll add my 2 cents. The plane is to adjust thickness not smoothness.

Your Q answered directly however would have to be a table type feed planer. Hand held, much like any other tool is dependant on our controling the finish, be it a drill, sander, plane etc. As humans we might tend to expend more energy one time than the next, or less, hence creating variations.

Sanding after the fact might also cause variations, and not having details of your purpose I suggest varying degrees of grit until you get to a point with FINE, that suits you and the piece.

Steven Wolf

Answer 6

A surface planing machine is wider, faster, and planes smoother (except for possible snipe at the end of the board).