Planer Thicknessers
A thickness planer is a great addition to any serious workshop. If you’ve seen a planer thicknesser for sale that you think would fit nicely within your business but are unsure about any aspect of the purchase process or features of the machine we’d love to hear from you. Our team has extensive knowledge of all of our stock and many woodworking machines beyond what we have n the showroom.
While we often have second hand planer thicknessers for sale online we also have brand new models. If you’d like a new model but are concerned about the extra cost we can help. We work in partnership with Tower Finance to offer flexible financing options to our customers to enable them to buy the very best woodworking machines. If you’d like some more details give us a call on 01278455622 or email info@twswood.co.uk
Showing 1–16 of 18 results
What’s the Difference Between a Thicknesser and a Planer?
A thicknesser (also known as a thickness planer) and a surface planer serve different but complementary roles in woodworking.
- Surface Planer: Its primary function is to flatten and smooth one side of a board. You use this to create a flat reference face, especially if the board is warped or uneven.
- Thicknesser: This machine ensures that both faces of the wood are parallel and the board is of consistent thickness. After using a surface planer to flatten one side, the thicknesser removes material from the opposite side, making it uniform in thickness across its length.
Essentially, a surface planer is for flattening a board, while a thicknesser ensures even thickness on both sides.
What Is a Thicknesser Used For?
A thicknesser is used to create uniformly thick boards by shaving off layers of wood from the top side. It’s crucial for woodworking projects where precision and consistency are important, such as furniture making, cabinetry, and flooring. The machine can process rough-sawn timber, turning it into smooth, usable wood pieces. This allows you to customize your wood’s thickness to suit your project’s specifications.
Is a Planer Thicknesser Worth It?
A planer thicknesser (a combination of both machines) is an excellent investment for anyone serious about woodworking. Its dual functionality allows for both flattening and thicknessing wood in one machine, saving space and providing more flexibility.
For professional woodworkers and dedicated hobbyists, the tool is worth the investment because it speeds up the workflow, reduces manual labor, and ensures consistently high-quality results. It also allows you to save money by purchasing rough lumber and milling it yourself to exact specifications.
What Can I Use Instead of a Thicknesser?
If you don’t have access to a thicknesser, you can try:
- Hand Planes: These require more manual effort and are not as precise or efficient for large-scale projects, but they can flatten and smooth surfaces effectively.
- Belt Sanders or Drum Sanders: These can be used to sand down the surface and reduce thickness, though not as precisely as a thicknesser.
- Router Jigs: A router can be mounted on a jig to create a makeshift thicknessing system, although this method is slower and less precise.
While alternatives exist, none match the accuracy and efficiency of a dedicated thicknesser.