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Planer Thicknessers

Planer Thicknessers: Essential Tools for Precision Woodworking

A planer thicknesser is a must-have machine for any woodworking enthusiast or professional, offering the ability to achieve perfectly smooth, even, and dimensionally accurate timber. Combining the functions of both a planer and a thicknesser, this versatile tool can streamline your woodworking process, saving time and ensuring consistency across your projects.

What is a Planer Thicknesser?

A planer thicknesser, also known as a jointer-thicknesser, is a dual-purpose woodworking machine. It serves two primary functions:

Planing: This process flattens and smooths one face of the wood. The planer side of the machine ensures that the timber’s surface is level, which is essential for creating straight edges and preparing the wood for further processing.
Thicknessing: After planing one side of the wood, the thicknesser comes into play. It reduces the thickness of the wood to the desired measurement while maintaining parallel surfaces. This is critical for ensuring uniformity across all pieces of timber used in a project.

Why Invest in a Planer Thicknesser?

Owning a planer thicknesser is invaluable for anyone serious about woodworking. Here’s why:

Precision and Accuracy: The ability to adjust the thickness and achieve a consistent, smooth finish makes it easier to work with raw or rough timber, turning it into high-quality, usable wood.
Versatility: Whether you’re working on furniture, cabinetry, or intricate joinery, a planer thicknesser can handle a wide range of projects. It’s especially useful for reclaiming old wood, allowing you to give new life to previously discarded timber.
Time-Saving: By combining two essential woodworking functions into one machine, you significantly reduce the time spent preparing wood, freeing you up to focus on the creative aspects of your projects.

Choosing the Right Planer Thicknesser

When selecting a planer thicknesser, consider factors such as:

Width Capacity: The width capacity determines the maximum size of timber that can be processed. Choose a machine that suits the scale of your typical projects.
Motor Power: A more powerful motor allows for smoother operation and the ability to handle harder woods without strain.
Cutterhead Type: The cutterhead influences the quality of the finish. Options like spiral cutterheads provide finer finishes and quieter operation.
Build Quality: Invest in a robust, well-constructed machine to ensure durability and longevity, especially if you plan on using it regularly.

How to Use a Planer Thicknesser

Using a planer thicknesser requires some technique and understanding:

Safety First: Always wear protective gear and follow safety guidelines when operating the machine.
Preparation: Begin by flattening one face of the wood using the planer function. Ensure that the timber is free from nails or other foreign objects that could damage the blades.
Thicknessing: Once one face is flat, feed the wood into the thicknesser to achieve your desired thickness. Make multiple passes, adjusting the machine in small increments to prevent removing too much material at once.

TWS Wood: Your Source for Quality Planer Thicknessers

At TWS Wood, we offer a range of high-quality planer thicknessers to suit every woodworker’s needs, from hobbyists to seasoned professionals. Our selection includes models with various capacities and features, ensuring you find the perfect tool for your workshop.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing equipment or starting from scratch, explore our comprehensive range of planer thicknessers and discover how they can transform your woodworking projects. With our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, TWS Wood is your trusted partner in achieving precision and excellence in every piece you create.

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New Sedgwick PT planer thicknesser 255mm x180mm 3 phase

POA +VAT

Sedgwick 16″ CP Planer Thicknesser

POA +VAT

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.