An electric hand planer is a powerful tool to help you achieve smooth and precise wood surfaces. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best techniques for using an electric hand planer safely and effectively. Whether a beginner or a pro, you’ll find helpful tips and tricks to master this tool.
For a person who likes to do home maintenance regularly and independently, it isn’t easy to keep his eye away from the hand planners because we always have to do some wood repair at home. It can be any task, from a small to a big one.
But under those conditions, knowing how to use those tools is essential. Although you don’t need to do those maintenance work yourself, learning how to use them might make it much easier for you to deal with these conditions.
What is an electric hand planer?
An Electric hand planer is a device that helps to trim or renovate the wood articles at our place. With the help of the electric current, it works effortlessly, so by just grabbing it in your hand, you can perform any woodwork using an electric hand planer.
It has an easy-to-understand interface, so you don’t have to be experienced, but still, it requires many precautions because it is a sharp tool, and any negligence can lead to a big problem.
Types of hand planners:
There are mainly two types of hand planers:
- Hand planer
- Electric hand planer
The ordinary hand planers were the first ones to come into the market. Almost all the carpenters own them because it was challenging to perform woodworking without hand planers. But as these hand planers were not running on electricity, the user had to put much effort or workforce into the tool to perform different tasks.
After some years, the electric hand planer was added, which made this task much easier. Using the electric hand planer, you can easily do all the carpeting with one tool and the least power. So by just handling the electric hand planer correctly, you can perform fantastic work with this tool, but first, you should know how to use this tool correctly.
Parts of the electric hand planer:
Before starting to use the hand planer, first, you should know about the whole structure and parts of the electric hand planer so that you can easily understand the working procedure of the electric hand planer. So the electric hand planer consists of the following components:
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Sole
The very first component of the electric hand planer is called the sole, which is its base. It is essential to place this base on the wood at the right angle if you want to make a cut or shave the wood. So be gentle with the base and don’t press it much while using the electric hand planer.
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Knob
The second part of the electric hand planer is its knob, which holds the planer while using it for any of your tasks. It is essential to grip the knob with good hold. You can change the position of the electric hand planer by holding it from its knob. The knob is the first handle of the electric hand planer.
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Tote
Tote is the second handle of the electric hand planer, which you must hold with your right or dominant hand. At this handle, you have to put the right amount of pressure depending upon the depth of the cut you want to make by using the electric hand planer. So don’t mess up with the two different handles of the electric hand planer.
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Blades
Blades are the most important part of the electric hand planer because, without blades, it will not be possible for you to use the electric hand planer, so make sure that the blades are correctly adjusted, and you have to use the electric hand planer according to the direction of the blades. Don’t use the electric hand planer without tightening its blade screws.
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Frog
It is the adjustment part of the electric hand planer, as adjusting its gap determines the type of cut. So you must adjust its gap every time you use the electric hand planer.
These were all components of the electric hand planer, and by having brief information about them, now you should know about the exact way of using an electric hand planer.
How to use an electric hand planer (step-by-step guide):
Tools required:
- Electric hand planer
- Electric socket
- Protective gloves
- Safety goggles
- Leveling tool
- Dust mask
- Power cable
After arranging all these materials, you can use the electric hand planer by following proper guidance.
Step 1: Select the right place
Before using the electric hand planer, select the right place for this. So make sure that you place your wooden piece over a straight and equalized surface so that you can perform your work evenly.
Step 2: Adjust the wooden slab
Now you have to take your wooden slab and adjust it over the surface in the exact position you want to renovate it using the electric hand planer.
Step 3: Adjust yourself
Your position will affect your work the most, so before starting the procedure, make sure you are standing in the correct place by balancing both legs. Adjust your weight over both legs and ensure that no hurdle will come during your work regarding your position.
Step 4: Set the electric hand planer
Now set the electric hand planer. Adjust it at the correct position you want to use it, and don’t forget to tighten the screws of the blades. Adjust the frog and be ready to use it.
Step 5: Turn the planer on
Now you have to give the power supply to the electric hand planer and turn it on so that you can start using and performing your task efficiently.
Step 6: Do your task
Now you have to hold the electric hand planer with both hands at the right position, and by giving the appropriate pressure, place the blades on the wooden slab and do all your refining tasks nicely without any hurry.
Step 7: Turn off the planer
After doing all your work, turn off the power supply to the electric hand planer. Please don’t put it on the wood again because it can ruin your work. Let the blades get fully stopped, and then you can place it at some distance from your working place.
Now you can clean your working area without damaging the wood. Make sure you have performed all the tasks nicely. If you see that it still needs a touch, repeat all the steps carefully until you get satisfied with your work.
Safety precautions
While using a sharp electric tool like an electric hand planer, ensure you are using it by following all the necessary safety precautions. You can harm yourself without proper guidance and safety measures. After all, electric hand planers are sharp tools. So make sure you follow all the following precautions.
- Remember to wear safety attire.
- Select a peaceful and non-hurdle place for your work
- Examine your tool before using it
- Don’t touch the electric hand planer with wet hands
- Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask when you are going to use the electric hand planer
- If you think that things are not going on their way, then stop your work
- Don’t play practical jokes with the electric hand planer
- Don’t touch the sharp blades of the electric hand planer unwantedly
Benefits of using an electric hand planer
- It gives you the precise cut with a minimum amount of human resources
- You can shave any depth of wood layer by using the electric hand planer
- You can round off the sharp wooden edges
- You can also make a deep cut in the wood for some design purposes.
Final Verdict
Using an electric hand planer is beneficial until you know the exact way of using this tool because most people harm themselves while using the electric hand planer desperately. You can get help from a professional carpenter if you want to renovate. But if you like to do small tasks in your home alone, you can also use the electric hand planer. But make sure you have at least a little experience using it.
It would be best if you did not do experiments with the electric hand planer as it can be very harmful under these circumstances. You can also perform these tasks in the presence of someone experienced and professional. And if you can’t follow the relative guidance, remember to consider all the safety measurements while using such sensitive tools as an electric hand planer.
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