The Role of a Planer Thicknesser
The main job of the planer is to produce a totally flat and square datum point for the thicknesser to work from. Once this is achieved the thicknesser accurately and rapidly dimensions all your timber to the required size making accurate joinery a simple job.
One of the main advantages of being able to plane your own material is that it enables you to reclaim used timber and reduce costs by using unprepared stock whilst giving you full control of the quality and dimensions of your timber. Often pre-prepared stock can be twisted or warped, making it very difficult to remedy without a planer and thicknesser and compromising consistent dimensions.
A planer is also useful for preparing stock for other machining functions – for example creating a truly flat datum to be used against a bandsaw table and fence for cutting thin and accurate veneers. Once in the workshop it will prove an invaluable tool.

1st Pass
Begins the process of straightening or flattening.

2nd Pass
Each pass removes more material until flat.

3rd Pass
Bottom surface now completely flat. This can now be referenced to surfacing fence to get two sides 90º and flat, then thicknesser can be used to make remaining sides parallel.

The surfacing table of the planer is an important aspect to consider. Cast iron is the more suitable option for a professional woodworker with ribbing on the underside to provide extra strength and eliminate any movement. On models where the table is removed for thicknessing or a lighter machine is required for frequent transport – perhaps to site – a machined cast aluminium table may be a suitable option because it is light but strong.

The most common capacities outside of large production machines are up to 10” wide boards or up to 12” wide boards. 10” is more common on hobby and site machines and 12” is a popular small joinery size. If you plan to handle a lot of longer timber then go for the longest surfacing tables you can get within your budget as this will make straightening a much easier job.

The ideal material for the thicknessing table is machined cast iron and it wants to be generous enough to handle longer stock easily. The thicknessing table is usually either supported by four threaded rods, in which case it is important these are housed in a brass bush to provide smooth height adjustment. The alternative, more industrial solution, is a large central column which provides strong support and easy height adjustment.
The most common capacities for thicknessing are 6” to 8” (generally machines are 10” x 6” to 12” x 8” with some variants available). Bear in mind that 8” stock, particularly if it is also wide and/or long will be heavy and take a lot of machining so even if your machine has a nominal capacity of 8” thicknessing ensure it has the motor power, build quality and weight to handle timbers of that size.

The heavier the build of the machine the more capable it will be of handling larger or heavier wood and the more capable it will be of longer production runs. It is important that you purchase the correct machine for your requirements. Assess the level of work to be carried out and select your machine accordingly.

Record Power planer thicknessers are made from high quality materials featuring cast iron thicknessing tables with excellent support, high quality electrics and sturdy construction. The construction materials play a large part in keeping the machine stable when in use.

Ideally motors should be induction and have reasonable power. A rough guide would be at least 1.6 kW (2 hp) for a 10” x 6” machine and 2.2 kW (3 hp) for a 12” x 8” machine. Our planer thicknessers feature mechanically braked motors, the industrial solution to motor braking, providing reliable performance and stopping inside 10 seconds. Be wary of electronically braked motors as these can be unreliable and burn out if the machine is switched on and off frequently

The key to understanding how a Planer Thicknesser works is that in order to plane all four sides at 90º to each other, we must first plane two adjacent sides to 90º. Only a Planer Thicknesser is capable of this.
Using the below method, any number of pieces can be planed and dimensioned to exact sizes by adjusting the position of the thicknesser bed. This preparation gives you the best base possible for carrying out the rest of your projects successfully.
If for example you are to make a window frame, using a planer thicknesser allows for all four sides to be planed and dimensioned to the exact same size, making jointing much easier and also ensuring all surfaces are flush on completion.