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Best thickness planer for beginners: the practical picks
For most beginners, the best thickness planer for beginners is a 13-inch benchtop machine with a two-knife cutterhead, clear depth adjustment, and accessible replacement knives; choose the DeWalt DW735 if you expect regular use and can manage its weight, or the more budget-conscious DeWalt DW734 if you want a simpler, lighter-duty starting point.
A planer makes opposite faces of a board parallel and brings it to a consistent thickness. It does not reliably flatten a cupped or twisted board on its own: flatten one face first with a jointer, router sled, or hand plane, then use the thickness planer to size the other face. That distinction matters more than a small difference in motor power.
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Beginner-friendly choices compared
| Planer | Maximum width | Maximum thickness | Knives | Approx. weight | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DW735 | 13 in. | 6 in. | Three disposable knives | 92 lb | Frequent home-shop use; two feed speeds |
| DeWalt DW734 | 12.5 in. | 6 in. | Three disposable knives | 80 lb | Occasional use; simpler controls |
| Makita 2012NB | 12 in. | 6.3 in. | Two reversible knives | 61 lb | Smaller shop and easier moving |
| WEN PL1326 | 13 in. | 6 in. | Three reversible knives | About 66 lb | Lower-cost entry into 13-inch capacity |
Specifications are manufacturer-published or commonly listed figures; verify the current manual for your exact model and voltage. Prices vary by retailer and included accessories. As a broad 2026 market guide, these machines generally range from about $350 to $700, with the DW735 typically toward the upper end.
Choose by your shop and workload
| Your situation | Practical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional projects, tight budget | WEN PL1326 | 13-inch width and reversible knives offer useful capacity without paying for premium convenience features. |
| Regular furniture or cabinet parts | DeWalt DW735 | Two feed speeds let you trade speed for a finer finish; the three-knife head can leave a smoother surface when knives are sharp and stock is fed correctly. |
| Limited space or frequent moving | Makita 2012NB | Its lower weight is easier to store or lift, while still handling common 12-inch-wide boards. |
| Want a straightforward DeWalt without two feed speeds | DeWalt DW734 | It offers broad capacity and three knives, but is still heavy enough to need a stable, planned location. |
These are not interchangeable on every job. A 12-inch planer cannot accept a board wider than its rated capacity, and the stated maximum thickness is not the same as maximum material removal per pass. Check the manual’s cut-depth guidance; hardwood, wide stock, and rough grain call for lighter passes.
What makes a planer easier to live with?
Setup and controls
Allow room for long boards both before and after the machine. The infeed and outfeed tables need to sit level with the planer bed; poorly supported stock can dip or rise as it passes the cutterhead, increasing snipe. A sturdy stand, roller supports, or a long, level bench can help. The DW735’s speed selector is useful, but adds a decision; the Makita and WEN are more straightforward if you prefer fewer settings.
Before the first cut, secure the machine, connect dust collection, inspect the knives, and follow the manual’s instructions for setting table extensions and depth stops. A planer ejects a surprising volume of chips. A shop vacuum may not keep up with some machines; a suitable dust collector and correctly sized hose reduce clogging and cleanup.
Snipe: reduce it, don’t expect a magic fix
Snipe is a shallow dip near the beginning or end of a board, where the cutterhead takes a slightly deeper cut as the board’s support changes. It can happen with any benchtop planer. To reduce it:
- Support long boards at the same height as the planer bed, without pushing them upward.
- Keep the board flat against the bed as it enters and exits; don’t lift the ends.
- Use a light final pass and avoid removing too much material at once.
- When practical, feed several boards of similar thickness consecutively, or plane pieces slightly oversize and trim the ends afterward.
Some machines include a cutterhead lock or other features intended to improve consistency, but setup and board support still matter. Do not count on a feature to eliminate snipe completely.
Knife changes and routine maintenance
Knife style affects ownership cost as well as convenience. The DW735 uses three disposable knives; the DW734 uses three knives, while the Makita and WEN use two reversible knives. Reversible knives can be turned to a fresh edge before replacement. Disposable knife prices and availability vary, so check the cost and stock for the exact model before buying.
For a rough planning example, suppose a set costs $45 and lasts through 150 board-feet of clean, ordinary stock. That is about 30 cents per board-foot ($45 ÷ 150). This is only an estimate: abrasive reclaimed lumber, glue, dirt, and hardwood can dull edges faster, and board-foot volume does not account for the extra wear from difficult grain.
After use, disconnect power before inspection or maintenance. Clear chips from the bed and cutterhead area as directed by the manual, and keep the table clean so stock slides evenly. Wax suitable bed surfaces lightly if the manufacturer permits it; avoid getting wax on the wood if you plan to apply a finish. Inspect knives when the surface becomes increasingly rough, the machine tears grain despite sensible feed direction, or cuts require more effort. Replace or rotate knives as a matched set and follow the model’s knife-setting procedure. Never reach into the cutterhead area while the machine is connected to power.
Bottom line
Choose the DW735 for frequent work and helpful feed-speed options, the DW734 for a simpler DeWalt setup, the Makita 2012NB when moving and storage matter, or the WEN PL1326 when purchase cost is the priority. For a first machine, the most useful upgrades are often not extra horsepower: they are a stable stand, effective chip collection, safe board support, and a plan for keeping knives sharp.