I have been looking at planers and I just don't understand why I would want a 2 speed planer? The Ridgid 13 in looks really good for the price and I am not sure that I need any more then that and I really don't understand 2 speeds. Any thoughts???
We saw someone asking on a woodworking forum why a 2-speed thickness planer is needed and what it means. Here, we'd like to say that a variable speed wood planer is not necessary, but it is definitely beneficial for your work.
Compared to a planer with only one speed, a planer with 2 adjustable speeds can better adapt to different materials and processing requirements. A slower feed speed means more cuts per inch, suitable for fine finishing. In contrast, a faster feed speed means fewer cuts per inch, ideal for removing material.
With dual speeds, you don’t need to buy another planer with a high/low speed. In that case, you can save money on the machine and materials. In this review, we compare 4 variable-speed thickness planers in terms of performance and price. We believe you can pick one you like after reading this.
Additionally, there is a post about the 6 best benchtop thickness planers. Click the link to have a look.
Comparison Table of the 4 Variable Speed Wood Planers
| Models | Cutterhead Types | Feed Speeds | Prices |
| FB132H 13" 2-Speed Thickness Planer | 2-row helical cutterhead | 14 fpm and 26 fpm | $999.99 on FindBuyTool |
| DeWalt 735 | Three straight blades | 14 fpm and 26 fpm | $599 on LOWE’S |
| Grizzly G0999 | 4-row spiral cutterhead | 12 fpm and 22 fpm | $1,359 on The Home Depot |
| Oliver 10055 | HCX helical cutterhead | 12 fpm and 20 fpm | $1,869.99 on Oliver (shipping depends) |
FB132H 13" 2-Speed Thickness Planer
FB132H 13” 2-speed thickness planer is the latest product released by FindBuyTool, equipped with a 2-row helical cutterhead and 30 carbide inserts. It is durable and produces smooth, precise cuts without tear-outs and snipe. One significant feature of this professional-grade machine is that it has two adjustable speeds: 26 FPM and 14 FPM. With this feature, you can use just this one model to work with both hardwood and softwood, whether for rough planing or fine planing.
Worth mentioning that FB132H adds pull-out extensions to the infeed and outfeed tables, allowing you to extend the table length up to 45 inches to handle longer plates. Besides, this 2-speed wood planer, equipped with two LED lights, provides additional illumination for the depth-of-cut gauge and the infeed table.
Price:
- (SOLD OUT) $999.99 with free delivery at FindBuyTool
Technical Details
- Motor: 15 amp, 2.5HP, 120V (US)
- Max Cutting Width: 13''
- Max Depth of Cut: 1/32''
- No-load Speed: 20,000 rpm
- Cutterhead Speed: 10,000 rpm
- Feed Rate: 14 and 26 fpm
- Blades: 2-row helical cutterhead with 30 carbide inserts
- Weight: 109 lbs
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Stable power and a small load to the motor.
- Pull-out extensions to the infeed and outfeed tables.
- 4'' dust port with fan-assisted chip ejection.
- 2 LED lights.
Cons:
- High load on the motor when changing to a 4-row helical cutterhead.
- High standards for the work environment.
DeWalt 735
(Image Source: Amazon)
DeWalt 735 is a popular model among many woodworkers, with the ability to plane all types of wood. Its 3-knife straight cutterhead delivers 30% longer knife life and makes knife change faster and easier. It has a two-speed gearbox allowing you to change the feed speed, 14 fpm and 26 fpm. Besides, there is an automatic carriage lock to minimize the movement that causes snipe during planing.
Price:
- $599 with free delivery at LOWE’S
- $617.85 with free delivery at Amazon and The Home Depot
Technical Details
- Motor: 15 amp, 120V
- Max Cutting Width: 13''
- Max Depth of Cut: 1/8''
- No-load Speed: 20,000 rpm
- Cutterhead Speed: 10,000 rpm
- Feed Rate: 14 and 26 fpm
- Blades: 3 straight blades
- Weight: 91.75 lbs
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Automatic carriage lock.
- Fan-assisted chip ejection.
- Material removal gauge and thickness scale.
Cons:
- The blades dull quickly.
- High noise level.
- Prone to having snipe.
Grizzly G0999
(Image Source: Grizzly)
Grizzly G0099 has a 15’’ cutting width, suitable for both DIYers and professionals. The 4-row spiral cutterhead with 32 carbide inserts produces smooth and tear-out-free surfaces. With two feed rates, 12 fpm and 22 fpm, this planer gives you precise control over the planing process for consistently smooth workpieces. And it has a built-in digital readout (DRO). You can see the depth of cut clearly and monitor the planing thickness.
Price:
- $1,422 with paid delivery at Grizzly
- $1,359 with free delivery at The Home Depot
Technical Details
- Motor: 16.5 amp, 2HP, 120V
- Max Cutting Width: 15''
- Max Depth of Cut: 1/16''
- Cutterhead Speed: 5,600 rpm
- Feed Rate: 12 and 22 fpm
- Blades: 4-row spiral cutterhead with 32 carbide inserts
- Weight: 133 lbs
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- A built-in digital readout (DRO).
- 15'' cutting width.
- Equipped with a depth stop.
Cons:
- It is heavy to move.
- No fan/blower for chip ejection.
Oliver 10055
(Image Source: Oliver)
Oliver 10055 is a 15’’ benchtop thickness planer with a 4-post design HCX helical cutterhead, creating flat and smooth surfaces with reduced noise and tear-out. It has a digital readout (DRO) for monitoring the depth of cut. Additionally, it features a reversible, blower-assisted dust port that can effectively remove wood chips for either left or right exit.
Price:
- $1,869.99 at Oliver, and the shipping depends on your location
Technical Details
- Motor: 12 amp, 2.5HP, 230V
- Max Cutting Width: 15''
- Max Depth of Cut: 1/16''
- Cutterhead Speed: 5,600 rpm
- Feed Rate: 12 and 20 fpm
- Blades: HCX helical cutterhead
- Weight: 158.7 lbs
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 4-post Oliver HCX helical cutterhead.
- Equipped with a built-in DRO.
- Blower-assisted chip ejection.
Cons:
- Too heavy to move.
- The DRO reads in increments of 0.005".
- Expensive.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a 2-Speed Wood Planer
There are many dual-speed wood planer models available on the market. If you are choosing one for your woodworking shop for the first time, you may feel overwhelmed.
Before purchasing, you need to consider some essential factors, such as their functions, parameters, your work requirements, and budget. The following are some important factors.
Cutterhead Types
Firstly, consider the types of cutterheads. There are 3 designs: straight, spiral, and helical cutterheads. They determine the final result of your work.
Based on most woodworking practices, straight cutterheads are most likely to become dull, causing boards to tear more easily. They are affordable and easy to replace. In contrast, spiral and helical cutterheads produce smoother cuts. Their inserts are easy to replace, but they are more expensive than straight cutterheads.
The difference between helical and spiral cutterheads primarily lies in how each insert is mounted. The inserts on a spiral cutterhead have no tilt angle. The inserts on a helical cutterhead have an inclined angle of around 14 degrees.
Motor
The motor power depends on the horsepower (HP). The higher the motor HP, the easier to plane the hardwood. The lower the motor HP, the more suitable for planing softwood. Besides, consider the amperage rating of the planer, 15A is the most suitable for most of your planing tasks.
Speed
When choosing a wood planer based on cutting speed, the first thing you need to consider is the speed of the cutterhead. This refers to the speed of the motor rotating the cutterhead per minute. The higher the cutterhead speed, the better the cutting effect.
For a 2-speed thickness planer, its feed speed is a critical factor. It is the speed of the plate passing through the thickness planer, counted in FPM. You can switch between two feed speeds according to your processing needs.
Cutting Capacity
The cutting capacity refers to the planing width of a thickness planer. If you have a 13-inch planer, you can only use it to cut boards that are no wider than that. For a benchtop thickness planer, 13’’ can cover most of your tasks.
Budget
Well, once you have determined all the performance and features of a 2-speed thickness planer, you can make your final decision based on your budget.
Hope this post can be helpful to you. If you have any confusion about this blog, leave a comment and your email address below, and we will give you feedback ASAP. Furthermore, we would greatly appreciate it if you shared this post on your social media.
FAQ About 2-Speed Thickness Planer
#1. Is a planer thicknesser worth it?
Yes, it's worth it. A thickness planer makes your boards consistent in thickness and dimensions, smooths the wood surface, and saves you money on materials. It can reuse reclaimed or scrap wood.
#2. What should you not use a planer for?
You should not use a planer for cutting angles or truing lumber that has twists or cups. And you can’t feed end grain into a planer, because it can make the wood shatter, and the planer will be damaged.
Also Read: How to Use a Thickness Planer: Full Guide
