Benchtop planers Tool Review

Like a magic diet pill, these machines make thick boards thinner with no sweat and little heavy lifting—unless you include hefting the planer itself.

Spend a little money on a planer today and you’ll save money for a lifetime: Instead of paying home-center prices for preplaned boards, you can buy less-than-perfect lumber in a wide variety of species—including exotics—and thickness it yourself.

Learn the results of our testing of the Delta 22-580 and TP305, DeWalt DW734 and DW735, Grizzly G0505, Jet JWP13DX, Makita 2012NB, Ridgid TP1300LS, and Ryobi AP1301. Featured in the November 2006 issue.

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