Use This Tool To Get Smooth Surfaces for Your Projects

Woodworking is a tricky business, and you need all the right tools to make your job easier. One of the most critical activities in woodworking is smoothing out surfaces. Whether it’s an irregular board that needs flattening or a cabinet door that needs finishing, a woodworker’s gotta smooth it out.

The market is filled with incredible tools of the trade. But ask any woodworker about a woodworking staple that makes it a breeze to smooth surfaces, and they’ll answer a hand planer. This guide will explain what hand planers are and what they do. So, let’s dive right in.

WHAT DOES A HAND PLANER DO?

A hand planer is primarily designed to sand and smooth wooden surfaces. It features a sharp metal plate at its base that is attached to a firm body. When you move it on a wooden surface, it shaves off wood in thin slices to create a smooth surface.

You can use a handheld planer to smooth out surfaces in your projects in the following ways:

Sanding

The easiest way to make any wood surface smooth is through sanding. Since planers are compatible with different blades, you can choose the ones that can help you sand a surface to make it smooth. 

A reusable high-speed steel blade usually does the job by making shallow cuts on wood surfaces. If you’re sanding a thick, longboard, you should choose a traditional hand planer for maximum control. But a power planer works better for smaller jobs.

Chamfering

Simply put, chamfering is making a transitional edge between an object’s two faces. It is done by making a small cut of 45 degrees to remove a 90-degree edge. Chamfering allows you to place thin wood boards or glass panels perpendicular to the cut. If you have a hand planer, you can easily dig a chamfer in a wood piece.

Wood restoration

Handheld planers can also help restore a wooden piece littered with bug holes and knots. You can use a planer to remove the blemishes and smooth the surface of the piece. But wood restoration should be done before applying paint or coating to get the finest results.

As long as the gouges are between 0 to 0.125 inches and not deeply ingrained, a hand planer will easily remove them, leaving a blemish-free surface without scuffs and scratches. 

Flattening uneven boards

Many a time, you’ll come across a seemingly fine wood piece that features an uneven curve. This type of piece cannot be used to create anything without being flattened out. A hand planer can help flatten the unevenness of the board to provide you with a smooth and leveled surface for your project. You can run it across the piece until you’re satisfied with the flatness.

CONCLUSION

The market is filled with woodworking equipment, but one tool that woodworkers swear by is a hand planer. This centuries-old handheld tool allows you to level uneven wooden surfaces, sand gritty areas, and finish rough edges by carving wood shavings. After using a handheld planer, you get better surfaces with more clarity that lasts even after the project has received its finishing touches.