Benchtop planer

[ChuckS]

I have a DW-735 and have used it with straight blades and with helical carbide head. Probably a bit quieter with the helical head, but darned loud in either case. I won't use it without first putting on hearing protection.

When you start using the planer, you will learn about planer snipe. You will likely then find all sorts of perfect solutions on Youtube for the snipe. And then find they are not so perfect. On the benchtop sized planers, a lot of it is simply from the upper structure tilting a bit when only one roller is engaged. Fair chance an old used planer will have more play and more and more snipe than a new planer.

Agreed.

No matter how hard you try with the Dewalt and Ridgid, you can still experience now and then snipes. I allow 2" at the front and at the end of a long board for snipes when I plan for the stock, just in case.

 

[DanesRFun]

Danes - I'm in rehab boat myself and have spent pretty much all of 2025 recovering from surgery for a really nasty knee injury and do PT for 15-18 hours a week. Regressions and setbacks are part of the package but avoidable ones kinda stink.

YMMV, but personally I seem to be fairly bad at limiting my activity decisions on a daily/hourly basis and have found it best if life is arranged to remove as many temptations as possible from my existence writ large. These usually take the form of "mission creep" where I start out doing something reasonable then some expedience driven singularity emerges where I attempt to climb a ladder, lift too heavy an object or whatever. (Sort of like making "just one cut" without safety glasses in the shop or something similar....)

Depending on your injury and how disciplined you are an 80# bench top planer seems an invitation for mission creep that might ultimately set you back in long haul.

Yes! A perfect description “mission creep.” Your experience looks a duplicate of mine… human nature I guess. Aargh…
I hope your PT journey wraps up much quicker than mine and that 2026 will be a great year for us both! Thank you!

 

[peter halle]

I love all the advice you've been given. I totally concur with everyone who has urged restraint and patience, although it will be difficult to do so. Eleven years ago I was given so much support and advice here when I was going thru chemo, but one member reached out to me privately and offered to talk by phone whereas he had gone thru twice the chemo treatment I was to go thru. What has forever stood out were two points that I'll modify for you. The first was that while going thru this you should find something doable and probably ridiculously small that will be a reward for your progress. The second thing was that you should never try and do your favorite thing while recovering because once you do fully recover you will forever remember the association of your favorite thing and the difficulties of your recovery and it will no longer be your favorite thing.

So, thinking small, if you can, and might find it rewarding, start with something small like perhaps boxes. You can certainly find thinner stock either via the internet or perhaps Woodcraft. Just something not taxing, and not requiring any major tool purchase and see if that scratches some itches.

Godspeed!

Peter

 

[DanesRFun]

Thank you @peter halle, great advice. After reading again through all the thoughts and recommendations here, I, too am thinking it may be best for me to step away for a while. “Mission creep” is real. And interesting thoughts on associating things with difficult times. Woodworking already was the compromise… because it was something I could (sort of) do in my basement. But it probably wasn’t the best choice in some respects. So while I’m disappointed, the disappointment is probably less to do with woodworking specifically and more to do with the general nature of not being able to do something I got myself geared up for. Thank you all so very much.

 

[peter halle]

Thank you @peter halle, great advice. After reading again through all the thoughts and recommendations here, I, too am thinking it may be best for me to step away for a while. “Mission creep” is real. And interesting thoughts on associating things with difficult times. Woodworking already was the compromise… because it was something I could (sort of) do in my basement. But it probably wasn’t the best choice in some respects. So while I’m disappointed, the disappointment is probably less to do with woodworking specifically and more to do with the general nature of not being able to do something I got myself geared up for. Thank you all so very much.

Hey, you can always stay in touch and make plans for the future while living your woodworking vicariously thru the endeavors here!

Peter