A power tool to shave off thin layers of wood. It’s different from a saw which cuts wood into two pieces.

A door planer has a front shoe which controls how exposed the blade will be, or how much of the wood you want to shave.

This Youtube video is really informative.

Tips & Learnings

  • Hold the planer with both hands, one before and one after the blade in the centre
  • Apply pressure on the part of the planer that’s touching the wood. At the edges, apply with just one hand.
  • When ending the planer, gradually lift it off like a plane taking off
  • Shave off little by little
  • It’s important to keep the planer flushed, otherwise you’ll shave unevenly
  • Try to shave from edge towards the centre. If you shave all the way to the other edge, you risk splitting the wood on the edge
  • There’s usually a metal guide you can install. This guide has holes for you to attach a large piece of wood for better guiding accuracy.