A wood planer is a tool designed to remove a set amount of wood from the surface to make the top as even as possible. Many woodworking enthusiasts use these tools when creating furniture and cabinets, though you can use one for many other types of jobs too. Modern designs come with tables that add more stability to the tool and are easy to use than those that you can hold, but you’ll find power planers that fit comfortably in one hand too.
Though some people will tell you to stick with new planers, shopping for used woodworking planers for sale can help you save quite a bit. You’ll want a model that is in good condition and one that looks and works like a brand new one. As the process of shopping for one can be a little confusing, we created a handy guide to help you select the top used model.
Where Can You Find?
You’ll find these tools available for sale from a variety of sources. If you check out woodworking forums on the web, you may find enthusiasts selling tools as they upgrade to newer and more expensive models. Those forums let you ask for help from others to find the best deals too.
Checking the local newspapers and classified ads in your area can reveal some good deals too. These ads often come from people who no longer have time for their hobbies, those selling the estates of loved ones and pawn shops trying to sell merchandise. Local stores that purchase close outs and companies going out of business often have tools available too.
The problem with buying from someone you don’t know is that you do not know if the seller is honest about that planer. There is a risk that it might stop working when you’re halfway through a project or before you even plug it into an outlet. That is why we highly recommended checking out used wood planers for sale on Amazon.
1. Refurbished Tools on Amazon
When most people think of Amazon, they think of the brand new items for sale through the company itself. Amazon lets you shop for everything from e-books for your Kindle and films you can download and watch instantly to clothing for your whole family and treats for your pets. It’s also the best place to find a used thickness planer or another type of planer too.
While the used planers for sale on Amazon are a little more expensive than those you might see offline, there are some big benefits to shopping the site. We created a convenient list to help you find out more about those benefits.
2. Wide Selection
Narrowing down your search just to the tools that you see for sale in your area is limiting. You might find yourself going with a brand that you don’t necessarily know or trust because it’s your only option, or you might settle on a used planer for sale that is too small for most of the boards that you need to plane. Amazon offers a much wider selection that helps you find the perfect tool for your workshop.
Once you do a simple search, you can narrow down your options in a few different ways. You might look for planers within a specific price range because you know exactly how much you want to spend, hand-held tools or those that come with a table and even products from certain manufacturers. Amazon also gives you the option of searching and viewing refurbished models.
Refurbished planers come from companies that specialize in selling used tools. Those companies take models that stopped working and those that owners no longer want, clean out the motors, replace any broken parts and ensure the tool is working perfectly before sending it out. A refurbished planer can cost half as much or even less than a new planer costs.
3. Guaranteed to Work
You also get the benefit of knowing that the tool you buy has a guarantee that it will work right. When shopping offline or from other sources, you never know what you might get in the mail. All Amazon products come with a guarantee, and shopping for a refurbished model lets you buy one with an in-tact warranty.
This warranty will cover the tool for a period that can range between 30 days and a year or more. It serves as a guarantee that you can contact the seller for a refund or a free repair if the tool stops working or does not work as described.
4. Good Prices
Another benefit to buying off Amazon is that you can find a wood planer for sale that really works with your budget. Not everyone can afford to drop 1 grand or more on a model that comes with its own attached table. Even if you only have a few hundred dollars or less to spend, you can still find one that fits your budget.
5. Buyer Protection
Buying from Amazon also gives you some protection. When you purchase a refurbished model from a marketplace seller, the seller must provide you with a tracking number that lets you track that item until it arrives. If the package gets lost in the mail or other problems occur, you can contact Amazon for help.
Amazon offers some refurbished products of its own that come with buyer protection too. You can log in to your account to see whether the tool shipped yet and the estimated date of delivery. Amazon lets you track your package as it goes through the mail and will offer a full refund for products that do not arrive or do not match the product description.
What to Look for When Buying Used
No matter where you decide to look for used wood planers for sale, make sure that you consider all important factors to find a tool that meets the needs of your workshop. Our list of the top things to look for can help you find the best model.
1. Smooth Cord
Always check the cord to ensure that it has smooth sides. If you feel any rough spots on the cord, keep looking. This is a sign that the previous owner abused the tool and that the cord might fray and stop providing power to the motor.
2. Knives
Any used thickness planer will come with sharp knives inside, which are the parts that remove wood from the surface and create the smooth finish that you need. The size of the knives will tell you how deep you can cut and how smoothly the blades will cut too. Knives are not as important as some of the other features though because you can easily remove and replace dull or worn down blades.
3. Age
You may want to consider the age of the tool too. Even top manufacturers like Craftsman and SKIL made some noticeable changes in recent years that made their tools a little less durable. Some refer to these as disposable power tools because the planers won’t last very long. Older models are often more durable and will last longer.
If you aren’t sure you want to spend money on a tool that is 10 to 15 years old or even older, check out the reviews on newer models. You can see the average star rating given to a model across all customers who submitted reviews, view the most critical or the most positive reviews and get and idea as to whether the tool is as durable as you need.
4. Motor Type
Some used planers for sale come with an induction motor, which is stronger, more powerful and more reliable than other types of motors. An induction motor is quite heavy though, and manufacturers usually only use this type of table models that you set up and use in the same spot. Hand-held motors will often feature a universal motor that doesn’t last as long but is lightweight enough for using every day in your shop.
5. Power Source
Make sure you check the amount of power needed to operate the machine. Hand-held models often use a 120V outlet just like the one in your home or garage. Some companies actually make portable models that come with a rechargeable battery. The biggest benefit to these models is that you can often switch out the batteries with other tools from the same manufacturer.
A larger used planer for sale like a thickness planer may require a larger 240V outlet or power source. Check your home’s electrical panel to ensure that it can accommodate that tool. There is a risk that it may pull too much power from the panel and pop your circuit breaker.
Shopping for a wood planer for sale doesn’t take as much time as you might expect, but buying used can help you save hundreds of dollars or more on a tool that performs just as well as any new model. Though you can find used woodworking planers for sale, we highly recommend taking a look at the refurbished options available through Amazon to get a tool that performs well as a cost you can afford. Amazon offers guarantees that you won’t find with other sellers and shops too.