A benchtop planer can save you a lot of money in the long run. You can use it to smooth rough-sawn lumber, repurpose used wood, and avoid buying expensive pre-cut boards at the hardware store. But there are few things to consider when deciding which planer is best for you. Let’s review these two from WEN to see which one best fits into your workshop.
WEN 6550 12.5-Inch 15A Benchtop Thickness Planer with Granite Table
The WEN 6550 has been reviewed positively by the pros and home woodworkers alike. It has a two-knife cutterhead with double-edge reversible knives for smooth removal of rough surfaces. And its granite bed on its cast iron base is smooth, flat, and heavy enough to keep the planer extremely stable while it’s working.
At top capacity, the WEN 6550 can plane lumber up to 12-1/2-inches wide and 6 inches thick. It can shave off up to 3/32-inch thickness at a time. You can adjust the depth 1/16-inch at a time with the rubber grip handle on top while you read the sight gauge on the front.
The 15amp motor has a maximum speed of 26 feet per minute feed rate or 18,800 cuts per minute. Therefore, it’s important to point out that the non-marring granite table is an ideal choice for this planer. The granite won’t mar the wood you cut, and it’s not going to warp over time.
Although the WEN 6550 weighs more than 70 pounds, you can move it, thanks to the handles mounted on the sides and the fact that you can fold up the infeed and outfeed tables. The same tables also adjust to a variety of angles if needed.
While you work, the 2-inch fan-assisted dust port extracts shavings out the back. Just attach a shop vac or a dust extractor to keep your work area clean.
When you want to replace the blades, this planer makes it easy for you to align the new knives. It has magnets and index pins to guide their placement. But since the blades are reversible, you’ll get a lot of wear out of them before you need to install new ones.
Finally, one of the big concerns with benchtop planers is whether they leave snipe, or a scalloped edge on the boards they cut. The WEN 6550 has a tri-roller feeding system that cuts down on snipe, and many owners have commented that it works well.
More features of the WEN 12.5” Benchtop Planer:
- Protected by a 2-year limited warranty
- Customer support is available by phone
WEN 6552 3-Blade 15 Amp Benchtop Thickness Planer, 13″
Why might you prefer the WEN 6552 to the WEN 6550? Let’s review the differences between them.
First, the WEN 6552 can handle boards up to 13 inches in width compared to the 12.5 inch capacity of the WEN 6550. Second, the 6552 has the same feed rate of 26 feet per minute, but it has a faster cut rate of 25,500 cuts per minute. The higher cutting rate means you’ll see a smoother surface on the lumber you plane.
Third, the 6552 has three blades instead of two. This also contributes to a finer finish on the wood. But it has the same limit of 3/32-inches depth on each pass.
Fourth, the table is not granite on the 6552. Instead, it’s made of metal, which makes the 6552 several pounds lighter in weight compared to the 6550. If you’re concerned about wobble, the 6552 comes with pre-drilled mounting holes so you can secure it to your worktable. And you can still raise and lower the infeed and outfeed tables to reduce snipe even further.
More features of the WEN 6552 Benchtop Planer:
- Protected by a 2-year limited warranty
- Customer support is available by phone
- Has a dust extraction port with fan-assist
Recommendation
If you want a smoother finish on the boards you plane, you might prefer the WEN 6552. It has three knives, not just two. It also weighs less, making it more portable. On the other hand, if you don’t plan to move your benchtop planer, you might prefer the sturdy weight of the granite table on the WEN 6550.
Click here to Check out WEN 6550 Price on Amazon.com!
Click here to Check out WEN 6552 Price on Amazon.com!