Benchtop planers are a necessity for a woodworking operation, whether it’s a professional or private outfit. The WEN PL1326 is a versatile option offering many great features. We will base our recommendation on user skill level as well as project need.
WEN PL1326 Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer
The WEN PL1326 is a benchtop spiral planer. This planer is ideal for rough hardwoods and softwoods. It features a system to reduce snipe, extra durability, and a fan-assisted dust port.
The Dewalt DW735X is a main competitor for the WEN PL1326. It features a three-knife cutter head to the WEN PL1326’s 26-blade cutterhead. Both planers are unfortunately excessively loud.
Blades
It features a spiral cutterhead with 26 square blades. It has a 15 amp motor with 10,000 rotations per minute. The feed rate is 26 feet per minute. The blades are easy to change as well.
Durability
This planer is strong and durable due to its infeed and outfeed tables being made from granite. Additionally, this assists with the machine’s stability. Also, the base is cast iron, which decreases vibrational interference. The model will not move around the table when it is operational. However, it does feature pre-drilled holes in the base that can be used for mounting to a bench for extra stability if the user wants it.
Depth
Its maximum cutting depth is 3/32 inches while its maximum width is 12 ½ inches and its maximum depth is 6 inches. It can plane boards that are a maximum of 6 inches thick and 13 inches wide. Depth can be easily adjusted with a knob from 0 to ⅛ inch. It also features a depth stop for maximum precision as well as an overload switch.
Snipe Reduction
The planer features a three-roller system to help minimize the issue of snipe. To help with the remaining snipe, users can introduce a small piece of board at the beginning and the end of the board they are planing. It also features an onboard material removal gauge. This gauge tells users what each pass’s cutting depth is.
Fan-Assisted Dust Port
While it does have a fan-assisted dust port, users will still need a shop vac. It is a very helpful system to remove sawdust and wood chips away from the cutterhead. This increases cutting efficiency.
Weight
The WEN PL1326 weighs 79 pounds. This makes it easy to move for users but at the same time, placid when it comes to planing boards. To assist with moving, it features side handles.
Negatives
The main negative of this planer is its loud operating noise.
There is no protective cover over the bottom gears. Additionally, the gears are made of plastic.
Recommendation
It’s obvious that the WEN PL1326 offers excellent features. With its 26 blades for superior cutting ability, fan-assisted dust port for clean workspace, and cast-iron base for vibration reduction, users will find that this planer is an excellent addition to their shop. We recommend this for private woodworking shops and DIYers.