11 Best Beginner Tips to Use the Dewalt Hand Planer

The best tips and tricks for how to use the Dewalt Hand Planer, or other electric hand planers, as a beginner. Easy Guide and Video!

11 Beginner Tips to Use the Dewalt Hand Planer

Hi guys! I love woodworking and designing and building new furniture. I’ve wanted to buy an electric planer for a couple years now.

This year, I finally decided to buy the Dewalt Hand Planer and I absolutely love it! But, it does take some practice to get used to it.

At first, I was gouging my wood up with this electric planer. I have to admit, I almost threw it away once or twice. But, with patience and practice on cheap lumber it’s turned into a great buy.

Here are my 11 top DIY tips for how to use the Dewalt Hand Planer Tool as a beginner. Hopefully, they can help you too.

Electric Hand Planer Tips and Tricks

You can read the tips below, but if any of them are confusing, watch this video to see me do it.

11 Beginner Tips to Use the Dewalt Hand Planer

Tip One

Put a foam mat or cloth under the wood to keep it from moving across the table when you are using the electric hand planer on your wood.

But make sure that it is fully tucked under the board and will not be touched by the blade when you use the Dewalt Hand Planer, or any electric hand planer.

Clamps or a stop block in front of the wood can also keep the wood from moving.

Tip Two

Keep blade depth at 0 to prevent gouges when you use the Dewalt Hand Planer. Lots of shallow passes always works better for beginners.

Tip Three

Lift the Dewalt hand planer up and off at the end of the board to prevent gouges, or bites, off the end of the board. You can see me do this in the video.

Dewalt recommends pushing down at the back of the planer at the end of the board. But, that didn’t always work for me. Lifting up does.

Tip Four

Plane across the whole surface of the board the same number of times in each “row” to keep the planing even.

Tip Five

Work in both directions across the board too. Meaning, left to right and right to left. Or, just flip the board to get the same result.

This will help you get the smoothest finish when you use the Dewalt Hand Planer on rough or uneven boards.

Tip Six

Like with mowing or vacuuming, you overlap the previous row a bit with your electric hand planer to get the best result.

Tip Seven

You’ll still need to sand as you normally would.

When you use the Dewalt Hand Planer, or any electric hand planer, you’re just smoothing the board or reducing the thickness, but sanding gets the final, smoothest finish before sealing or staining.

Tip Eight

The planer will make a huge pile of wood shavings in a short time, work outside or with dust collection.

Tip Nine

For long boards, walk with the planer to keep the electric hand planer in a straight line with the same flat angle and amount of pressure across the board.

Don’t stretch to reach across the board, or you could gouge the board by accidentally raising one end.

Tip Ten

Plane with the grain to prevent issues until you become comfortable with the planer.

Tip Eleven

Don’t forget eye protection and a dust mask. Like I said in tip 8, this will make a mess. Shavings will be flying everywhere. 🙂

That’s it for my 11 DIY tips for how to use the Dewalt Hand Planer Tool. I hope you’ve found this helpful. Good luck with your Electric Hand Planer!

More DIY Projects For You

Looking for a new woodworking project? Try this beautiful Cedar DIY Wood Mosaic Table Top.

Or this great Beautiful DIY Geometric Wood Table Top Design: Steps and Video.

I also LOVE this Easy DIY Canvas Frame Build (Made with 1×2 Wood).

And, this Make This Easy DIY Wood Picture Frame With Trim Molding.

You might also like this great Beautiful DIY Console Table Plan with Drawers: Steps and Build Plans.

Feeling inspired? Now that you’ve seen my 11 DIY tips for how to use the Dewalt Hand Planer, you can do it too. Let me know if you have questions.

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