FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
How-To

Portable Power Planes

How these versatile tools can true framing lumber and clean up trim.

By Geoff Alexander Issue 14

Synopsis: This is a guide to selecting and using a portable power plane. The author explains now this tool can be used on a variety of jobs, from straightening bowed framing to fitting doors.

Portable power planes can solve many of the problems that come up on the construction site during framing and finish carpentry. By removing a thin layer from a piece of wood, power planes can improve the appearance of the surface by taking out saw marks, dings and other blemishes. And they’re good for fitting and scribing trim. With repeated passes, power planes can straighten or taper studs, joists, rafters and beams. A lot of this work would be unnecessary if all framing lumber were dimensionally stable and free of twists and bows, if houses were built perfectly square, plumb and level, and if all carpenters, sheetrockers and other tradesmen did flawless work. But they don’t. So my power planes get steady use.

In size, shape and function, power planes resemble hand planes, but they work like machine jointers, turned upside down and held by hand. On a hand plane, the sole is a single flat surface with a slot, or throat, through which the blade protrudes. You adjust the depth of cut by moving the blade up or down in relation to the sole of the plane. But the sole of a power plane, like the bed of a jointer, has two separate surfaces, one in front of the knives, one behind. The cutting edge of the knives is always aligned exactly with the plane of the rear shoe, and you change the depth of cut by raising or lowering the front shoe. When the front and rear shoes are in exactly the same plane, the knives will just skim the work surface and make no cut at all.

What’s on the market

In my view, there are four types of power planes, with slight design variations among manufacturers. The planes all have the same basic working parts — a motor, a rotary cutter head that holds either fixed or adjustable knives, a two-piece shoe, one or two handles and a mechanism for adjusting the depth of cut and for aligning the rear shoe with the cutting arc of the knives (or knives with the shoe). Most planes have a detachable fence to help guide the tool past the work, an especially useful feature for trimming or beveling the edge of a door, window or board.

The four types differ by size and by the kind of cutterhead-drive system they have. In my business, we do everything from the rough framing of additions and new construction to finish work and architectural detailing. So I own one of each kind of power plane.

The first type is the direct-drive, or sidewinder. The motor hangs down below the level of the surface being planed because the cutterhead is mounted directly to its rotor shaft. The direct-drive model is designed for edge planing, and its sole is only 2 in. wide. The low-slung motor helps stabilize the tool during long passes down the edge of a door or a joist or rafter. The sidewinder I own is a Rockwell (now Porter-Cable) 126 Porta-Plane. Of all the power planes I have, this is the one that I use most.

For more photos, illustrations, and details, click the View PDF button below:

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
View PDF

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Practical and Sustainable Prefab Home

Two boxes make up the plan for this modular house: One has the kitchen and common area, while the other includes two bedrooms and two baths.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • Convert a Porch to a Mudroom
  • Podcast 599: Members-only Aftershow — Tools That Changed Residential Construction
  • Exterior Materials for a Midcentury Home
  • Screened-Porch Cable-Rail Installation

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All Videos
  • Exterior Materials for a Midcentury Home
  • Screened-Porch Cable-Rail Installation
  • Podcast 597: Members-only Aftershow — Mike’s Not-so-Forever Home
  • Replacing Old Shingles with a New Metal Roof
View All

Power Tools

View All Power Tools Articles
  • Use a Press Tool for Plumbing Connections
  • Easy-release Hole Saw
  • Cordless Stapler for Hard-to-Reach Spaces
  • Makita's Cordless Biscuit Joiner
View All Power Tools Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 318 - October 2023
    • Make Mudsills Square and Level
    • Turn Up the Heat With Induction Cooktops
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Lloyd Alter
  • Issue 317 - Aug/Sept 2023
    • Finishing Drywall With Seamless Results
    • A Flat Roof in a Cold Climate
    • Compact Cordless Shop Vacs
  • Issue 316 - July 2023
    • Timber-Framed Solar Canopies
    • Build a Transom Above a Stock Door
    • Understanding Toilet Design and Efficiency
  • Issue 315 - June 2023
    • How to Craft a Copper Roof
    • 5 Lessons from Building in a Cold Climate
    • The Advantages of Cellular PVC Siding
  • Issue 314 - April/May 2023
    • 7 Options for Countertops
    • Tool Test: Wood-Boring Bits
    • Critical Details for Ductless Heat Pumps

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in