Best Planer For Surfboard Shaping

Surfboard shaping and design is unique – to some it’s a profession, to others it’s an art and a deep passion, and to some it’s both.

Whether you make surfboards professionally, or you are just looking to design, create and build your own surfboard, you’ll need the best planer for surfboard shaping (among other tools and supplies).

What you may not know is that most planers are designed and created as wood planers.

So, finding a good surfboard planer requires a little knowledge of the creating process and planer features to look for.

Surfboard making and shaping requires a foam planing – and, there are planers out there that are designed better for shaping surfboard foam better than others.

We’ve brought to you the best planer for surfboard shaping list & reviews, along with a buyer’s guide.

We discuss the best surfboard foam planer brands like the Hitachi Surfboard Planer, Bosch Surfboard Planer & Makita Surfboard Planer.

If you’re running a little short on time, you can check out the top rated planer for surfboard shaping list immediately below.

Otherwise, you can read the guide in full.

 

NOTE: the Skil 100 surfboard planer has been discontinued decades ago now. But, if you can pick one up from a garage sale or on eBay and it is in good condition, they also make great planers for surfboard shaping.

The same goes for a Clark foam planer.

The Hitachi P20SBK and Hitachi P20SB have been discontinued by Hitachi, but we do review the Hitachi P20ST.

 

(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)

 

Top Rated Planer For Surfboard Shaping List

 

Best Cheap Planer For Surfboard Shaping – Hitachi P20ST (on Amazon)

Planer For Surfboard Shaping – Bosch 1594K (on Amazon)

Planer For Surfboard Shaping – Makita KP0800K (on Amazon)

 

Best Planer For Surfboard Shaping Reviews

 

Hitachi P20ST 5.5-Amp 3-1/4-Inch Portable Handheld Planer

The Hitachi P20ST is an electric hand planer.

This is the model that many surfboard shapers like to modify (although, we don’t advocate modifications for a number of reasons).

 

Who Is This Surfboard Planer For?

• Those looking for a cheaper surfboard planer
• Those looking for a surfboard planer that they might like to modify

 

Who Is This Surfboard Planer Not For?

• Those looking for a planer that will be as flexible for surfboard shaping as it will be for woodwork

 

What’s Good About It?

• Max cutting depth – 1/16″
• Max Cutting width – 3-1/4″
• 5.5 Amp motor and no load RPM of 17,000
• Weighs 5.5 lbs
• Easy to adjust cutting depth with knob – good for performing range of board cuts and shaping
• Includes Steel Case, Blade Sharpening Assembly, Box Wrench, Guide, Set Gauge , Dust Adapter, Dust Bag

 

What’s Not So Great?

• In our opinion, not as much of a flexible planer for woodworking as the other two planers on this list

 

What Else Do You Need To Use This Surfboard Planer?

• Optional – shaper barrel, abrasive blades, and shop vac/dust extraction system

 

Where Can I Check Out This Surfboard Planer?

View the Hitachi P20ST on Amazon

 

 

Bosch 1594K 6.5 Amp 3-1/4-Inch Planer Kit

The Bosch 1594K is an electric hand planer.

 

Who Is This Surfboard Planer For?

• Those who want a planer that can shape surfboards, as well as be a good woodworking planer

 

Who Is This Surfboard Planer Not For?

• Those who want the cheapest surfboard planer

 

What’s Good About It?

• Good as surfboard planer or woodworking planer
• 3-1/4 inch wide cutter
• 6.5 Amp motor with 16,500 RPM
• Cutting depth from 0″ to 3/32″ (2.6mm)
• Weighs 6lbs
• 2-blade system equipped with Bosch Woodrazor™ Micrograin carbide blades, which last up to 30% longer than standard carbide blades and resist fractures from nail and staple strikes
• Easy to use cutting depth knob – allows fool-proof setting of depth increments from 0 In. to 3/32 In. (2.6 mm) within one revolution, so there is no need to re-zero the depth
• Foam dust can be extracted to left or right of planer
• Can be converted for use with large high-speed steel blades
• Includes bevel guide fence, blade wrench, chip bag, and case

 

What’s Not So Great?

• Might not be as good to modify as the Hitachi (but you may not need to)
• Heavier than the Hitachi
• Dust bag fills up quickly – so consider using a shop vac

 

What Else Do You Need To Use This Surfboard Planer?

• Optional – shaper barrel, abrasive blades, and shop vac/dust extraction system

 

Where Can I Check Out This Surfboard Planer?

View the Bosch 1594K on Amazon

 

 

Makita KP0800K 3-1/4-Inch Planer Kit

The Makita KP0800K is an electric hand planer.

 

Who Is This Surfboard Planer For?

• Those who want a planer that can shape surfboards, as well as be a good woodworking planer

 

Who Is This Surfboard Planer Not For?

• Those who want the cheapest surfboard planer

 

What’s Good About It?

• Probably the best combination of a surfboard and wood planer out of the 3 planers
• 6.5 Amp motor and 17,000 RPM
• Cutting width and max depth of 3-1/4″ wide and 3/32″ deep in a single pass
• Two blade cutterhead
• Weighs only slightly more than the Hitachi at 5.7lbs
• Includes blade gauge assembly, wrench, guide rule, blade set and tool case.

 

What’s Not So Great?

• Might not be as good to modify as the Hitachi (but you may not need to)
• Dust bag fills up quickly – so consider using a shop vac

 

What Else Do You Need To Use This Surfboard Planer?

• Optional – shaper barrel, abrasive blades, and shop vac/dust extraction system

 

Where Can I Check Out This Surfboard Planer?

View the Makita KP0800K on Amazon

 

 

Best Planer For Surfboard Shaping: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ

 

Other Names For A Surfboard Planer

Surfboard Shaping Planer

Foam Planer

Electric Planer

Power Planer

Power Hand Planer

Portable Planer

 

What Is A Surfboard Planer?

A power hand planer is best for large surface areas of foam removal on the main face/surface of the board, while sand paper and manual hand planers are better for small amounts of foam removal (on the edges of the tail, rail and nose).

Technically, there is no one planer designed and made just for surfboard planing, or to be a foam planer.

There are however power hand planers that due to their design, and features, are better suited to planing a surfboard blank, and helping turn it into a finished surfboard ready for use.

See the ‘features to look for’ section below for what makes a good surfboard planer.

 

What Is A Surfboard Planer Used For, and What Does A Surfboard Planer Do?

Sand paper and small manual hand planers can be used to shape and plane small areas of the board e.g. the edges of the nose, tail and rail.

But, power hand planers are the main tool used to shape a surfboard foam blank, and turn it into either a retail or custom made surfboard – ready to use.

A planer used for surfboard shaping will cut PU, PS or UPS surfboard foam (the common foam type used in surfboards these days).

The person creating and shaping the surfboard will set a depth of cut for each part of the board they have to shape.

Each board is different, but alot of how the board is shaped by the planer is determined by the:

Shape/Template of the board

Thickness and length of the board

Rocker Curvature (the nose, center and tail – are they a continuous line, or are they staged lines?)

Deck profile (domed, flat or concave deck?)

 

Once this design information is determined, there are the different cuts that have to be performed with the planer to create the design:

Feathering the board from the tail to the nose

Shaping the tail concave

Shaping the nose concave

Shaping the rails

Shaping the overall rocker

etc.

 

Types of Surfboard Planers

There are two main types of planers and tools use to shape a surfboard foam blank:

1. Power Hand Planers –  for large surface areas of foam removal. You will use a power hand planer to shape the main profile of the surfboard.

2. Hand planers (block hand planers, surforms) and Hand Sanding –  for light foam removal around the edges of the rails, nose and tail.

 

Surfboard Planer Bits & Accessories

Shaper Barrel – planers have usually 2 to 3 blades on the base which do the cutting. A Shaper barrel is a spinning barrel with an abrasive on the barrel that replaces the blades. The abrasive shapes the foam instead of the blades. Some people prefer these, while others don’t because they say it cooks the motor of the planer with the barrel ALWAYS being in contact with the foam, and putting a constant load on the motor.

Abrasive Planer Blades – some prefer the abrasive planer blades over standard blades and the shaper barrel. You get the benefits of having the abrasive material for shaping, whilst also having the blades that alternate contact with the foam and saves your motor from overloading.

Shop Vacuum or Dust Vacuum – for sucking up foam debris so they dont end up in your eyes, mouth or the ground.

 

How To Choose A Surfboard Planer

Consider two main factors –

1. Will you use your planer ONLY for surfboard shaping? If YES, pick a planer that has features best suited to surfboard shaping.

2. Will you use your planer for surfboard shaping and wood work? If YES, pick a planer that can meet your surfboard shaping and woodworking requirements. The Makita KP0800K and Bosch 1594K are probably better value as both surfboard shaping and woodworking tools.

 

Features To Look For In A Surfboard Planer

Features that make the best planer for surfboard shaping are –

An adjustable shoe/head of the planer base (used for example when you feather from the tail to the nose where you need a deeper cut, or for doing nose concaves and rail concaves – basically it allows you a range of depths of cuts, and to easily allow you to adjust the cut with a simple cutting depth knob)

A handle that allows you to push the planer along the board

A cord that is long and easy to wrap around your arm or on a cord stand to give you workability but to keep the cord out of the way

A rounded base on the planer so you aren’t taking bigchunks and divets out of your foam with sharp corners

 

Modifications For A Surfboard Planer/Foam Planer

We do not recommend modifying a planer for four main reasons:

It will void the warranty for your planer tool with the manufacturer

You may make the planer ineffective for planing wood

You may hurt yourself if the planer malfunctions

You may destroy the tool in general (either directly or by modifying the unit and debris getting into the motor for example)

 

However, some people choose to modify the planer anyway – especially if they are making surfboard frequently.

NL Paddle Surf made a video regarding modifying a standard power hand planer:

Modifications Needed For a Standard Surfboard Planer

 

Safety Tips For Using A Surfboard Planer

By far the four most important pieces of safety equipment for shaping and building surfboards are –

1. Hearing Protection – Ear Muffs

2. Eye Protection – Clear lense safety glasses

3. Breathing Protection – dust mask is mandatory with breathign and air filet

4. Dust Extraction system – running from the dust port of your planer

 

How To Use A Surfboard Planer

As mentioned above, use a power hand planer for large foam removal, and manual hand planes and sand paper for light foam removal.

The following are some great ‘hot-to’ resources for learning how to design, create, build and shape a surfboard:

How To Shape A Surfboard – Surfer Today (written guide w/video)

Hand Shaping A Surfboard From Blank – Adam Lane (Full video from beginning to end)

 

 

Best Surfboard Planer Resources

1. http://www.hitachipowertools.com/

2. https://www.boschtools.com

3. https://www.makitatools.com

 

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