Anyone who is looking at taking on DIY projects that require cutting wood should look at investing in a benchtop thickness planer. These tools allow for precise cutting to ensure your wood is cut accurately and you achieve the best results. For this job, we are going to look at the Wen 6550 vs Wen 6552.
A benchtop thickness planer is a necessary tool for anyone who is working with rough lumber. It will cut lumber down to the thickness you require and the same time, smooth out the lumber for a clean finish.
The Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552 are powerful tools that will make easy work of cutting wood to just the right size. This article will cover the size, power, cutting abilities, and value for money for the two Wen benchtop thickness planers.
We will start with what the Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552 have in common.
Wen 6550 vs Wen 6552
Quick Glance
Feeding System
To feed the wood into the machine, there is a tri-roller feeding system. This will help to minimize snipe- when the beginning or the end is slightly deeper on longer boards.
Cutting Measurements
You can adjust the size of each cut from 0 to 3/32 inches on both the Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552. You can adjust the measurements by 1/64 of an inch. The material gauge on the Wen 6552 is removal, the only small difference here. On each machine, there is a rubber adjustable handle. It is easy to set the measurements by simply turning the handle.
Transporting the Benchtop Thickness Planer
The Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552 have foldable infeed and outfeed tables. Once they are folded, the machines are compact and easy to move around. Both also have deep carry handles to help. You should not carry the machine by holding on to parts other than the handles.
Dust Port
Cutting wood will inevitably result in sawdust if this isn’t cleaned away, it makes visibility more difficult. The Wen 6550 and the 6552 have fan-assisted dust ports that will remove sawdust and keep the working area clean.
The Base
Both of the bases are made of cast-iron. The weight of the cast-iron helps provide sturdiness. They also have mounting holes if you wish to attach them to your workbench. Doing so will obviously keep the planer in place but you won’t be able to move it around unless you remove the screws.
Now that we are aware of the similarities, we will take a look at how the Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552 are different.
Differences Between Wen 6550 and Wen 6552
Appearance
These two benchtop thickness planers are black with orange features. They have the same rectangular shape and only differ in the weight and dimensions.
Wen 6550
This machine weighs 70 pounds. It is 23.5 x 24 x 19 inches.
Wen 6552
This version is slightly smaller. It is 25.2 x 21.8 x 16 inches. It weighs a little less at 66 pounds.
The Winner Is- The Wen 6552
Power
The power a benchtop thickness planer will determine the effort and even the accuracy of the cut. Machines with higher amperage will have more horsepower and will, therefore, be more consistent, especially for denser wood.
Wen 6550
Although advertised on Amazon as having a 15AMP, the Wen website states that the 6550 has a 12AMP motor. This provides 18,000 cuts per minute and a feed rate of 26ft per minute.
Wen 6552
This has a more powerful motor at 15AMP. This makes quite a difference, being able to cut 25,500 cuts per minute. It also has a feed rate of 26ft per minute.
The Winner Is- The Wen 6552
The Blades
Needless to say, all the power in the world won’t help if your blades are of poor quality.
Wen 6550
This has a 2-blade cutting system. The blades sit on the middle roller. The blades can be reversed in order to prolong their lifespan.
Wen 6552
Here you will be able to benefit from a 3-blade system. Again, the blades sit on the middle roller and can be reversed so that they last longer.
The Winner Is- The Wen 6552
The Cutting Size and Table
The cutting size will affect the size of the lumber you can put through the feeder. The average benchtop thickness planer will cut boards 6 inches thick and 12.5 inches wide.
Wen 6550
This will cut the average size boards of 6 inches thick and 12.5 inches wide. The table is made from granite, which means the wood will slide across the granite table with ease. The granite means there is no warping or distorting and will last for decades.
Wen 6552
In this case, you will be able to cut 6-inch thick boards with a thickness of 13 inches. Unfortunately, the table is metal rather than granite. This may account for the machine being lighter.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Value for Money
When looking at prices, you can expect to spend anywhere from $300 to over $600. The warranty will depend on the brand.
Wen 6550
This is a very well priced benchtop thickness planer sitting towards the lower end of the average price range. It comes with a 90-day warranty, which we think should really be longer.
Wen 6552
While it is more expensive than the Wen 6550, it is still great value for money. The warranty is 1-year.
The Winner Is- The Wen 6552
Pros and Cons
For many, it could still be a difficult decision, even with so much information. The following pros and cons will assist in eliminating any doubts you may still have. And to further help, we will finish up with our final verdict.
Wen 6550
Pros:
- When passing warped wood through the feeder, it is effective and removing it and providing clean, square edges
- The rubber handle is a great system to adjust the tiniest of measurements easily
- It’s easy to set up, straightforward to use and will save lots of time
Cons:
- While the granite table is very durable, the actual machine may not last as long as one would hope
Wen 6552
Pros:
- It is not as loud as the Wen 6550, you can handle the sound without the need for ear protection (although it is always recommendable)
- There will be no snipe while you are supporting the wood and almost non-existent without support
- The blades glide through pine and oak, it even works well on hardwood, including types like purple heart
Cons:
- Again, the machine doesn’t seem to last as long as you would hope
The Final Verdict
In the first place, both the Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552 are great value for money. After further investigation, we came to the conclusion that many of the negative reviews could have been down to human error. While they are suitable for beginners, it is important to closely follow the instructions and even watch a video or two to learn some hints.
When it came to the size, weight, and appearance of the Wen 6550 and the Wen 6552, there was very little difference. They look the same and the dimensions and weight were not noticeable enough for us to base our decision on. Even the use of the two machines was the same.
The fan-assisted dust port worked very well on both of the Wen benchtop thickness planers and we liked the rubber handle to adjust the measurements. They made it very easy to adjust even the smallest of measurements.
Really, our decision came down to power, and where there was a noticeable difference. The higher amperage with the Wen 6552 made the jobs effortless. We managed to save a great deal of time both on smaller and larger projects. Having three blades instead of the two added to the Wen 6552’s capabilities. It was great that we could use it on a wide range of wood types.
The added cost did not bother us. Overall we were able to save time with a more powerful machine and we appreciated the longer warranty. For these reasons, we felt the Wen 6552 was the superior benchtop thickness planer.
Last update on 2023-06-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
