WEN 6550 VS 6552 [A Clear Winner?]

It doesn’t matter whether you’re working on small projects or large ones, a power planer does all your tasks in a breeze. When you have to level rough-sawn timbers, benchtop planers are a useful tool. 

WEN is a well-known brand in the world of benchtop power planers, and its 6550 and 6552 models are the 2 bestselling benchtop power planers. But, how do you choose between two of its excellent power planers?

Honestly, both these power planes work best for leveling out bumpy planks and timbers. Honestly, benchtop planers do not come in one-size-fits-all sizes. 

Today, we’ll take you through these two bench planers and their features to help you analyze the two. Our goal is to help you make the correct choice. 

So, without further ado, let’s jump into the details. 

EDITOR NOTE | WEN 6550 and WEN 6552 are now discontinued by the manufacturer, if you are looking for the latest WEN Planner please check the WEN PL1303.

WEN 6550 vs. 6552 Benchtop Planer

All your tasks begin with a wood board. And, no matter how many tools you have in the workshop or home, a benchtop planer is a must-have tool for all your tasks. So, owning a planer will save you a lot of time, money and notch up all your tasks. 

While browsing through the variety of planers available on the market, a benchtop planer is an excellent option. With it by your side, working on your next wood project won’t be a challenge anymore. 

In this regard, let’s take a look at the two best benchtop planers, the 6550 and 6552 by WEN, to figure out which one will be ideal to meet your needs. These two power planers are quite similar to each other in terms of power and performance. Plus, they feature a robust motor and are incredibly durable. 

Despite sharing certain similarities with each other, they differ from each other in quite a few aspects like efficiency and preciseness. Needless to say, these tools are one-time investments, and so you must invest in one which will last you for years. 

So, without further delay, let’s dive right into the deets, shall we?

A Glance At WEN 6550 Benchtop Planer

The WEN 6550 is an excellent option for amateurs, hobbyists, and professional workers. Featuring a cutter-head dual knife, the WEN 6550 ensures a smooth finish to your wood boards. Also, its two-edged blades featuring a reversible knife ensure accuracy and perfection while making it a more durable planer for all your woodworks. 

At a speed of 26 feet per minute, its 15 amp motor offers 18,000 cuts per minute. If you have to level off planks of wood as thick as 6 inches or wood boards with a maximum width of 12 and a half inches, this benchtop planer will do the job in no time. 

Moreover, its plastic handle allows you to add depth up to 1 - 16 inches. 

What’s more interesting is that the granite bed of this 6550 planer is highly durable as it is flat and cumbersome enough to maintain the balance of the worktop while using the benchtop planer. The granite also doesn’t damage the wood plank you are working on. 

Although it weighs more than 77 pounds, it is relatively portable. With handles on the sides and foldable infeed and outfeed tables, you can carry this planer from your workshop to the construction site without any hassle. Also, changing the angle of the table is not much of a task in this 6550 planer. 

Plus, the fan in the dust port is highly impressive, for it clears away the dust peelings. To put it in a nutshell, this 6550 benchtop planer by WEN is an excellent option for all enthusiasts, amateurs, and woodworking professionals. 

What Is The WEN 6550 Benchtop Planer Good For?

The WEN 6550 benchtop planer is stuffed with a host of features that allow you to perform your woodworking tasks with ease. So, let us explore the features which give this benchtop planer an edge over the others on the market. 

1. Sturdy Motor

Given the fact that this is an entry-level benchtop planer, we are pretty impressed by its 15 Amp motors delivering 18,000 cuts per minute. While moving through uneven timbers, the motor of this planer works excellently to produce the smoothest surface for your projects. 

With a speed of 26 feet per minute, you’re sure to carry out all your tasks like the wind. If you are a DIY enthusiast or an interior designer, this tabletop planer with its sturdy motor will deliver an excellent finish to all your woodworking projects. 

2. Powerful Dual-Blades 

If you think that the dual blades on this planer aren’t powerful enough, then you’re laboring under a delusion. Unlike other planers of the same range, the blades of the WEN 6550 are pretty impressive. As such, its powerful dual-blades are sufficient to carve out wood boards with the smoothest finish. 

The dual blades can peel off up to 3/32 inches, thanks to its fast-rotating spin. Also, dealing with boards as thick as 6 inches and as wide as 12.5 inches isn’t a hassle for this benchtop planer. 

These blades are reversible, which adds to their durability. So, whether it is woodworking tasks of the DIY enthusiasts or minor household wood tasks, this WEN 6550 is the ideal wood planer. 

3. Foldable Granite Table

One of the striking features of the WEN 6550 is its foldable granite table. Because of this granite table, you can place timber planks at roughly any angle you want. This granite table is what makes this planer a cut above other comparable planers.  

The foldable ends of the granite table allow wood to move over it freely and also perform impeccably with large chunks of wood. Also, the granite doesn’t wear out, and so, the plate will outlast the machine itself. For all your 12.5-inch wide woodwork, this planer is an excellent option. 

4. Dust Hose Connection Port

This benchtop planer features a dust hose connection port to collect all the wood shavings. You just need to connect a vacuum cleaner or a dust extraction machine while working to collect all the flakes and wood shavings in one place. This relieves you of sweeping the room after your hectic tasks by collecting all the shavings in the dust port and making cleaning an easy task. 

5. Adjustable Rubber-Grip Handle 

Do you sweat buckets while adjusting the depth of your planer? Not anymore - this planer is equipped with a rubber handle that can be rotated easily while working on any woodwork projects. You can alter the height easily by 1/16 inches after each complete rotation. This adjustable rubber handle allows you to work with perfection on wood boards. 

6. Tri-Roller Feeding System 

The tri-roller feeding mechanism of the 6550 benchtop planer is pretty pleasing as it securely grips the timber and thrusts it in to guarantee minimal swiping. With the twin blades sandwiched between the infeed and outfeed rollers, you can be assured of clean and precise cuts. 

7. Designed For Optimal Stability

The WEN 6550 packs a punch into a benchtop package. It is designed in the most impregnable way and is perfectly weighted. Weighing nearly 70 lbs, it does not wobble or quiver while you are working on it. 

Also, the granite table lays a solid base for timber to prevent it from getting tarnished while smoothening.

The machine’s cast iron lays a solid base to prevent any mishaps from occurring while working on it. Also highly striking are the pre-drilled holes that allow you to fasten the planer on your tabletop and work with convenience. 

A Glance At WEN 6552 Benchtop Planer

If your next woodworking project involves dealing with wood boards as wide as 13 inches, then consider the 6552 benchtop planer to ease your task. Featuring a 15 Amp motor with three blades, you can be assured of a smooth finish to your woodwork projects. 

At a speed of 26 feet per minute, this planer delivers 25,000 cuts per minute. As such, its speed churns out wood pieces with precision and perfection. Also, you’d be pleased to know that it has a metal worktop that is significantly lighter in weight. 

With its pre-drilled supporting holes, you can easily fasten it to your worktable and make it less quacky. Plus, this planer allows you to reduce the snipes by adjusting the infeed and outfeed tables. 

Simply put, this benchtop planer is an excellent choice if you are looking for precision and perfection in your woodworking projects. Rest assured, you will not be disappointed. 

What Is The WEN 6552 Benchtop Planer Good For?

The WEN 6552 is the upgraded version of its predecessor, the 6552. This updated version is packed with a whole raft of features which is why it is the sought-after planer among most DIY enthusiasts and woodworkers. 

If you’ve been dealing with wood for quite some time and are tired of your basic hand planer, it’s time to upgrade to a more advanced tool to complete your tasks quickly. So, let us explore the features of this benchtop planer to see what makes it worthy of an upgrade. 

1. Robust Motor 

Featuring a 15 Amp motor, this 6552 benchtop planer spins at a rate of 8500 RPM. This strong motor will handle all your daily tasks with ease. With 25,000 cuts per minute, you are sure to achieve a wood plank of the smoothest finish for your next DIY project. And, because of this high cutting rate, you can also work with thin chunks of timber without any hassle. 

The fast-spinning blades combined with a powerful motor are the two ingredients for an accurate and perfect finish on your wood surfaces. Similar to the 6500, the wood chunks move underneath the blade at a speed of 26 feet per minute to provide you with the perfect piece for your next DIY or interior project. 

2. Toughened Triple Blade Cutter Head

If you’ve used the double head cutter-knife, you must know how efficiently it completes all the woodworking tasks, isn’t it? With this, let me introduce you to the WEN 6552 featuring a triple-knife cutter head. This ensures precise and perfect cuts on your timber. For all the hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts, this three-blade system benchtop planer will be an excellent choice to carry out all your wood-related tasks. 

If you’re looking for preciseness and smooth finishes, then a triple-knife cutter head will provide you with the best results, for they outperform all their dual-blade counterparts. Also, to ensure finer cuts, you can place them upside down. This also adds to the longevity of the blades. 

3. Metal Table 

As against the previous 6550 benchtop planer, the 6552 planer is equipped with a metal table. The ultra greasy coating of this benchtop planer provides a smooth and even surface so that the wood glides beneath the blade in the blink of an eye. With this metal table, cleaning isn’t a challenging task rather a more easy-breezy one and can also be stored conveniently. 

If the enthusiast in you wants to work on large pieces, then you may adjust the table accordingly and work without any hassle. This metal table of the WEN 6552 improves the performance and adds to the efficiency of the planer. 

4. Reversible Blades

The WEN 6552 benchtop planers triple-blade system is quite pleasing. But, what’s interesting is, they are featured with reversible blades. Once the blades begin to go blunt, you can reverse them and continue with your work. 

As such, reversing ensures quicker and more efficient performance. Also, these blades are disposable. This ensures the longevity of the blades while also allowing you to save those extra bucks too.  

5. Double Roller

To ensure optimal performance, the WEN 6552 is featured with two rollers above the tool’s housing. You can easily control the rollers without much hassle. As such, you don’t have to worry about the snipes while working on your masterpiece as the rollers reduce the snipe. Also, they ensure your board remains in perfect shape. 

6. Handy Dust Port

Who wouldn’t agree to the fact that planing wood is a chaotic affair? But, it isn’t messy anymore, for the dust port behind this planer allows you to connect either a vacuum cleaner or a dust hose and collect all the shavings. This will keep your workshop as clean as a pin. 

Also, the dust channel is pretty easy to connect. You just need to fasten the screws, and within a minute or two, the planer is ready to create your masterpiece. The 2 inches port perfectly collects all your shavings in one place. With this WEN 6552, planing will no longer be a messy affair. 

7. Designed for Optimal Stability

The WEN 6552 is a user-friendly planer. Featuring a crank handle, you can easily fiddle with the thickness and depth you want. Also, you can adjust the gauge to shave off from 0 to 3/32 inches. 

Moreover, the infeed and outfeed tables are designed to hold up the wooden board while also restraining sniping efficiently. Plus, its fast-rotating triple-blade cutter head rotating at a speed of 10000 per minute will shave off your woods at breakneck speed. 

The WEN 6550 vs. 6552 - A Comparative Study Of The Key Features 

Although both the 6550 and 6552 planer are pretty similar in terms of specifications and features, they do differ from each other on specific aspects. The features of both the benchtop planer are of utmost importance while deciding to purchase one. 

Here we have discussed some key features you must consider while going for either the 6550 or the 6552 benchtop planer from the WEN brand. 

Both the 6550 and the 6552 are suited for meeting different planing requirements, depending mainly on the nature and the size of your work and the kind of woods you will be dealing with. 

So, without wasting any more time, let us explore the features of both the 6550 and the 6552 planer. 

1. Motor And Speed Considerations

While talking about the motor and speed of the two machines, they both are pretty similar to each other. The WEN 6550 is built-in with 15 Amp motors which makes it ideal for all amateurs, enthusiasts, DIY workers, and household uses. 

Designed particularly for enthusiasts and DIYers, the cut rate of this planer is highly impressive. Offering 18000 cuts per minute, you can complete all your tasks in a breeze. With a speed of 26 feet per minute, you can expect nothing but a smooth finish to your wood pieces.

On the contrary side, the WEN 6552 is similar to the 6550 model when it comes to the motor but differs in terms of speed. Like the 6550, its 15 Amp motor ensures smooth and efficient performance. 

But with 25000 cuts per minute, you are assured of a more smoothened and uniform finish on your wood boards as against the speed rate of 6550. And with a speed of 26 feet per minute, the 6552 is sure to provide your wood piece with the best possible finish. 

If you are an amateur or just someone who’s venturing into the field of woodworking, then the WEN 6550 would be an ideal pick for you, mainly because of its speed rate and cuts. But, if you are a professional woodworker or a contractor, you must pick the 6552 to complete all woodworking tasks quickly as a wink. 

2. Number Of Blades

With a dual-blade cutter head, the entry-level WEN 6550 performs efficiently to even out the wooden planks for your next remodeling project. The extra blade makes this planer perform better than others on the market. Although the blades are relatively smaller than the other, they perform streets ahead of the other entry-level planers. 

On the other side, the WEN 6552 is equipped with a three-blade cutter head to provide sharper cuts to your wooden boards. You can get a smooth and even surface with this three-blade cutter head in almost no time. However, in rare cases, the three blades do not always ensure superior cuts, but more is always better than less. 

If you are an amateur or a DIY enthusiast, then the WEN 6550 with its dual-blade will be a perfect go-to planer for all your woodworking tasks. But, for all the professional workers and workshop owners, the WEN 6552 will be an excellent choice to carry out all your tasks like the wind. 

3. Stock Handling Ability

Being an entry-level benchtop planer, the stock handling ability of this planer is quite impressive. The WEN 6550 deals efficiently with wood pieces as thick as 6 inches and as wide as 12 and a half inches. So, if you have to deal with wood as thick as 6 inches for your next remodeling project, then this planer would be perfect for all tasks. 

On the other hand, the WEN 6552 works efficiently with wood boards as wide as 13 inches. Being equipped with a triple-blade system, you can trust this for all those heavy planks of wood. 

If you are having a tough time deciding between the two, you must consider the stock handling ability of the two benchtop planers. This is quite an important aspect of the planer which will help you choose the correct one. Keeping in mind the nature of the task and the size of the wood you’re dealing with will help you make an informed decision. 

As such, the WEN 6550 perfectly handles wood of up to 12.5 widths, whereas the 6552 performs well with wood pieces as wide as 13 inches. The 6550 will be an excellent choice for any household or DIY project, while the 6552 will be an ideal choice for professional workers or workshop owners. 

4. Cutting Quality Of The Planer

When you’re looking for a benchtop power planer to replace your hand planer, the cutting quality of the planer is crucial. Both the WEN 6550 and the 6552 can take up to 6 inches of wooden board underneath their plate, which is quite impressive. 

Both the planers allow you to adjust the blade up to 3/32 inches without causing any damage to the planer. Being an entry-level planer, we were quite pleased with the smooth finish offered by the 6550 on our board of wood without any appalling snipes or stripes. 

Even though both the planers use the tri-roller system, the 6552 benchtop planer produces a better finish to the wood boards with fewer scalloping streaks and snipes, thanks to its metal table. 

So, if more refined and accurate cuts are what you’re looking for, then 6552 will work perfectly for those woods used for heavy-duty tasks. However, the 6550 model suits perfectly for household or small-scale tasks. 

5. Blade Mechanism

When it comes to wood planing tasks, the number of blades is of utmost importance. Both the planers 6550 and 6552 are equipped with different numbers of blades. With dual-blades, the 6550 provides smooth and even surfaces to the wood pieces that you are planing. 

On the contrary, the WEN 6552 is equipped with a triple-blade mechanism offering more finer cuts than the 6550. Whatever heavy-duty task you have at hand, you can always trust this for producing efficient cuts. 

Be it remodeling, renovating, or even any DIY task, a triple-blade planer is sure to yield satisfying results. But, at times, the dual-blade planer has shown to produce better results than the triple-blade ones.  

If you’re hopping in search of a good planer on the market for your DIY works or remodeling projects, 6550 will be an ideal pick, while the 6552 will yield excellent results on all the wood pieces of heavy-duty tasks. 

6. Design And Length Of The Blade

The length and the design of the benchtop planers are crucial to determine the tasks that they can carry out. While unpacking the two planers, we noticed no such difference in the design of the blades. However, because they are made to handle different cut widths, we noticed slight differences in the length of the blade. 

Because of the accuracy and precision this entry-level planer offers, its 12.5 inches blade wears away due to constant use. But, worry not, for they are replaceable. Replacement blades are available in pairs, so it is easy for you to replace them. 

On the other hand, the blade design of the WEN 6552 is similar to the 6550 but varies in width. Although just like the 6550, the blades of these are available in a set of three for easy replaceability. 

However, the blades of this model perform impeccably well, for the pressure is evenly distributed among the three blades. So, the blades of this are highly durable and don’t call for replacement as frequently as the former one. 

Also, blades that are manufactured in Germany or the USA are far more durable than those of other countries. So, you must count on them. 

But, despite being equipped with two blades, the 6550 offers superior cuts and precision than the 6552. If the result of the wood surface matters to you more than the number of blades, then 6550 is your go-to planer. However, if you believe that more is always better than less, then 6552 will be perfect for satisfying the perfectionist in you. 

7. Work Table

Although both the planers are offered by the same brand WEN, they are designed with different work tables. The 6550 model is equipped with a granite table. Granite is one such material well-known for its strength and longevity. And so, the table of this 6550 unit is strong, sturdy, and resistant to wear. Also, it provides a smooth finish to the wood pieces that you plane. 

Because of its durability, the table will last more than the unit itself. But, it cannot handle more than 12.5 inches of wood. Also, the granite tables are significantly better than those of cast iron materials and also reduce abrasion when lumber passes through the planer. 

What makes the WEN 6552 stand out is its metal table. The slick covering of its metallic table allows timber to slide through with little friction. The broad thickness planner is quite impressive for it supports wooden boards of up to 13 inches in width. 

But, with good comes the bad, and so this metallic table is subject to wear and can easily bend.

Both the 6550 and 6552 provide finer cuts along with a smooth surface for the wood pieces to slide through. However, if you are looking for a durable planer, the 6550 unit with its granite table will be best to work with as against the 6552’s metal table. 

8. Weight 

Whatever tool you are looking for, make sure to consider how much it weighs. We are pretty sure you wouldn’t want to break your back while lifting it. Weighing 77 lbs., the 6550 unit is significantly heavy, mainly because of its granite table. 

However, the extra weight is beneficial because it reduces vibrations and results in a smooth and efficient finish. But, this extra weight affects the portability of this planer. 

The 6552 benchtop planer is equipped with a metal table and weighs significantly less than the former model. Weighing around 70 lbs, you can easily move this planer from the workshop to your home or factory without much hassle. Besides, it won’t cause any strain on your back, thanks to its lightweight. 

If you are looking for a benchtop planer only for the workshop or factory, then the weight isn’t an issue, and you can go for the 6550 unit. But, if your job entails moving to different locations, then 6552 will be perfect because of its lightweight. 

However, we found that the 6550 model is better because it comes with pre-drilled holes, which you can fasten on the table to work conveniently. 

9. Price Of The Planer

The price of the planer is an important factor which you must take into account while choosing one for your tasks. The WEN 6550 is much cheaper than the 6552 unit. But, considering the fact that the blades of the 6552 are more durable than the 6550, the latter is worth extra bucks. 

However, the price variations are not of much importance. What matters more is the features and the finish offered by the two planers. Your budget and the nature of the work will determine which one will be an excellent choice for you. 

So, if you are on the lookout for a planer for household use or for dealing with small-scale wood projects, the 6550 will be an ideal planer to carry out all your tasks. However, if you are a professional woodworker or a construction contractor, the 6552 will be perfect for it will allow you to carry out heavy-duty tasks in a breeze. 

Why Prefer The WEN 6550 Benchtop Planer?

We love the WEN 6550 benchtop planer for a variety of reasons; however, we were hooked by its granite table, which is strong, sturdy, and resistant to wear. Its dual-blades even out the rough surfaces in almost no time. If you are a DIYer or a professional woodworker, then this planer is an ideal addition to your toolbox. As such, it will help you in carrying out all your wood-related tasks in a breeze.

Even if you are a hobbyist or an interior designer and thinking about getting this unit, you will not be disappointed. As such, you can use this planer to carve that perfect piece of cabinet or dining table. Also, this planer is flexible enough to deal with hard chunks of wood. 

So, if you are in quest of a planer that can offer exceptional smooth finishes to your surfaces, then this planer will be an excellent value for money. However, beginners must use this with caution and under an expert to avoid any mishaps. 

Why Prefer The WEN 6552 Benchtop Planer?

What we love about the WEN 6552 benchtop planer is that its motor of 15 Amp is powerful enough to offer 25000 cuts per minute. This results in a much smoother and more precise finish than the 6550 unit. Also, its three-blade structure is impressive, for it provides a more uniform finish to your wood pieces. 

While working with this planer, you are free to adjust the depth as you want. Weighing 70 lbs., this planer is portable. And because it can take up wood as wide as 13 inches, it is ideal for all heavy-duty tasks. Furthermore, its metal tables make it easy for the timber to glide beneath the blades. 

So, if you are a professional woodworker, a construction contractor, or a workshop owner, this 6552 is an excellent choice to perform all your woodwork tasks like the wind. This model will be excellent for planing your 13 inches of wood for the masterpiece you want to create. 

Similarities Between The WEN 6550 vs. 6552

Since both the planers, the 6500 and the 6550, are offered by the same brand, they are similar to each other in quite a lot of aspects. So, let us explore the similarities between the two planers. 

1. Both the 6550 and the 6552 are equipped with a dust port to collect all the shavings in one place without making planing a messy affair. 
2. The 6550 and the 6552 models by WEN are portable planers, thanks to their side handles. Also, the two benchtop planers are featured with a roller bar. 
3. There are infeed and outfeed tables in the two planers, which provide ample support to your wood boards and can be adjusted to the angle you wish to. This results in smoother and precise cuts. 
4. The two planers are equipped with an adjustable rubber handle. You just have to rotate the handle to adjust the height. This allows you to work with any wood piece. 
5. The two benchtop planers by WEN are powered by 15 Amp motors to ensure efficient performance. 

Difference Between The WEN 6550 And The 6552

The WEN 6550 and the 6552 are both woodworking tools. With these woodworking tools by your side, you can carry out all the woodworking tasks like the wind. Although they both are from the same brand WEN, they differ from each other in certain aspects. Let us find out the areas in which these tools differ from each other. 

The WEN 6550 is featured with a dual-blade cutter head to ensure utmost precision in all your wood planing tasks. However, on the other hand, the 6552 model is equipped with a triple-blade cutter head. So, the former model is ideal if you are planing for your crafts, DIY projects, or remodeling projects. At the same time, the latter will prove an excellent choice for all your heavy-duty wood tasks. 

Secondly, the two models are featured with a powerful 15 Amp motor, but they offer cuts at different speeds. The 6550 model provides 18000 cuts per minute, while the 6552 model provides cuts at the rate of 25000 per minute. 

Thirdly, the 6550 benchtop planer can deal with wood pieces as wide as 12.5 inches, while the 6552 unit can deal with wood up to 13 inches width effectively. So, the 6552 benchtop planer is superior to the 6550 in this respect. 

Fourthly, the two benchtop planers are equipped with different tables. The table of the 6550 model is made up of granite which is strong, sturdy, and resistant to wear. 

However, on the contrary, the 6552 consists of a metallic table. Both these tables allow the timber to pass through the blades with minimal friction. 

WEN Planer FAQ

EDITOR NOTE | WEN 6550 and WEN 6552 are now discontinued by the manufacturer, if you are looking for the latest WEN Planner please check the WEN PL1303.

Summing It Up

When it comes to benchtop planers, WEN does not disappoint us. Both the 6550 and the 6552 planers are excellent tools for planing wood. And so, it is extremely difficult to pick a winner between the two tools. 

Although both the planers enjoy certain advantages over the other, the 6552 clearly outshines 6550 in terms of features and uses. The WEN 6552 is perfect for all professional woodworkers and contractors dealing with a wide variety of hardwoods, while the 6550 works perfectly for small chunks of wood. 

Eventually, it all depends on the nature of your task and your personal preference. Not to forget, your experience plays a crucial role in it.   

And so, we come to the end of our comprehensive guide and hope that you will be able to choose the correct one for your tasks. And, keep your eyes glued on this space for more such intriguing reads. 

Until then, take care, folks!

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