Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer vs Rikon 25-130H 13-Inch Benchtop Planer with Insert Head
| Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer | Rikon 25-130H 13-Inch Benchtop Planer with Insert Head | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $550 | $600 |
| Tier | Serious Hobbyist | Serious Hobbyist |
| Motor HP | — | — |
| Cut Height | — | — |
| Cut Width | — | — |
| Table | — | — |
| Weight | 62 lbs | 73 lbs |
| Dust Port | 3" | 4" |
| Voltage | 120V | 115V |
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer
The Makita 2012NB is the quiet one, a 12-inch benchtop that owners pick when noise and low snipe matter more than raw width. Its Interna-Lok head clamp measurably reduces snipe and it's the lightest machine in its class. The trade-offs are a 12-inch width, only two straight knives, and an odd dust port, so figured-grain and helical fans should look at the Cutech or a Shelix-upgraded DeWalt.
Buy at Amazon $550Rikon 25-130H 13-Inch Benchtop Planer with Insert Head
The Rikon 25-130H brings an insert cutterhead to a 13-inch benchtop, so instead of setting knives you rotate or replace individual inserts, and owners say it handles figured stock better than straight knives. It runs quiet and leaves faint mill marks. Just know the head is a segmented straight-row design, not a true angled helical, so tearout control is better than knives but not equal to a Shelix or spiral head.
Buy at Amazon $600Specs sourced from manufacturer documentation. Owner feedback reflects community reports from r/woodworking, Sawmill Creek, and Amazon verified reviews. Prices may vary by retailer and change over time.