The wider planer lets you shave the thickness of larger panels. Note
that it does not neccessarily "flatten" panels. If the panel goes in
cupped/bowed, it will come out cupped/bowed. The 13" benchtop planer is
common for the average hobbyist woodworker (like myself) who cannot (or
doesn't need to) spend the money on larger stand-alone machines.
Though if cost isn't a consideration, bigger is better.
The Performax sanders are another way to surface a large panels though I
haven't actually seen one in action.

On 04/07/2012 02:08 AM, wrote:
I've been looking at jointers and planers for a home shop. It seems that all of the commercially available jointers are 6" and the planers are about 12". What's the point in having a planer twice as large?

I must be missing something obvious... help a rookie out?

Thanks!