How to Choose the Right Planer Blades for Your Woodworking Projects

If you’re into woodworking, the quality of your surface finish often comes down to one thing—Hobelmesser. Pick the wrong ones, and you’ll spend more time sanding than cutting. The right blades, though, can save you effort, boost efficiency, and last much longer.

You’ll find all kinds of Hobelmesser on the market—made from different materials, with various shapes and coatings. The most popular types include HSS (High-Speed Steel), Solid Tungsten Carbideund TCT (Wolframkarbid-bestückt). There are also indexable blades that let you rotate or replace the cutting edge without sharpening, making maintenance a breeze.

Of course, what works best depends on your tool. A jointer, bench planer, electric hand planer, oder manual hand planer all use different styles of blades, based on how they’re built and how the blades are mounted.

In this article, you’ll learn the pros and cons of each type of planer blade—so you can find the right one for your setup and the kind of woodworking you do.

Types of Planer Blades

Planer blades are categorized into several types: High-Speed Steel (HSS) planer blades, solid tungsten carbide planer blades, Tungsten Carbide Tipped (TCT) planer blades, and indexable carbide inserts.

HSS-Hobelmesser

HSS planer blades are a classic choice for both home and professional workshops. Made from high-alloy steel with elements like tungsten and molybdenum, they offer excellent toughness, sharpness, and affordability. These blades are ideal for planing softwoods and are easy to resharpen.

Pros:

Budget-friendly
Easy to maintain and resharpen
Good for general-purpose use

Best for: Softwoods, moderate workloads, and occasional use

Vollhartmetall-Hobelmesser

Solid carbide planer blades are engineered for heavy-duty applications. With extreme hardness and resistance to heat and wear, they’re perfect for abrasive materials and long production runs. However, they are more brittle than HSS and more difficult to sharpen.

Pros:

Superior wear resistance and edge retention

Withstands high cutting temperatures

Ideal for high-volume and hardwood processing

Best for: Hardwood, MDF, laminated wood, and long production cycles

TCT-Hobelmesser

TCT blades feature a steel body with tungsten carbide cutting edges. They offer a balance between durability and cost, making them a common choice for professionals who need longer-lasting blades but want to avoid the high price of solid carbide.

Pros:

More durable than HSS
More affordable than solid carbide
Delivers clean, consistent cuts

Best for: Mixed materials, workshops with mid-to-high workloads

Indexable Carbide Inserts

Indexable inserts are small, square or round blades mounted on helical cutterheads. When one edge dulls, simply rotate the insert to a fresh cutting edge—no sharpening required. This system minimizes downtime and ensures consistent performance.

Pros:

Extremely long service life
Easy to replace or rotate
Excellent surface finish with minimal tear-out

Best for: Professional CNC routers, industrial planer machines, high-efficiency shops