Bosch 2632 Detailed Review [Worth It Or Not??]

The Bosch 2632 is a powerful and versatile 3-1/4 inch planer that enables fast stock removal and smooth finishes for woodworking projects. With its strong 6.5 amp motor, adjustable depth settings, and ambidextrous controls, this planer can handle a wide range of planning tasks.

In this in-depth Bosch 2632 review, we will take a close look at the key features, performance, pros and cons, and ideal uses of this planer.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Bosch 2632 and whether it’s the right planer for your workshop.

Overview of the Bosch 2632 Planer

The Bosch 2632 is a compact, portable planer that provides power and precision for fine woodworking projects. Key specs and features include:

  • Powerful 6.5 amp motor produces 16,500 RPM for fast stock removal
  • Planing width of 3-1/4 inches ideal for edging boards and smaller workpieces
  • Planing depth adjustable from 0 to 1/8 inch
  • Weighs only 6.3 lbs for easy portability around the workshop
  • Dual-mount guide fence provides added control and accuracy
  • Ambidextrous lock-off release button for safety and convenience
  • Aluminum front and rear shoes are durable and slide smoothly across workpieces
  • Spring-loaded stand folds down when planing for stability

With its robust motor and range of fine depth adjustments, the Bosch 2632 excels at putting smooth, tear-out-free finishes on small boards and edges. The lightweight but sturdy construction makes it comfortable for extended use. Read on for more details on using this planer for fine woodworking projects.

Powerful 6.5 Amp Motor

The Bosch 2632 houses a strong 6.5 amp motor that spins the cutter head at a speedy 16,500 revolutions per minute (RPM). This level of power enables fast stock removal, allowing you to plane boards and surfaces smooth and flat in a hurry. The high RPM also contributes to leaving clean, smooth finishes free of ripples or chatter marks.

Many users mention how impressed they are by the power the 6.5 amp motor provides in such a small and portable package. It has more than enough muscle for general purpose planning tasks. The motor is designed for long service life under regular use.

Planing Width of 3-1/4 Inches

With a standard planing width of 3-1/4 inches, the Bosch 2632 is made for working on smaller boards, handling edge jointing tasks, and other detail planing work. The narrow planing width gives you good control and visibility as you run boards and small workpieces over the cutter head. This allows keeping the tool steady for very smooth, precision planing.

The 3-1/4 inch capacity is suitable for planing boards up to about 6 inches wide, allowing you to surface and straighten a range of workpiece dimensions. It’s also handy for putting crisp, straight edges on boards using the dual-mount fence for guidance. Overall, this planer is geared more toward fine planing than removing large amounts of stock in a hurry.

Adjustable Planing Depth from 0 to 1/8 Inch

A key feature of the Bosch 2632 is the adjustable planing depth settings, ranging continuously from 0 to 1/8 inch. This enables taking off anything from the lightest skim cut to 1/8 inch in a single pass. The adjustment knob provides good tactile feedback so you can precisely dial in the right depth of cut.

The ability to take deeper cuts helps increase material removal rate when needed. More commonly with this planer, you’ll take very light passes under 1/32 inch to remove saw marks and create an ultrasmooth surface. The precision depth control enables sneaking up on the perfect finish.

Lightweight at Only 6.3 lbs

Weighing in at just 6.3 lbs, the Bosch 2632 is highly portable and easy to handle. You can comfortably grip both sides of the base and guide the planer with good control. The lightweight aluminum construction paired with the ergonomic design allows using this planer for extended periods without excessive strain or fatigue.

Many users comment on how the Bosch 2632 feels nicely balanced in the hands, with the center of gravity close to your body when planing. This enhances comfort and reduces arm strain that can come from using heavier planers. It’s a great choice if you need a planer for detail work where you’ll be holding it for long stretches.

Dual-Mount Guide Fence for Accuracy

The Bosch 2632 comes equipped with a dual-mount guide fence that attaches to either side of the planer. This provides an extra level of guidance to keep the tool steady and ensure cut accuracy. The fence helps reduce snipe and enables clean, straight edge planing.

Having the removable fence attachable on either side makes this planer truly ambidextrous. You can set it up in the optimal position no matter if you plane with your right or left hand leading. The fence locks securely in place and can also be removed completely when doing freehand work.

Ambidextrous Lock-Off Release Button

A thoughtful design feature of the Bosch 2632 is the ambidextrous lock-off release button. Located on both sides of the planer body, this button allows you to turn the machine on and off safely with just your thumb.

Pressing the release button with either hand will instantly stop the motor. This enables keeping your hands away from the planer’s front power switch while in use, reducing the chance of accidental startup. The ambidextrous setup accommodates both right and left handed users.

Aluminum Front and Rear Shoes

The Bosch 2632 comes equipped with durable aluminum shoes extending below the front and rear of the planer. These provide a smooth, flat surface that glides easily across the workpiece as you make planing passes. The shoes prevent the body of the planer from scratching the wood.

The aluminum construction is light yet very rigid, helping to minimize snipe and uneven cutting pressure. Many users mention how smoothly the Bosch 2632 rides along the work surface thanks to the quality and fit of its shoes. This contributes to the planer leaving a polished finish.

Spring-Loaded Stand for Convenience

A spring-loaded stand on the underside of the Bosch 2632 folds down to provide a stable base for resting the planer. This helps give you better control and accuracy when planing, allowing two-handed operation. The stand helps minimize snipe and enables consistent depth of cut across the workpiece.

When not in use, the stand retracts flush into the planer body for compact storage. It provides the benefits of a stand while keeping the overall tool lightweight and portable. Many Bosch 2632 users find the spring-loaded stand to be very convenient and helpful for doing detail planing work.

Ideal Uses for the Bosch 2632 Planer

With its smaller size yet powerful motor, the Bosch 2632 excels at detail planning work and fine wood finishing:

  • Edging boards and putting straight, smooth edges on workpieces
  • Reducing thickness of small boards and strips
  • Surface planning smaller boards up to about 6 inches wide
  • Removing saw marks, glued joints, light surface defects
  • Preparing boards for gluing into wider panels
  • Smoothing previously sanded surfaces
  • Trimming laminates and edging solid surface materials
  • Chamfering and detail profiling work

The Bosch 2632 can handle general planning tasks, but is better suited to fine finishing than aggressive stock removal. Its lightweight maneuverability and precision cut control allows crafting intricate workpieces requiring a smooth, flawless surface. This planer will be most at home in a woodshop focused on fine furniture, cabinetry, and detail work.

Next we’ll take a look at some key benefits and drawbacks of the Bosch 2632 to help inform your buying decision.

Benefits and Drawbacks of the Bosch 2632 Planer

Benefits

  • Powerful motor provides fast cutting speed
  • Leaves smooth, tear-out free finished surface
  • Super portable and lightweight
  • Comfortable to grip and maneuver
  • Dual-mount fence increases accuracy
  • Cuts precisely up to 1/8 inch depth
  • Ambidextrous lock-off button for safety
  • Aluminum shoes glide smoothly over workpiece
  • Convenient spring-loaded stand for stability

Drawbacks

  • May vibrate more than heavier models
  • Limited to 3-1/4 inch wide boards
  • No dust collection port included
  • Some snipe is inevitable
  • Not meant for surfacing wide boards

Alternatives to Consider

The Bosch 2632 is an excellent portable planer but may not meet every woodworker’s needs. Here is another Bosch planer models and a comparable DeWalt planer to consider as alternatives:

Now let’s take a detailed look at the key pros and cons of choosing this planer.

Check the comparison of Bosch 1632 vs Bosch 2632

Pros of the Bosch 2632 Planer

Powerful Motor Cuts Quickly

The 6.5 amp motor of the Bosch 2632 provides abundant power for quick, efficient material removal. It spins the cutter head at a fast 16,500 RPM, enabling taking deeper cuts with ease. The power allows surfacing and edging boards smoothly and accurately.

Leaves Super Smooth Finishes

A common praise users have for the Bosch 2632 is its ability to leave an extremely smooth, polished finish on wood. The fine cut control prevents tear out, while the aluminum shoes minimize friction and gouging. It’s a great choice when you need to remove saw marks or prepare a glass-like surface.

Highly Portable and Lightweight Design

Weighing just 6.3 pounds, the Bosch 2632 is easy to transport around the shop and comfortable to hold for extended periods. The compact size and ergonomic grip makes this one of the most maneuverable portable planers available. Using it produces minimal hand and arm fatigue.

Enables Good Grip and Control

The slim design and arched handle area allow wrapping your hands securely around the tool. Combined with the light weight, this gives you excellent grip and control when feeding boards through the planer. The precision goes a long way for achieving tear-out free surfaces.

Added Accuracy from Dual-Mount Fence

The attachable guide fence is an asset for keeping the Bosch 2632 stable when edging boards. Mounted on either side, the fence prevents snipe and enables straighter, cleaner cuts. It provides a valuable extra degree of accuracy for detail work.

Cuts Precisely Up to 1/8 Inch Deep

With its fine depth adjustment wheel, the Bosch 2632 allows taking off anywhere from a wispy shaving to a full 1/8 inch in a single pass. This range gives good flexibility for both smoothing and more aggressive stock removal when needed.

Ambidextrous Controls Enhance Safety

The ambidextrous lock-off button provides a valuable safety feature, allowing you to quickly stop the motor without reaching around to the main switch. The dual-mount fence also accommodates left or right handed planing.

Aluminum Shoes Glide Smoothly

The machined aluminum construction of the front and rear shoes results in a smooth, flat interface between the cutter head and workpiece. This prevents gouging and allows the planer to glide effortlessly along the board for clean results.

Stand Lends Needed Stability

The retractable stand helps provide consistent stability when planing. By allowing two-handed control, the stand reduces snipe and enables better cut consistency across the full width of a board. It’s an important feature for detail work.

In summary, the combination of power, precision adjustments, light weight, and clever design features equips the Bosch 2632 to deliver outstanding results for fine wood planing applications. It’s an extremely capable portable planer in a small package.

Cons of the Bosch 2632 Planer

No tool is perfect, and there are a few potential downsides to weigh when considering the Bosch 2632:

May Vibrate More than Heavier Models

With its compact size and light weight, the Bosch 2632 does tend to vibrate more during use compared to larger benchtop planers. The vibration can limit the tool’s ability to produce an absolutely glassy smooth surface. This may be more noticeable when planing harder woods. Using sharp blades and light passes helps minimize vibration.

Limited to 3-1/4 Inch Wide Boards

While well suited for smaller workpieces, the Bosch 2632 cannot surface wider boards due to its 3-1/4 inch planing width. Attempting to run wider stock through it risks snipe and an uneven cutting surface. For surfacing boards over 6 inches wide, a larger planer is recommended.

No Dust Collection Port

A downside compared to some other planers is the Bosch 2632 does not have a standard dust collection port or adapter. You’ll have to rig up a dust hood or bag yourself to contain the shavings and chips it produces. Built-in dust collection would make using it cleaner.

Some Snipe is Unavoidable

The lightweight design of the Bosch 2632 inevitably leads to a small amount of snipe at the ends of boards as you plane them. This snipe is minimized with care and practice, but the lack of mass prevents eliminating it completely. Some users add weight to the stand to reduce snipe further.

Not for Surfacing Wide Boards

While it handles smaller pieces with finesse, surfacing tabletops or large panels exceeds the Bosch 2632’s capability. Larger benchtop planers in the 15 inch width range are better suited for surfacing wide stock. The Bosch 2632 won’t replace these for major flattening tasks.

No single tool can excel at everything. The Bosch 2632 targets detailed fine planing work, and offers less versatility for wider surfaces. Weigh your specific needs, but for most detail planing the upsides far outweigh the limitations. With care, extremely smooth results are obtainable.

Next we’ll look at some sample projects that illustrate the Bosch 2632’s abilities for fine woodworking.

Sample Projects Showcasing the Bosch 2632

Here are a few example woodworking projects that benefit from using the nimble control and smooth finish of the Bosch 2632 planer:

Frame and Panel Door

Planing solid wood frame pieces to precise dimensions to fit panel grooves, and smoothing both frame and panel for a seamless fit. Leaving everything ready for final sanding and finishing.

Cabinet Face Frame

Smoothing and edge jointing face frame stock to create crisp, perfectly mated joints between boards. Trimming laminated edges. Prepping for finishing and joining to carcass.

Profiled Edge Banding

Shaping and smoothing edge banding stock with profiles like chamfers, roundovers, and ogees using specialty planer knife inserts. Provides smooth profiled edges for banding cabinet doors and drawer fronts.

Resurfacing Tables

Removing scratches, dents, and old finish from small tabletops. Producing a blemish-free smooth wood surface ready for staining and sealing coats. Handles tabletops up to about 24″ wide comfortably.

Guitar Bodies

Smoothing, thicknessing, and sculpting acoustic guitar soundboards and bodies. The planer excels at final smoothing of delicate spruce and cedar tops. Leaves a perfectly flat substrate for lacquer finishes.

Edge Jointing Short Boards

Preparing 30-60″ long boards for gluing into tabletops and wider panels. Provides a perfectly straight mating edge and uniform thickness along each board. Enables creating seamless, continuous surfaces.

For any project requiring precision dimensioning and an ultra-smooth sanded appearance, the Bosch 2632 is up to the task. Its fine control lends itself equally well to delicate final surfacing as to removing moderate amounts of stock.

Tips for Using the Bosch 2632 Planer

To get the best performance possible from the Bosch 2632 planer, here are some useful tips:

  • Wax tables and infeed/outfeed surfaces to reduce friction when planing. This enables feeding the workpiece smoothly.
  • Take very light passes under 1/32″ when dimensioning, and allow the cutter to do the work without excessive downward pressure.
  • Maintain steady feed rate pressure and keep the tool moving constantly during the cut for a consistent surface.
  • Use the guide fence whenever possible for straighter edges and minimizing snipe.
  • Ensure knives are sharp and replace them promptly when worn for best cutting action and finish.
  • Tilt workpiece very slightly when edge jointing to prevent rocking and uneven cuts.
  • Check stock for defects, knots and foreign material to avoid nicking the cutterhead.
  • Advance depth setting incrementally with each pass rather than removing too much material at once.
  • Apply paste wax to tables and workpiece edges to reduce friction and potential tearout.
  • Brush or blow sawdust frequently off the planer bed and shoes to prevent buildup.

With practice using the tips above, you can achieve professional results with the Bosch 2632. Paying attention to details like feed rate, workpiece prep, cut depth, and keeping the blades sharp will maximize your planing accuracy and surface quality.

Accessories and Upgrades for the Bosch 2632

Here are some handy accessories and upgrades to consider for enhancing your experience with the Bosch 2632 planer:

  • Extra Planer Blades: Have replacement blades on hand to swap out dull ones for optimal cutting. Bosch offers carbide-tipped blades for the longest lasting sharpness.
  • Knife Setting Jig: A setting jig helps accurately position replacement blades at the proper height relative to the cutterhead. This ensures the smoothest cut.
  • Infeed and Outfeed Tables: Adding extended infeed and outfeed roller tables helps support long stock and minimizes snipe. This improves accuracy when dimensioning or edge jointing longer boards.
  • Dust Collection: Using a shop vac attachment helps contain dust and chips. Some users fashion a custom dust hood to attach to the 2632 planer body.
  • Thickness Planing Sled: Run the planer on a flat sled to consistently plane boards to accurate thicknesses. Allows repeatable precision not possible freehand.
  • Cutterhead Lubricant: Applying a dry Teflon lubricant to the cutterhead helps it run smoothly and quietly. Reduces friction and resin buildup during use.
  • Replacement Carbon Brushes: Fresh carbon brushes can rejuvenate an older machine and keep the motor running like new. Bosch sells replacement brushes for servicing.

Take advantage of these add-ons and upgrades to keep your Bosch 2632 planer performing its best for years to come. Proper care and maintenance will ensure it continues producing perfect finishes.

What Do Users Like About the Bosch 2632 Planer?

Looking at feedback from owners, these are some of the most common likes and positives about using the Bosch 2632 planer:

  • Leaves an extremely smooth, almost burnished surface on wood.
  • Cuts accurately and precisely thanks to easy depth control.
  • Very lightweight and comfortable to hold through extended planing.
  • Powerful enough for fast material removal despite small size.
  • Cutterhead and aluminum shoes don’t mar or scratch wood surface.
  • Excellent fine control for detail work like edging boards or guitars.
  • Minimal snipe due to rigid aluminum construction.
  • Much quieter than many competing portable planers.
  • Great for small home shops and detail work where portability matters.
  • Works great right out of the box with minimal setup or tuning needed.
  • Dual-mount fence is convenient for edging and helps accuracy.
  • Cuts exotic woods nicely due to precise depth control and sharp blades.
  • Enables getting final surfaces ready for finishing with very little sanding needed.

Users agree the combination of features on the 2632 provide incredible smoothing capability in a portable package. For fine woodworkers, it excels at giving tear-out free surfaces with little effort.

Is the Bosch 2632 Worth the Investment?

With a price tag ranging from $139 – $199 depending on the retailer, the Bosch 2632 offers outstanding value for a high capability portable planer. The combination of power, thoughtful design features, smooth precise cut, and compact size make it a worthwhile investment for many woodworkers.

It may not be the right choice for bulk stock removal or planing extremely wide boards over 6″. But for edging, dimensioning small stock, fine surfacing, and detail work, the 2632 punches far above its weight. Earning its keep producing silky smooth surfaces that need almost no sanding.

For small woodworking shops, the Bosch 2632 is an accurate, nimble planer that can tackle jobs a full size stationary model can’t. It allows bringing precision planing capability anywhere you need it. Given the smooth finishes it can produce in a wide range of situations, it provides excellent return on the investment.

Final Thoughts on the Bosch 2632 Portable Planer

Adding up all its capabilities and benefits, the Bosch 2632 stands out as an exceptional value portable planer optimized for fine woodworking. It hits a sweet spot balancing power, thoughtful design, light weight, and precision control.

While it lacks the mass and width capacity of stationary planers, the 2632’s portability enables quality surfaced and edged boards anywhere they’re needed. Versatility is enhanced by the dual-mount fence and ambidextrous controls.

For anyone requiring the ability to plane wood to a glue-ready finish in spaces where mobility matters, the Bosch 2632 is hard to beat. It excels at wood finishing and detail work where absolute smoothness is required. With minimal snipe and vibration, it can produce a surface rivaling a polished hand plane.

The Bosch 2632 punches far above its weight class in terms of smoothness and cut quality. For crafting fine furniture or cabinetry, it’s a compact powerhouse up to big challenges. Given proper care and maintenance, this thoughtfully engineered planer should provide many years of smooth trusted service.