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Planers and planer thicknessers are fundamental machines in professional woodworking and joinery workshops. Used to flatten rough-sawn timber, square edges and bring material to precise thicknesses, these machines form the foundation of accurate joinery, furniture manufacture and timber processing.
For woodworking businesses, the quality and capability of planers and thicknessers directly affect accuracy, efficiency and material yield. Investing in professional-grade machinery allows workshops to work more consistently, reduce waste and maintain tight tolerances across projects. However, high-quality planers and planer thicknessers represent a significant capital cost, particularly when specifying wide-bed, heavy-duty or combination machines.
At Gable Business Finance, we work closely with joiners, furniture makers, cabinet manufacturers and timber workshops across the UK. We understand how planers and thicknessers fit into real production workflows, and we arrange finance solutions that support long-term growth without putting pressure on cash flow.
Planers and thicknessers are used early in the production process to prepare raw timber for further machining, assembly and finishing.
They are commonly used for:
Flattening rough-sawn timber
Squaring and straightening edges
Bringing timber to consistent thickness
Improving surface finish prior to joinery
Reducing material waste
Ensuring accuracy across batch production
Because so much downstream work relies on accurately prepared timber, these machines play a critical role in workshop efficiency and quality control.
Different woodworking operations require different machine configurations depending on timber size, production volume and accuracy requirements.
Used to flatten faces and straighten edges, surface planers are essential for preparing timber prior to thicknessing.
Thicknessers bring timber to an exact, uniform thickness, improving consistency across multiple components.
Common in small to mid-sized workshops, combination machines save space while offering both planing and thicknessing functions.
Larger workshops and manufacturers often invest in heavy-duty machines designed for continuous use and larger timber sections.
Selecting the right machine improves productivity, reduces manual handling and enhances finish quality.
Professional planers and thicknessers are long-term production assets, often operating daily under heavy load. Purchasing outright can significantly impact cash reserves, particularly where timber costs, staffing and overheads already demand working capital.
Specialist finance allows woodworking businesses to:
Spread the cost of machinery over its working life
Preserve cash for timber, wages and operating expenses
Invest in higher-specification, more reliable equipment
Upgrade workshop capacity in a controlled way
Gable Business Finance structures funding around how woodworking workshops actually operate and grow.
Hire Purchase is a popular option for woodworking businesses that want to own their machinery outright while spreading the cost over time.
Under a hire purchase agreement, the planer or thicknesser is acquired immediately and repaid over an agreed term. Ownership transfers to the business at the end of the agreement.
Hire purchase is particularly suitable for machines that form a permanent part of workshop infrastructure.
Key benefits include:
Immediate installation and use
Ownership at the end of the agreement
Repayments structured to match cash flow
Interest costs typically tax deductible
Potential capital allowances on qualifying machinery
VAT often reclaimable upfront on the full purchase price
This structure avoids tying up large amounts of working capital.
Finance leasing provides flexibility for workshops that want to preserve cash or anticipate future machinery upgrades.
Instead of purchasing outright, the business pays rentals for the use of the machine over a fixed term. Payments are often aligned with depreciation, supporting predictable budgeting.
Finance leases are commonly used where:
Production volumes are increasing
Machinery upgrades are anticipated
Cash is required for timber or staffing
VAT is payable on the rentals rather than the full purchase price, easing initial cash-flow pressure.
Operating leases may be appropriate where planers and thicknessers are required for defined production increases or where businesses prefer fixed, predictable costs.
This option incorporates residual values that can reduce monthly payments and keeps machinery off the balance sheet.
Operating leases can suit:
Short- to medium-term production growth
Businesses planning regular machinery replacement
Workshops prioritising cost certainty
Gable Business Finance will advise carefully on suitability based on your production strategy.
Many woodworking businesses already own planers and thicknessers outright. Asset refinance allows capital to be released from existing machinery while it continues to be used as normal.
Released funds can be used to:
Invest in additional machinery
Upgrade workshop layouts or power supply
Improve working capital
Reduce reliance on overdrafts
This can be an effective way to fund growth without disrupting operations.
In addition to asset finance, business loans provide flexible funding to support woodworking businesses.
Business loans can be structured to support both short-term operational needs and long-term growth.
Business loans may be used to fund:
Machinery and equipment purchases
Bulk timber buying
Staffing and subcontractor costs
Workshop expansion and upgrades
Business growth and diversification
Loans may be arranged as:
Unsecured facilities for speed and flexibility
Secured loans for larger, long-term investment
By working with Gable Business Finance, woodworking businesses benefit from:
Bespoke loan structures aligned to cash flow
Access to mainstream and specialist lenders
Competitive interest rates through whole-of-market access
Strategic advice on structuring finance correctly
Our focus is on arranging funding that supports sustainable workshop growth.
Can I finance planers and thicknessers as a small workshop?
Yes. We arrange finance for sole traders, small joinery shops and larger manufacturers.
Is leasing better than buying planers and thicknessers?
This depends on how long you plan to use the machine and whether upgrades are likely. We’ll help you assess the best option.
Can VAT be reclaimed on financed machinery?
In many cases, VAT can be reclaimed upfront under hire purchase, subject to VAT registration and HMRC rules.
What if my income is project-based or seasonal?
Repayments can often be structured to reflect production cycles and cash-flow patterns.
Can I refinance planers or thicknessers I already own?
Yes. Asset refinance can unlock capital tied up in existing machinery.
Will finance affect my existing bank facilities?
Asset finance and loans are often arranged separately and may not impact overdrafts.
Can I combine machinery finance with a business loan?
Yes. Many workshops use blended funding solutions.
Gable Business Finance are woodworking finance specialists, with extensive experience supporting joinery workshops, furniture manufacturers and timber processors across the UK.
We understand production workflows, machinery lifecycles and workshop economics. Our specialist team structures finance that fits your business — not generic lending models.
Planers and planer thicknessers are essential machines for producing accurate, high-quality timber components. The right finance solution allows you to invest in reliable machinery while preserving cash flow.
Speak to Gable Business Finance today to discuss finance for planers, thicknessers and other woodworking machinery. Our specialist team is here to support your business with confidence.