The invention provides a hand held planer (1) for planing a work piece surface comprising a planing tool (41) disposed between a first base (20) and a second base (30,31), the planer (1) being configurable so that it can be moved by hand along the work piece surface with the first base (20) leading and the first (20) and second (30,31) bases guiding the planer (1) along the work piece surface and the planing tool planing off a thickness of the work piece, whereinat least one (30,31) of the bases is an adjustable base such that at least a portion (31) thereof is removable or movable between a position that provides an operable lengthened configuration and a position that provides an operable shortened configuration such that a length of the adjustable base in guiding contact with the work piece surface is reduced or eliminated in the shortened configuration compared to the lengthened configuration.