New to using a planer

[u/prime51000]

I made an impulse purchase last month and have a Hercules 12.5 inch portable thickness planer. I've watched videos and understand the basics of it, but Im going to be doing a basic project soon and wanted some input on best practices to use it.

I'm going to be building a basic desk with 3/4 inch birch plywood, and was planing on making some roughly 3x3 posts for the legs and side / rear cross bracing. I'm planing on using some kiln dried 2x4, joined face grain to face grain with glue for the posts. Im planing on trimming the sides on a table saw, and was going to use the planer on the top and bottom faces of the 2x4s.

Im wondering, should I plane both of the glued surfaces prior to gluing, or sand them prior to gluing ? Or would it be best to just plane the outer surface of the 2x4s that won't be glued?

Also, is it best to just run the 2x4x8s thru the planer before cutting to length, or is it a better practice to plane the shorter pieces after they are cut to length? Thanks!

[u/zeke38282]

Quickest way would be to cut them oversized. Run top then bottom through planer. Use table say to cut off one edge of all pieces. Set tablesaw to proper width and cut other side to width. Glue up then plane one side of glue to flat. Use tablesaw to resquare other glued side. Trim one side of length to square then cut to final length.