Abstract: A portable planer for use by a user to cut chips or material from a workpiece is disclosed. The portable planer includes a chip deflector movably attached to a housing of the portable planer. The nozzle can be oriented with respect to the housing such that chips expelled from the portable planer are directed away from the user and downwardly toward a floor. Alternatively, the chip deflector can be reoriented with respect to the housing so that a collector bag or vacuum hose can be attached to the nozzle whereby chips are collected in an enclosed container rather than being freely blown. Ideally, the nozzle is swivelably attached to the housing to permit the selected positioning of the nozzle relative to the housing.