Planer Problem

billy d

Hi guys planing some timber this afternoon and same old problem the first 2`` of timber is always over planed.The fact is through the years I`ve worked with so many thickness planers that I`ve come to expect this and just add a minimum of 4`` to the total length of the board (it happens on the end of the board as well).There must be a reason for this may be the springs on the feeder I don`t know.Has any one got answer?

BuiltByMAC

I've got the Dewalt 13" planer and the same thing happens - doesn't matter how level the board is going in or coming out, when the incoming board edge hits the blades, it cuts deeper until the board rolls under the outfeed roller. On the way out, the board lifts after rolling away from the infeed roller.

I haven't set up the planer with a dedicated infeed/outfeed table yet. When I reorganize my shop, I'll set one up. Hopefully that will help but for now, I just lop 2" off each end before cutting the board to length.

I haven't tried to adjust the roller heights yet - maybe someone here knows if that helps and how much of a pain it is dialing in the correct height.

Mac

Tom R

Precision adjustments will help, - - but I don't believe you will ever completely eliminate snipe.

But, - - if you don't happen to have any extra length on the board you need to plane, - - you can send a 'leader' and a 'follower' board (or boards) right alongside your actual work-board as sacrificials to take the snipe . . .

Jason Whipple

You'll always have this problem with portable planers. I've come to know mine pretty well and can guide it by hand to eliminate most of it.

If you have a shop set up, you need to do some adjustments. Set the feed end at a slightly higher angle.

I have a 13" Jet

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billy d

Hi guys thanks for the replies.Jason I can see where you`re coming from with portable planers getting jigged around but this also happens on great cast iron planers as well.Tom I also use sacrificle pieces Don`t get me wrong guys I don`t lye awake at night thinking about 4" of timber.If it is the feeder surely its not beyond the bounds of human imagination to put some sort of screw out side of the planer to adjust without striping the guts out of the machine to do this.Ive worked in all sorts of carpenters shops and every planer had this problem.I never seen any one strip the machine to solve it.I think the guys would think you`ve lost the plot and gone of the deep end all to save 4" of timber.It just bugs me that a machine is not doing what it supposed to do or is it supposed to do this before the feeder adjusts itself.I just don`t know or maybe Iàm just a dumb carpenter while Ilive in hope, thanks again.

Trimcat

I'm with Tom, you're never going to eliminate snipe. Every planner does it. It's not a flaw in the machine. See Macs explination...

tc7

You need to be sure you have flattened the opposite of your stock first. Then the easiest thing to do (besides the leader/follower pieces that Tom mentions) which is effective is lifting on the ends of the board as you feed it in and again as it exits.

A couple of other tricks I've learned and used are to adjust the in-feed & out-feed extensions so that they are slightly higher than the main bed. Another thing that I'm experimenting with right now is to lower the bed rollers below the table surface and install a second table all the way through the planer made of of 3/4" thick melamine coated particleboard. Seems to be working pretty good and I believe it works because it eliminates the fulcrum effect that happens between the bed rollers and the upper rollers (or pressure bar if you machine has one).

billy d

Hi guys sorry about coming back to the thread a bit late .Had a lot to do thanks for all the replies I found them very helpful but most I have all ready tried.I all ways face my stock use leaders and roller tresells to stop the drop.So I got in touch with the maker.I`ve got to take this on the jaw now this is what they told me."This is a well known problem with planers it is caused by the blades being set to high,they advised me to use the setting tool that was supplied with the planer The tool has 2 marks on it,the first mark is placed on the edge of the bed by the roller.Turning the roller by hand as the blade comes up it strikes the tool base and drags it to the second mark of cause you must adjust the blade till it dos this.It took me some time till I was happy with it but the result was A 1 perfect smooth surface.I`ve all ways set a level over the 2 beds till the blades just touched the level.When I tried this afterwards it never touched the level.Well I`ve learned something new.Keep up the good work men.While I live in hope I learn.