OPERATION
ELIMINATING SNIPE
Snipe is a short depression created at the beginning and/or end of a board after it passes through the planer. Figure 5 shows how snipe occurs when a board enters the cutting area of the planer with the leading end elevated. The same effect can be created when the trailing end of the board becomes elevated as the workpiece exits the planer.
There are a few ways you can control snipe.
The most common cause of snipe is failure to fully support the workpiece as the leading end enters the planer and as the trailing end exits the planer. This can be addressed by securely holding the workpiece to the surface of the infeed table and not allowing the leading end to elevate as it contacts the cutterhead.
If, after trying the above, snipe is still present, try lessening the depth of cut by slightly raising the height of the cutterhead (see previous section, “Height Adjustment”).
If the workpiece continues to exhibit snipe, you may need to adjust the height of the infeed and or outfeed table. To do this, see Figure 6, then:
1.Fold the infeed and outfeed tables up in order to locate the two infeed (A) and two outfeed (B) stop screws.
2.Using a 10mm open wrench, loosen the retaining nuts.
3.Adjust the stop screws, one set at a time, making sure that they are at the same height. To check the screw height, lower the table and confirm that both screw heads are flush against the bottom of the table.
4.
FIGURE 5
B
A
FIGURE 6
11