Operational Tips
•Carefully inspect any lumber that you plan to run through the planer. Each board must have at least one flat surface to slide along the planer table. To create a flat surface, pass the stock over a jointer first. See Figure 32. Some defects such as moderate twisting, loose knots or severe cracks may make the stock unusable.
•Only use clean stock. See Figure 33. Scrape off all glue from joined boards before planing. Remove all dirt, nails, staples, imbedded gravel, etc. from any lumber you plan on using. A hidden nail in a workpiece will instantly damage the sharp edges of the knives. This will cause unsatisfactory results in future operations.
•Plane ONLY natural wood fiber. Never plane wood composites such as particle board, plywood or MDF. Never plane laminates, formica or other synthetic materials.
•Surface wood in the same direction as the grain. Never feed
•Keep your work area clear. Always make sure that long workpieces are supported and have enough room to exit the planer.
•When making multiple passes with long stock, use the top rollers to move material back to the infeed side of the planer.
•Avoid planing wood with a high moisture content. Stock with more than 20% moisture, or stock that has been exposed to rain or snow, will plane poorly and cause unnecessary wear on the knives and motor. Excess moisture may also cause rust or corrosion problems.
Portion |
Removed With |
Jointer |
Figure 32. Face joint the concave side of cupped
stock before planing.
Figure 33. Only plane clean stock.
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