I have an older model Delta benchtop planer (22-540) that recently is having trouble pulling the stock into and out of the planer. I have to “force feed” the piece and it ends up with snipe cuts. I have cleaned the rollers with alcohol and they seem clean and not slick but same results. I am feeding 4/4 red oak boards ~11″ wide and 8 ft. long.
Is there anything I can do to improve the perfrormance like maybe replacing the feed rollers, or should I bite the bullet and get one of the newer models? I am a hobby woodworker who just retired and I’m thinking of taking some private custom jobs once in a while.
tomweh
Replies
Typically one or more of three things will cause this problem.
1. The rollers are dirty and need to be cleaned.
2. The bottom table is dirty and needs to be cleaned and waxed.
3. The blades are dull and need to be replaced.
A full width cut in oak takes a lot of power to push the board through if the blades are anything less than razor sharp, I suspect that is the most likely source of your problem.
Also the side of the stock that goes against the table needs to be smooth and snag free.
It is possible, if the machine is quite old, that the rubber in the rollers has hardened but this is rare. Press your fingernail into a roller, it should easily dent the rubber and the surface should bounce right back when you stop pressing.
John White.
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