Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Jan 02, 2005 12:55am | #1

   How wide were the boards and how much were you trying to plane off with a pass?

   Based on my own learning experience with a planer, you may have been trying to do too much with one pass.  Give this a try:

   • With the planer off, lower the cutterhead so the feed rollers just touch the board then pull the board back, turn it on, and make a pass.  It should self feed and may not cut at all - or just cut the high spots. 
   • Lower the cutterhead 1/4 turn and do it again. Like the first pass, it should self feed and plane off more wood.
   • Now, lower the cutterhead by 1/2 turn and make a third pass.  If the planer  bogs down (you'll definitely hear the difference and the board may stop feeding), you're trying to take off too much wood.

   Generally speaking, wider boards mean that you have to take shallower cuts.  Harder woods like oak, birch, or maple also require shallower cuts.  It's just a matter of practicing until you develop a "feel" for how to plane your stock.  I usually prefer several shallow passes rather than one "hogging" pass.  I also try to make my last pass just "kiss" the board - it gives me a better finish.

   While I'm at it, be really careful planing "used" boards.  Make absolutely sure that there's NO metal in them (even staples) or you'll soon find yourself practicing sharpening (or replacing) the cutter blades.  If you're going to do this, invest in a good metal detector as soon as you can.

   Been There, Done That, Got the Tee-Shirt - lol

   
   

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   Edited 1/1/2005 4:57 pm ET by Dave

2. 
   JohnWW | Jan 02, 2005 01:29am | #2

   The most finished wood won't slide nearly as easy as unfinished, so friction with the table surface is probably making feeding difficult.  Placing the stock on top of a piece of plywood before feeding it through the planer would solve that problem.  It never hurts to wax the table with furniture polish or a wad of wax paper to further reduce the friction.

   A bigger problem is the possibility that you have trashed the blades by running finished wood through the planer.  Many finishes are a lot harder than high speed steel so there is a good chance that the feeding problem is due, at least in part, to very dull blades.

   John W.

1. 
   yotonyb | Jan 02, 2005 04:24am | #3

   Lower the blade no more than one-eighth to one-quarter turn with each pass.  Also, wax the bed regularly.  Waxing the bed should be a routine task.  A wad of wax paper, as JohnW suggested, or paste wax, like MinWax or similar, will allow the material to glide smoothly through the planer.

   You'll know when the blades are getting dull.  It will be incredibly loud, especially with wide pieces, as the material passes under the blades. 

   tony b.

3. 
   RMillard | Jan 02, 2005 05:28am | #4

   I have this problem with my planer from time to time, and it is from two causes. One is the friction with the table and as noted wax will solve that one. The other is the feed rollers may be dirty. On my little Delta the rollers get glazed over from pitch, which can be cleaned up with mineral spirits.
   Rob Millard

1. 
   chills1994 | Jan 02, 2005 07:28am | #5

   Another good way to tell if the blades are getting dull is the shaving it produces.  My planer with fresh blades it, spits outl shavings that kinda sorta look like Durkee fries. 

   This also holds true for other machine driven cutters.  If they are churning out dust, it's time to trash 'em or send them out for sharpening.