NOTE: Assistant must follow same precautions
as operator.
•
Surface that the planer produces is smoother if shallower
depth of cut is used.
DEPTH
OF CUT
Thickness planing refers to the sizing of lumber to a
desired thickness while creating a level surface parallel to
the opposite side of the board. Board thickness which the
planer will produce is indicated by the scale and LCD display.
Preset the planer to the desired thickness of finished work-
piece using knob. See "Workpiece Thickness Pre-set Gauge",
page 7.
Depth-of-cut is adjusted by raising or lowering the rollercase
using handle.
•
Quality of thickness planing depends on the operator's
judgement
about the depth of cut.
•
Depth of cut depends on the width, hardness, dampness,
grain direction and grain structure of the wood.
•
Maximum thickness of wood which can be removed in one
pass is 3/32" f or planing operations on workpiece up to 6"
wide. Workpiece must be positioned away from the center
line of the table to cut 3/32"due to limit tab in the center
of the rollercase.
•
Maximum thickness of wood which can be removed in one
pass is _/_6" f or planing operations on workpiece from 6" up
to 13" wide.
•
For optimum planing performance, the depth of cut should
be less than V_6".
•
Board should be planed with shallow cuts until the work
has a level side. Once a level surface has been created,
flip the lumber and create parallel sides.
•
Plane alternate sides until the desired thickness is
obtained. When half of total depth of cut is taken from
each side, the board will have a uniform moisture
content and additional drying will not cause it to warp.
•
Depth of cut should be shallower when work is wider.
•
When planing hardwood, take light cuts or plane the wood
in thin widths.
•
Make a test cut with a test piece and verify the thickness
produced.
•
Check accuracy of test cut prior to working on finished
product.
AVOID
DAMAGE
TO BLADES
•
Thickness planer is a precision woodworking
machine
and should be used on quality lumber only.
•
Do not plane dirty boards; dirt and small stones are
abrasive and wear out blade.
•
Remove nails and staples. Use planer to cut wood only.
•
Avoid knots. Heavily cross-grained
wood makes knots
hard. Knots can come loose and jam blade.
CAUTION:
Any article that encounters
planer blades may
be forcibly ejected from planer creating risk of injury.
AVOIDING
SNIPE
•
Snipe refers to a depression at either end of board caused
by an uneven force on cutterhead when work is entering
or leaving planer.
•
Snipe occurs when boards are not supported properly
or when only one feed roller is in contact with work at
beginning or end of cut.
•
To avoid snipe on the lead edge of the workpiece, adjust
the infeed table up slightly above horizontal.
•
To avoid snipe on the trailing edge of the workpiece,
adjust the outfeed table up slightly above horizontal.
•
When planing more than one board of the same thickness,
butt boards together to avoid snipe.
•
Snipe is more apparent when deeper cuts are taken.
•
Feed work in direction of grain. Work fed against grain
will have chipped, splintered edges.
WARNING:
Be sure planer is unplugged from any power
source and turned off before attempting any maintenance.
CLEAN
PLANER
•
Keep planer clean of any wood chips, dust, dirt or debris.
•
Clean the four steel columns to prevent the rollercase
from binding when raised and lowered.
•
After each ten hours of operation, clean the chain/gear
drive mechanism.
•
Using a clean, dry cloth, clean all of the chains and
gears of wood chips, dust, and old grease.
LUBRICATION
•
The table surface can be coated with a lubricant, such
as paste wax, to make the workpiece feed smoother.
Be sure that the lubricant used does not affect the ability
to finish the workpiece with varnish, sealer, etc.
For example, do not use any silicone base lubricants
because they will ruin any attempt to finish the wood.
•
Use common automotive bearing grease to lubricate all
chains and gears. Be sure all chains and gears have
plenty of grease.
•
Motor and cutterhead bearings are sealed and need no
lubrication.
CHECK
FOR WORN
BLADES
•
Condition of blades affects precision of cut. Observe quality
of cut which planer produces to check condition of blades.
•
Dull blades tear, rather than sever wood fibers and
produce fuzzy appearance.
•
Raised grain occurs when dull blades pound on wood that
has varying density. Raised edge will also be produced
where blades have been nicked.