109 Re: Planer Question
Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 3, by multiple authors.
109 Re: Planer Question
From: rds@hpcndm.CND.HP.COM (Dwight Schettler)
Date: 7 Nov 90 16:39:06 GMT
I also have the Makita planer and have seen the problem you describe. I
believe your theory is correct but the solution is a bit off. I haven't been
able to eliminate the problem but I have minimized it.
You're right in that the trailing snipe occurs as the workpiece leaves the
infeed roller. The problem is that both rollers are needed to hold the piece
flat on the center table. As it leaves the infeed roller the piece is able to
pivot. The weight of the leading end of the board (beyond the outfeed table)
pushes down, the board pivots on the outfeed table which pushes the trailing
end into the cutter. The rollers are spring loaded but the outfeed isn't
strong enough to counter this pivot action by itself. Here is a crude drawing
of the scene.
I = infeed roller
C = cutter
O = outfeed roller
= = workpiece
^ = possible pivot points
I C O
========================================
______________ ____________ ______________
Infeed table center table Outfeed table
^ ^
A snipe of the front of the board can also occur for the same reasons.
There are a couple of things I do to avoid this problem. First thing to do is
level the infeed and outfeed tables. There is an adjustment screw just for
this purpose. Make sure that they form a plane. If they are allowed to sag
down the fulcrum of the board's lever-action is moved closer to the cutter which
causes more snipe. If it's flat then the fulcrum is at the end of the table.
The second thing I do is support long boards at both ends of the operation.
Hold the end up to prevent it from pivoting & pushing into the cutter. As I
feed the piece into the machine I hold the end of it until the leading edge is
under the outfeed roller. Likewise on the other side. I hold up the leading
edge until the trailing edge is through the cutter. I even put upward pressure
on the board to make sure it's held flat.
Like I said, this will not totally eliminate the problem but it reduces it. I
generally get a snipe that I can barely feel.
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