THE PLANER
The Thickness Planer is a machine that takes an irregular piece of wood or a glued up panel and levels it to a thickness set by the operator. It makes an irregular piece of wood a constant thickness but is ineffective in straightening a crooked piece of wood. Such a board should first be straightened in a jointer if possible. If a board is cupped the convex face should be machined first.
Most planers have three or four evenly spaced knives in a cutter head that spans the whole width of the table. The corrugated or toothed infeed roller is spring loaded, and it forces the timber down onto the infeed table and drags it into the machine and under the cutter head at the same time. The timber is discharged in a planed and thicknessed condition. The table can be raised or lowered to allow for several passes under the cutter head until the timber reaches the required thickness.
Most planers have three or four evenly spaced knives in a cutter head that spans the whole width of the table. The corrugated or toothed infeed roller is spring loaded, and it forces the timber down onto the infeed table and drags it into the machine and under the cutter head at the same time. The timber is discharged in a planed and thicknessed condition. The table can be raised or lowered to allow for several passes under the cutter head until the timber reaches the required thickness.
MAIN PARTS OF THE PLANER
SAFETY PROCEDURES
- Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles).
- Check the board for foreign objects – such as nails or rocks.
- Never plane stock containing loose or unsound knots.
- Never plane boards shorter than 10 inches.
- Before investigating any jammed pieces shut the power off and wait until the blades have come to a complete stop.
- Never reach into the planer. Use a thin push stick when necessary to help push your wood through.
- Keep fingers out from under the stock while feeding or retrieving. This will prevent fingers from being pinched between the machine and board
- Make successive passes removing shallow amounts. Don’t try and take too much off at once. Max 1/16".
AT ALL TIMES – IF IN DOUBT, SEE YOUR INSTRUCTOR