Replies

1. 
   ButchersWood | Nov 21, 2005 10:31am | #1

   Why would you want to do that? Square it up on a panel sled with a sharp clean blade, thats what I do when I want a glue-joint ready plywood edge.

   Sorry, this wasn't really an answer to the question you asked....

   Roger

   I'd rather be making cabinets and friends....

2. 
   Malcolm | Nov 21, 2005 01:52pm | #2

   Yes (apart from the secondary question - why would you) but only if the grain of the surface layer runs the right way, and you don't thickness down through it into the the transverse layer beneath.

   I once cleaned up some nice yellow-pine-faced 5-ply with my thicknessor, but the surface plyes were quite thick (about 1.5mm).

   Malcolm

   http://www.macpherson.co.nz
1. 
   TomT226 | Nov 21, 2005 03:14pm | #3

   Yes, you can.  But, the glue dulls the blades pretty quick.  If you want to clean up an edge, take the piece, feed it into the blades just about 1/4".  Pull it back, reverse it, and feed it completely through.  The nibble at the end keeps it from tearing out. 

3. 
   JohnWW | Nov 21, 2005 06:04pm | #4

   If you run the plywood through the jointer on edge, you will get nicks in the blade from each glue line.  If you move the jointer's fence to the very front or back of the table you can limit the damage to the end of the blades and still use the rest of the blade for ordinary work.  If you try to joint the face of the plywood and cut through to the glue line you will instantly dull the blades.

   John W.

1. 
   Malcolm | Nov 22, 2005 12:46am | #5

   It's not something anyone should do except in extraordinary circumstances, eh!

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

4. 
   81treehouse | Nov 22, 2005 06:43am | #6

   Damage - Maybe.  Dull - YES!

    

   A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
5. 
   philip | Nov 23, 2005 09:28am | #7

   If you JOINT plywood edges with a jointer the glue lines will cause grooves in short order.
   If you THICKNESS plywood you are safe until you reach the glue layer, when severe dulling will happen.Ditto for face planing or surfacing on your jointer.
   Carbide knives will not suffer any damage other than the usual wear:
   if you are wanting to plane a lot of ply then consider them.
   If it is just the odd bit here and there there are alternatives, rather than spoiling HSS knives.

   Philip Marcou