I used this planer today on (2) 6″x 18″ x 3/4 birch boards and it created a groove about 2″ in on each peice all the way across each board.The infeed and outfeed removable tables were not perfectly flat, they were elevated up just a bit, about 1/8. I tried feeding the boards in the opposite direction and it occured again. I gave up but reaalized later the infeed tables weren’t flat. Would this cause the grooving? Is it advisable to make better longer infeed tables? Thanks.
Delta 12″ (22-540)
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Is this a new problem with this planer? Is it a new tool to you? Sounds like garden variety snipe to me or is it different than snipe?
I have the exact same machine and bought it in the mid '90's, so I'm surmising that, unless you either have a "Way Back Machine", or have stumbled on a store with the slowest moving stock on the planet, you bought it used. First things first, does the "Grooving", which, as you describe it, go " ... from side to side ... ", at a relatively even depth all the way across, or does it vary from deep to shallow from one side to the other? If the later, your blades need to be leveled [and you have snipe]. Did you get the blade set-up gage with the planer when you bought it? How about the instructions? If not, both are available on the internet. As to the in and out feed tables, they can be made flat, tight and level, however, they're still too short. (A problem this model shares with almost all "Lunch Box" planers.) I would suggest making an one piece in-feed/out-feed platen out of 3/4" MDF with a suitable laminate [top and bottom] sized to just slide between the 12" side barriers about 4 1/2' to 6' long, have a cross brace/stop that keys on the two mounting studs on the in and out-feed sides so the materiel has as solid an underpinning to ride on as possible and put cross braces underneath that hold it level, and keep it sturdy, on your work surface. Everything after that is either a design flaw or operator error. Yes, you lose 3/4" of gross material thickness you can feed into the machine. However, how many 12" wide x 6" thick boards are you really going to "Splinterize" in your daily/weekly/monthly wood churning?
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Photo would help but sure sounds like a problem with the blades to me. Damaged of bad out of adjustment.
This sounds like snipe. And, yes. Misalignment of the infeed and outfeed tables can cause this (or make it worse). For example, if the end of the outfeed table is low, it will allow the end of the board to drop, lifting the section under the planer blades so they dig in more deeply creating snipe across the back end of the board. If the infeed table is low, the same thing can happen to the front of the board. So, step one: Make sure everything is aligned. Step two: It also helps to use a little downward pressure on the portion of the board near the cutter head as it enters and leaves the planer to reduce the chance of that part of the board lifting. Observe your planer carefully, and take the time to make sure your tool is properly tuned and aligned.
Rereading it again and it maybe that I misread and this is snipe. It would be nice if people would return and give more info. Especially some photos.
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