I am wondering how depth of cut and feed rate affect blade wear. I tend to make light and slow cuts, meaning more passes over the cutters. I have two speed options on my planer and usually I find the “finishing” speed does a better job, less snipe, smoother surface. Does this mean I have to sharpen more often? I do the same on the jointer, slower and lighter.
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It's the other stuff
I think you'll find that's it's not the feed rate and depth of cut that matters, but rather these other factors:
- Wood species. Some like teak are extremely abrasive.
- The presence of dried glue or simple dirt on boards that get run through the planer.
- Stock with many large knots, especially on species like oak, which can actually chip a planer blade.
As you note, the speed and depth of cut have a great effect on the quality of the finish, but I've never noticed that (within reasonable limits) they mattered to the blade sharpness.
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