I have a board that’s a bit too thick. I need it to end up 8 1/2″ by 8 1/2″ by 1/4″ and it’s about 3/8″ now. I cut it long (11″) mostly so I could send it through the planer.
It’s very curly maple, so I had to plane off and sand off the tearout; the show side is pretty much ready for finish. To test what the finish might look like, I tried out a poly (Varathane waterborne) on the backside to see what it looks like.
So here’s my question: Can I expose this single-coated side (the non-show side, to which I applied the Varathane) to planer knives, or will that dull ’em or cause kickback? If I need to remove the finish, what gets it off most reliably, just sanding?
Thanks for helping me out with a dumb question.
My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Replies
John,
I have put finished wood back through my dewalt 12" planer with no noticeable effect on the sharpness of the knives. I don't think you will have any problems.
Lee
John, you will have no problem planing the finished side. In the future, just to check finish, you can also use an oil or turpentine, methyl hydrate, also water. In any case, your planer will be safe.
j
Thanks to both responders. I guess the consensus is that the finish won't dull my blades. I'll admit I'm surprised, because sending a glued-up board without scraping definitely messed up my planer blades, and I thought finish would be similar.
So tomorrow I shall plane with impunity. Thanks!My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
I am going to respectfully but totally disagree with the opinion that the finish won't dull the blades.
Many finishes will ruin the blades on the first pass, maybe not all finishes and perhaps not the one you are using, but it isn't worth the risk. The best way to remove the finish would be to use a cabinet scraper, it is fast and efficient and won't leave blade dulling grit in the wood the way sandpaper does.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
Honestly, that matches my intuition. It only took one pass on a glued-up board to ruin a whole set of planer knives. Thanks for kicking in.My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Yes, it depends upon the type of finish. I can vouch for nitro-celluose type furniture lacquer as being non harmful, but hate think what some of the epoxy types may do.It depends I suppose upon what the solids consist of.
As for glues- generally bad news even for HSS knives, but no problem with tungsten knives.Philip Marcou
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled