Planer

Description and uses

The planer (also called a surfacer) is a single purpose machine that planes stock to uniform thickness. It planes the surfaces of lumber, creating faces that are true parallel. The tool is invaluable for customizing standard stock thickness. 

More than one pass through the machine is required if the thickness of your material has to be removed by more than 1/16 of an inch. (The thickness of stock can be removed no more than 1/16 of an inch at a time).

With the power off, raise or lower the cutter heads using the hand wheel. Ensure that the machine will cut your wood with the grain to reduce splintering and chipping of the surface. Turn the machine on and feed your workpiece into the cutter head until the feed roll automatically controls the rate of cutting. Keep your hands away from the chute. Pick up the material as it feeds out the back of the chute. Wood should be at least 12 inches long and no thinner than 3/16 of an inch. Never try to feed wood into the back of the chute.

Further considerations

• Wood must be fed with the grain and never across the grain since the pressure of the feed roll and the cutterhead may shatter the wood and cause damage to the machine.
• Do not look into the chute. Stand slightly to the side of the machine when feeding in stock.
• Do not plane wood that has loose knots or serious defects.
• Make sure that the workpiece is free of nails or foreign objects that could cause personal injury or damage to the machine.
• Twisted stock will remain twisted when planed: The machine is only capable of making two surfaces true parallel. Bowed stock must be planed bowed side down.

Tip

Several pieces of same thickness and length can be fed through the machine at the same time. This action not only saves time, it places less strain on the machine and the cutting blades.