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G0663 12½" Planer
-17-
Pitch & Glue Build-up
Problem: Glue and resin buildup on the rollers and
cutterhead will cause overheating by decreasing
cutting sharpness while increasing drag in the
feed mechanism. The result can include scorched
lumber as well as uneven knife marks and chat
-
ter.
Solution: Clean the rollers and cutterhead.
Chip Marks or Indentations
Problem: Chip indentation or chip bruising is the
result of wood chips not being thrown away from
the cutterhead and out of the machine. Instead
they are carried around the cutterhead, deposited
on the planed surface and crushed by the outfeed
roller. Chip indentations can be caused by a num-
ber of reasons, some of which are:
• The type of lumber being planed. Certain
species have a tendency to chip bruise.
• A high moisture content (over 15%) or
surface moisture. Typically found in air-
dried stock where the surface is dry but
the inside needs a longer time to sea
-
son.
• Dull knives.
• Too much material being removed in one
pass.
Solution
:
• Lumber must be completely dry, prefer-
ably kiln-dried (KD). Air-dried (AD) lum
-
ber must be seasoned properly and have
no surface moisture. DO NOT surface
partially-air-dried (PAD) lumber.
• Make sure planer knives are sharp.
• Reduce depth of cut.
Wood Characteristics
Below is a list of wood characteristics you may
encounter when planing. The following descrip
-
tions of defects will give you some possible
answers to problems you may encounter while
planing different materials. Possible solutions fol
-
low the descriptions.
Chipped Grain
Problem: Usually a result of cutting against the
grain, planing lumber with knots or excessive
amount of cross grain, or using dull knives.
Solution: Decrease depth of cuts. Inspect your
lumber and determine if its grain pattern is caus
-
ing the problem. If the lumber does not show sub
-
stantial crossgrain, replace your knives.
Fuzzy Grain
Problem: Usually caused by surfacing lumber with
too high of a moisture content. Sometimes fuzzy
grain is an unavoidable characteristic of some
woods, such as basswood. Fuzzy grain can also
be caused by dull knives.
Solution: Check the lumber with a moisture meter.
If moisture is greater than 20%, sticker the lumber
and allow it to dry. Otherwise, inspect the knife
condition.
Snipe
Problem: Occurs when board ends have more
material removed than the rest of the board.
Usually caused when the workpiece is not prop
-
erly supported as it goes through the machine. In
many cases, however, a small amount of snipe is
inevitable.
Solution: The best way to deal with snipe is by
planing lumber longer than your intended work
length and then cutting off the excess after plan
-
ing is completed.