Robson Ranch Woodworkers

The Portable Planer A thickness planer is a tool used for smoothing rough lumber or reducing the thickness of a board. A planer will not straighten a bowed board, it would have to be run over a jointer to get one side straight first. The usual procedure is to joint the face and edge of a board, run it through a planer to get the correct thickness, then rip it to width on a table saw. Run the board through the planer face down only as many times as it takes to make a smooth parallel surface on the top, once you have the two opposing surfaces parallel, you may then alternate removing material from one side of the board then the other, this will produce a board that is less likely to cup of twist then if you removed all the material from one side only.

Here is a collection of safety tips and techniques for the planer:

• Always wear hearing protection when operating a planar, they make a lot of noise, especially when working on wide boards.
• Turn On the dust collector attached to this machine when planing, planers produce a lot of chips.
• Examine wood for knots and other defects before placing it in the planer.
• Do not plane against the grain of the wood.
• Let go of the materials as the feeder rolls catch. Do not follow the work with your hands.
• Do not run boards that are more than 2 inches shorter that the distance between the in-feed and out-feed rolls.
• Use a push stick if a board stops with its end on the in-feed table, never use your hand.
• If a board sticks under the cutter head, turn off the machine to keep from burning the cutter knives.
• Lower the cutting head until it just touches the surface of the board, then lower the head another 1/16".
• Feed the board into the machine, it will automatically travel through, do not push it through with your hands.

As with all tools, whether it is a planer, a hand drill or your golf cart, it is best operated defensively. Know the tool, know its capabilities and know yours as well.

Safe planing!