12 Use of the Planer
Safety rules
As the cutterhead in a planer is completely enclosed and the machine feeds the stock rather than the operator, the planer has less potential for accidents than many other woodworking machines. However, there is still potential for injury. Follow these safety rules for the planer.
- The shortest length the planer can accommodate is the distance between the center of the infeed and outfeed rollers plus 50 mm / 2″. This ensures at least one feed roller is securing the stock.
- Never place your hands into the machine unless the power supply is locked out.
- A pinch hazard exists between the stock being planed and the table. Ensure your fingers and hands are never between the stock and the bed.
- When planing short stock or planing a heavy pass, the infeed rollers can cause the workpiece to tilt up and then slam down as it engages. Ensure your hands are never under the workpiece at any time.
- As the planer is self feeding, anything that engages with the material being fed will be pulled in to the machine. Be aware of loose clothing or jewelry.
- Stand to the side of the planer on the infeed side to avoid a potential kickback.
- Do not stand between the out feeding stock and anything solid such as a wall or other machine as you could be pinched.
- Small pieces, especially knots may break off in the planer and be ejected toward the operator.
- Follow all general machine safety rules.
Stock preparation
The minimum length of stock that can be fed through the planer is equal to the distance from centre to centre between the infeed and outfeed rollers, plus about 50 mm / 2″. This ensures the material being passed through the machine is always being held by one roller. If shorter parts are to be machined, leave them in multiple lengths for jointing and planing, then crosscut them to size after. This method ensures the parts can be safely machined, and also decreases parts handling.
Material that is to be planed should be inspected for grit, staples or any foreign material that could damage the tooling. Never place stock on the floor where it can pick up grit and small particles that will dull and damage the tooling. Material to be planed should first be jointed to remove any bow, twist or cup.
Before turning on the machine, organize all the parts to ensure they have the jointed face down, and the grain is running in the correct direction to prevent tear out. The cutterhead turns opposite to feed direction. The grain should slope downward toward the end that will be fed in the planer.
Never plane plywood or composites such as MDF, or painted or finished wood, and never place material to be machined on the floor. It will pick up grit that will dull and damage the cutters.
Depth of cut
Check the pieces to be planed at both ends and the middle to determine the thickest dimension. Set the planer to remove an amount appropriate to this thickness. If the planer is not set for the thickest piece, often it will not pass into the pla