How to Adjust Thickness Planers

Planers cause parallel lines across wood when not properly adjusted.

Wood thickness planers do what no other woodworking machines can do. They have powerful motors, sharp knives and clinching rollers that work together to turn raw wood into smooth, dimensioned lumber. When a planer is not set up properly, it can kick back, stall, burn or "snipe" the wood, which is the creation of concentric dips perpendicular to the wood grain. There are built-in adjusters for every planer, and they work the same. Take a few minutes to adjust your planer and it will run better than ever.

Things You'll Need

• Level, 48-inch
• Wrench
• Board

Instructions

Table Level

1. Shut off the power to the planer. Lower the planer bed to about five inches by turning the "depth of cut" wheel on the front of the planer.

2. Insert a level into the planer as if it were a piece of wood to be planed, sliding it as far as possible to the right side. Crank the "depth of cut" wheel up until the in-feed roller barely touches the top of the level.

3. Slide the level as far to the left as it will go. If it gets stuck before it gets all the way, reach under the table. On the bottom-most point on the left side of the table there is a small 1/2-inch bolt. Turn the screw counterclockwise two or three turns with a wrench. Try to slide the level over again. If it still won't go all the way to the left, turn the screw until it will do so.

4. Slide the level back to the right side. If it is lower, reach underneath with the wrench and turn the right-side table adjusting bolt clockwise to raise the table up to match the left side. Continue sliding the level back and forth until both sides are equal. Use the friction of the level sliding back and forth for reference.

Pressure Bar

1. Turn on the planer. Run a board into the machine. On the very top of the machine, on the left and right, there is a large knob about two inches across. Turn the right-side knob clockwise while the board is running through the machine. When the pressure causes the board to stop inside the machine, turn the knob counterclockwise until the board starts moving again. Run the board all the way through the machine and take it out.

2. Crank the "depth of cut" wheel on the front of the planer two turns clockwise. Put the board back in the machine. As it is running through, reach up and turn the left-side knob on top clockwise until the board stops moving, and then counterclockwise until the board starts moving again. Run the board all the way through the machine.

3. Insert the board back in the machine and repeat the pressure-bar adjustment several times until the board runs smoothly through the planer.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear safety glasses and hearing protection around a surface planer. Never reach into a planer with your hands.

References

• Proven Woodworking: Thickness Planer Tips