Smallest wood dimensions in large planer thicknesser?

[Helvetica]

I have just bought a 16" PT and I'm starting to fettle it. My previous experience is with a light benchtop PT, a different beast.

I'm getting snipe, the feed rollers don't always push the board through, and I'm not sure how it should sound but I was expecting it to sound smoother when it cuts - I can make out the sound of each blade pass.

I'm not sure how much of this is because I have been using small test boards of 2x1's, but I'm not passing four 14x2", 10 foot mahogany boards through until I know I'll get a good finish.

Can anyone tell me if it sounds like it needs more setting up, or if it's just designed for a minimum boards dimension? Thanks.

Must find a manual. (Sedgwick CP)

 

[Steve Maskery]

Snipe when surface planing is poor machine setup, snipe when thicknessing is poor technique.
Here is why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHfjSatKITQ
Both are easy to fix, once you know the problem!
The distance between the feed rollers (plus an inch or two) is the minimum length you should consider thicknessing.
Good luck
Steve

 

[Beau]

Not familiar with the Sedgwick would have though it should be capable of handling small material. On a wide machine you need to feed the small sections in near the middle to get even presure from the feed rollers or put two small sections in at the same time one each side. If the wood is not feeding through properly make sure the thicknessing table is smooth and lube it with whatever you use. I use something called Gleit from Felder but there are lots of threads on here about what to use. You say it's not sounding right so first thought is blunt blades but suspect you have covered that.

It's possible the feed roller needs adjusting to increase downward presure on the thicknessing table. If they were set with too lightly it would account for both problems. If it is that would leave it to others to advise how as not used a Sedgwick PT.

The smallest sections I plane on my 12" PT is window beadings of around 12mm square

Good luck sorting it.

 

[Fitzroy]

Not the same size as yours but a similar beast, mine's a 9" wadkin. I find it operates with smaller material just as well as my smaller p/t. In fact it is so much smoother on all woods/sizes/cuts. I'd be thinking sharpness or blade equal positioning. My old pt has been taking snipe since the outfeed roller rubber has started to wear.

F.

 

[Paddy Roxburgh]

As far as rollers pushing the board through is concerned before messing with the feed rollers make sure you lubricate the bed. I just give is a quick squiggle with a candle over the surface as you might with a hand plane, works wonders.

 

[dzj]

Do you have table rollers? If not co-planer, they can cause trouble.
Also make sure no dust or gunk is obstructing feed roller housings bottoming out properly.

 

[memzey]

Not the same size as yours but a similar beast, mine's a 9" wadkin. I find it operates with smaller material just as well as my smaller p/t. In fact it is so much smoother on all woods/sizes/cuts. I'd be thinking sharpness or blade equal positioning. My old pt has been taking snipe since the outfeed roller rubber has started to wear.

F.

That's interesting Fitzroy. I thought that the smallest planer thicknesser Wadkin did was the 12" BOAS. Could you post a picture of the machine or share some details about it please?

 

[Wildman]

you probably need an output roller/table of some sort

 

[Helvetica]

Thanks all, I used briwax for the planer outfeed and infeed tables but completely neglected the thicknesser table, duh.

I was told the blades were just sharpened, and they feel sharp, but I'm buying a set of xcaliber HSS and I'll get the old ones to a saw doc. I dread setting up the blades but I'm sure the search button on the forum will help!

Santa is bringing an extractor from rutlands to replace my old Axminster vac. I think that old thing is underpowered and is probably choking the PT.

 

[Fitzroy]

Not the same size as yours but a similar beast, mine's a 9" wadkin. I find it operates with smaller material just as well as my smaller p/t. In fact it is so much smoother on all woods/sizes/cuts. I'd be thinking sharpness or blade equal positioning. My old pt has been taking snipe since the outfeed roller rubber has started to wear.

F.

That's interesting Fitzroy. I thought that the smallest planer thicknesser Wadkin did was the 12" BOAS. Could you post a picture of the machine or share some details about it please?

Sorry, my hastly written reply has muddied the water. My Wadkin (BFT9) is just a surface planer not a p/t, i was comparing it to the operation of the p part of my dewalt DW1150 p/t. It was more about how much smoother I have found, and would expect, a larger, heavier, machine to be than a smaller, lighter one.

Regards

F.

 

[memzey]

Aah gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up.