Dealing with snipe on a planer / jointer / thicknesser

How to set up your jointer / planer / thicknesser to eliminate snipe, presented by Steve Maskery from www.WorkshopEssentials.com and British Woodworking Magazine.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• workshop
• essentials
• woodwork
• snipe
• planer
• thicknesser
• jointer
• British
• Woodworking
• Magazine

[breezebro]

We Americans seem to call everything a joiner, and then can't decide whether to spell it joiner or jointer.

I call it a planer cause that is what action it is performing. I call the other a thickness sander cause that is what it is really doing.

Thickness sanders need a double set of transport rollers, in and out, top and bottom to stop snipe. 8 total rollers.

Snip defeats the whole purpose of planing or sanding.

[stevemaskery]

@breezebro

It's always interesting to hear a view from over the pond. We here would never cal it a sander though, that is a term reserved for abrasive removal rather than cutting.

But thank you very much for your contribution.

Steve

[breezebro]

@stevemaskery I must be mistaken, I assumed your thickness planer was a device that has a drum above with sandpaper wrapped around it to sand the top as the wood passes through.

That's why I watch YouTube videos, I learn new tips, techniques and terminology.

[stevemaskery]

@breezebro

No, it has knives. I do have a drum sander which works as you suggest, but this isn't that.

Regards

Steve



[guild1978]

Hi Steve, Just looking for some advice on plaining and thicknessing really large and long boards e.g 300mm wide and bark on the edges. . All the proper moisture content etc. The planer thicknesser im using can handle up to 300mm wide. Thanks James

[stevemaskery]

@guild1978

Take small cuts. Remember that the machine is removing a volume of timber, not just a depth. So a 1mm cut on a 300mm board is twice as much work as a 1mm cut on a 150mm board. Your DX has got to remove all that waste.

Another pair of hands is always a good idea. too!

S

[madpres]

Thanks for the great info. I adjusted my puffers to my "jointer" and now it works like a charm!

[donepearce]

Yes it is a planer, not a jointer. If two pieces of wood emerged from this tool joined, it would be a jointer. A single piece of wood emerges planed - it is a planer.

[specialks1953]

It is nice how you mention the terms used in both our countries. It would be a little confusing for us here in America not knowing you use different terms for the same machinery. Thanks for the explaination of snipe and the cause and correction methods. Cheers !

[steamsearcher]

@WECEMartinAsia Lovely explanation about snipe now I know what it is and how to prevent it.