Tip #34
Planer
Pg. 1-3, Pg. 4-6, Pg. 7-9, Pg. 10-12, Pg. 13-15 (PDF)
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Planer Safety

Warning: Before using the planer, read and understand these important safety instructions:

Danger Zone--The planer danger zone is separated physically by the infeed and outfeed shields. It is extremely dangerous to place your hands inside or under the shields. This rule applies not only when the planer is running, but whenever the planer is plugged in. The danger zone also extends 6' directly in front and to the rear of the stock being planed because the planer can kick stock and chips in both directions.

Always stand to the right side (the switch side gives you maximum control) of the planer and keep your hands from under the infeed and outfeed shields whenever the planer is plugged in. There is one exception to this rule: You must put your hands in front of or behind the openings to feed and receive stock. But don't put your hands into the openings or stand so that your body is in line with these openings.

• Wear proper eye and ear protection, and a dust mask.
• Keep the infeed and outfeed shields in place and locked down. Never operate the planer without the protective shields in place and properly secured.
• Don't let your fingers be pinched between the stock and the table. Release the stock as soon as the infeed roller grabs It.
• Never reach under the infeed or outfeed shield to adjust a workpiece or brush away wood chips while the planer is running. Turn off and unplug the machine, let the cutterhead come to a complete stop, then reach in with a push stick or similar wooden or plastic tool. Never reach under the infeed or outfeed shield with a metal tool. You could nick the knives.
  If you need to reach under the infeed or outfeed shield with your hands, turn off and unplug the machine and let the cutterhead come to a complete stop before doing so.
• When planing glued-up stock, make sure glue joints are strong. Glue the stock and leave it clamped for at least 24 hours before planing.
• Plane dry, properly cured wood only. Wet sawdust and shavings will adhere to the knives, causing the machine to cut poorly. The moisture will also rust the knives and other ferrous metal parts of the planer.
• Never plane 'secondhand' lumber. Hitting a nail or screw will ruin the planer knives and possibly cause injury.
• Don't plane wood that has large, loose knots and other imperfections which might cause the board to split or fly loose.
• Never plane painted or varnished wood, plywood, or particle board-these materials will ruin your planer knives.
• Always plane with the grain direction of the wood.
• Don't plane stock less than 1" wide or over 12" wide. If the stock is too narrow, the antikickback fingers will not catch it. If it's too wide, it may jam between the sides of the planer.
• Don't plane stock less than 12" long. If the stock is too short, it will not feed properly and you will have to reach Into the danger zone in order to plane it.
• Don't plane stock that's higher than it is wide as it sits on the table. (This is sometimes called edge planing.) Edge planing is dangerous because the board can easily tip over and be kicked back.
• The stock should remain parallel to the sides of the planer table as it's fed through the machine. If a board begins to drift to one side, very carefully shift it back into position by pushing against one side or the other with a push stick.
• Don't push or pull a board through the planer. Let the machine do the work.
• If the stock stops feeding, immediately turn off and unplug the planer and wait until it stops. Lower the table and remove the stock. See what caused the jam; then correct the problem. Never force a jammed board.
• If a strange noise or vibration develops, immediately turn off and unplug the planer. Do not operate the machine again until you have found and corrected the problem.
• When removing large amounts of stock, the best and safest way is to make several passes. The maximum depth of cut on the thickness planer is 3/32" for most operations. The maximum depth of cut for the professional planer Is 1/8". Most operations require that you take a shallower depth of cut.
• Don't plane boards of different thicknesses in the same pass. Because the planer must be adjusted for the thicker board, the rollers would not hold the thinner board securely and it might be kicked back.
• Feed just one board into the planer at a time. Never plane two or more boards side by side-one board may interfere with the others.
• When working with long or heavy boards, support the work with one or two roller stands placed 1' to 4' out from the machine.
• Never leave the thickness planer running unattended. When you're finished planing, turn off and unplug the planer.
• Don't lean on the planer, whether it's running or not. And never stand on the planer or use it as a step stool. You could harm yourself and your planer.
• Never use your planer as a storage shelf. Small tools, screws, and nails could roll under the shields. When the planer is turned on, these objects could be thrown out, severely damaging the machine-or injuring you.
• Make sure the machine rests firmly on the floor-not up on its retractable casters.
• Use only Shopsmlth Planer Knives; other brands of knives are not wedge-shaped and will not seat properly in the cutterhead.
• Do not attempt to disassem-ble or repair the control box.

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