Why do the rollers on a surface planer not take the material completely clear of the blades?

Question

I have a surface planer and when I feed the material through the machine, the rollers obviously grab the material and pass it through. The trouble is the material does not completely clear the blades so when you pull the material way you get snipe. Surely this would not happen if they changed the configuration of the out feed roller so that the material was moved completely clear.

Are there any surface planers which solves this problem?

Answer 1

As stated, your outfeed table height is to high probably. Also, there should be (at least on most benchtop models) feed rollers that will carry your stock beyond the cutterhead.It is possible the feed rollers on the outfeed end are worn out, or dirty, or out of adjustment enough that they are slipping, not pulling the board clear of the cutter.Additionally,perhaps the drive that operates the feed rollers on the outboard side is broken.Some use gear drive and some use a chain drive that can come apart, check that out as well. I am guessing your feed rollers arent even touching the wood on the outboard side, and once the infeed side rollers pull the stock through all goes well until those drop from the board near the end.These feed rollers are also supporting your cutterhead, so the cutterhead will drop slightly because of this, causing the snipe. On my Ridgid planer I get hardly any snipe, but there is some if I look closly, but nothing major by any means.A cutterhead lock also helps heaps, if your planer has one, use it. You didnt mention brand, size, or age of your planer.It could be a number of things causing you the problems, or any combination of a number of problems.

Answer 2

I agree. I've never seen a planer that didn't continue to roll the board all the way through. It's actually dangerous for you to have to pull it through, and bad for your cutters.

Answer 3

your adjustments are off.  read your manual for your adjustments.  but the easiest thing to do is plane your board before you cut it to length

Answer 4

my planer says to adjust the infeed and outfeed tables to correct for snipe...

Answer 5

i have a dewalt surface planner and this does not happen. the last roller is clear of the blades. and as long as i dont try to grab the board before it stops moving i dont get and snipe at the end. try just letting it do all the work. dont grab it till it stops moving on the outfeed side.