The document provides information on safely operating a 20" surface planer. It describes the main parts of the planer including the infeed and outfeed tables, cutter head, and table height adjustment wheel. Safety guidelines are outlined such as only touching approved parts like the on/off switch, wood, and height adjustment wheel. Proper body positioning away from the cutter head and supporting wood as it exits is emphasized. Guidelines for indexing boards, snipe prevention, grain direction, and clearing debris are also summarized.

1. Woods Machine Safety
# 3 Planer

3. Purpose of the Planer
 Surface the second face
 Second face should be the crowned face
 Outcomes
 Uniform thickness over the entire length and
width of the board.
 This means that the faces are parallel.

4. Main Parts of the Surface Planer
Dust Collection
Table Height
Adjustment
On/Off
Switch
Infeed
Table

5. Main Parts of the Surface Planer
20” Outfeed Table
Motor

6. Chip Breaker Upper Infeed Roller
20” Cutter Head

7. Roller and Cutter Possitions
Cutter Head
Upper Outfeed Upper Infeed
Roller Roller
Lower Outfeed Lower Infeed
Roller Roller

8. Never Touch These Parts
Feed Speed Control
Brake

10. Maximum Width
20”

11. Minimum Length- 12”

12. Minimum Thickness- 1/2”

13. Maximum Depth of Cut
Wheel turns Cut Depth
1 full 1/8”
One full turn of the 1/2 1/16”
wheel clockwise is 1/4 1/32”
1/8 of an inch.

15. Indexing the Planer
 Check for debris before indexing.
 Place the thickest part of the board under the cutting
head.
 Raise table until the board is just barley snug.
 Lower table by turning Table Height Adjustment
Wheel 1 full turn counter clockwise.
 Remove board.
 Raise the Table Height Adjustment Wheel 1 ½ turns
clockwise.

17. Body Position
Always
stand to the
side of the
board.

18. Hand Position
Placing your fingers
under the board could
cause them to get
smashed
Fingers should always be
kept on the sides or
edges of the wood.

19. Outfeed Position
The operator must
support the wood
as it leaves the
machine.
Never pull on the
wood or reach in
to the machine.

20. Three things you can touch
 On/Off swich
 Table Height Adjustment
 The Wood

21. Table Height Adjustment
 You can adjust the table height while the
machine is running.
 Never adjust the height while the wood is in
the machine.

22. Margin of Safety
 Any other part of the machine other than the
previously listed parts.
 This includes the infeed and outfeed tables
and any other parts of adjustments not
specifically listed in the previous slide.

24. Snipe
 Snipe can happen at either end of a piece of wood up to 6”
from the end, when the wood flexes up and the cutter makes a
deeper cut than desired.
 Snipe is caused by the wood not being in contact with the out
feed rollers on its way into the machine.
 On the out feed, it happens when the wood comes out of
contact with the infeed rollers

25. Correct Grain Direction
Grain pointing away from the planer
Feed Direction
Infeed Table

26. Defects
 Surface tear out means that you are planing against
the grain.
 Grain direction can be difficult to judge. Trial and
error is the best method. Flip the board lengthwise to
change the grain direction.
 Ridges running the length of the board are a sign of
chipped teeth.
 Tell the instructor if you find ridges in you wood.

27. What to Do If a Board Gets Stuck
1. Use a trailer board that has the
same or smaller thickness than
the board you are planing.
2. If the wood is still stuck after step #1 using light
pressure, shut off the machine and wait untill it comes
to a complete stop. Remove your board and re-index
the planer.
3. Get the instructor to help

28. Clearing Debris Stuck Inside
 First, use a long piece of wood to try to push the
debris out
 If it is still stuck, inform the instructor
 The instructor will make sure that the power and the
circuit breaker are disconnected and turned off.
 Even though the power is off the blades can still cut
you if you bump into them, so make sure to lower
the table far enough to ensure safe clearance.

30. Surface Planer- Dangerous Procedures
DO NOT ATTEMPT….EVER!!!
Planing across the Grain Planing Diagonaly Wood Over Guide Rails
Standing Behind the Wood
Planing on Edge or Touching the Tables Planing Side by Side