THE PLANER THICKNESSER

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THE PLANER THICKNESSER

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A Planer Thicknesser is used to flatten (create a face edge and face side), smooth (plane away rough surfaces) and to plane wood boards to the correct size, ensuring all sides and edges are ‘square’.
Planing takes place on the top surface of the machine (dia. A) and thicknessing takes place by feeding the wood through the ‘central area’ (dia. B - lower down the page).

Planer Thicknessers are regularly used by carpenters, woodworkers and Design & Technology Departments. They are valued for their versatility and efficiency in achieving precise and uniform results.

PLANING - USING THE TOP PART OF THE MACHINE

PLANING A SIDE (FACE SIDE) - PROCEDURE

1. Both hands are placed as shown below, holding down the material, at the same time as pushing it carefully forward.

2. Once the material appears at the other side of the bridge guard, one hand is placed at the front of the material and the second remains at the back. Both hands continue to guide the material forward.

3. When possible, the second hand is moved to the front of the material, continuing to push the material forward.

PLANING AN EDGE (FACE EDGE) - PROCEDURE

If the wood stands higher than the fence, it can be held in both hands, because they are in a safe position, away from the cutting block. The bridge guard is set so that the wood can pass over the cutting block. The bridge guard is set-up to prevent fingers getting near the cutting block.

1. The wood is held firmly in both hands and downwards pressure applied, ensuring the wood is flat on the infeed table and against the fence. At the same time forward pressure is applied.

2. The wood is slowly pushed across the cutting block at a constant, steady speed. This is the first cut, removing a small amount of wood, planing the edge.

3. When the wood passes the cutting block, the planing procedure is repeated, until the edge is straight and smooth.

PLANING AN EDGE - USING PUSH STICKS

Push sticks are used when planing wood using a planer thicknesser for several important reasons:

The main reason is to keep hands a safe distance away from the blades. preventing serious injuries / accidents.

Push sticks allow for control over smaller pieces of wood and help the user to push it smoothly and evenly through the machine, resulting in a uniform cut.

Push sticks help the user to maintain pressure safely, when feeding the wood over the cutting block. This normally results in a precise and accurate finish.

Push sticks help to prevent kickback, which is when the wood is forcefully thrown back towards the operator due to the blades catching on it. This can be dangerous. Push sticks help to keep the operator at a safe distance.

Experience wood technicians have a selection of push sticks (often homemade) the allow control of different sections and sizes.

The minimum length is normally determined as the distance between the infeed and outfeed rollers, plus an additional safety margin. For most machines, this distance is around 12 inches (300 mm)

1. Notice how a push stick holds down the wood at the front, whilst a hand holds the back.

2. A second push stick is used, once the wood is entirely on the infeed table. This is to ensure safety.

3. Both push sticks are used to control the movement of the wood being planed.

THE PLANER THICKNESSER - THICKNESSING

"Thicknessing" refers to the process of reducing the depth of a wooden board, to a uniform size.

The wood is carefully fed through the central part of the machine and planed to a specific thickness. It is quite common for the wood to be fed through the machine several times. Each time the infeed bed is raised a small amount, so that more material is removed. Planing away too much material in one go is not recommended. It is dangerous and at best produces a poor finish.
Thicknessing is an important machining process, because it reduces the wood to accurate, overall dimensions. In woodworking and cabinet making, accuracy is just as important as it is in engineering.

THE THICKNESSING PROCEDURE

IMPORTANT - USE PUSH STICKS WHEN USING A SHORT LENGTH OF TIMBER

The minimum length is normally determined as the distance between the infeed and outfeed rollers, plus an additional safety margin. For most machines, this distance is around 12 inches (300 mm)

1. Set the correct height setting for the infeed roller bed.
Place the wood on the infeed roller bed.
Gently push the wood until the infeed roller grips the wood, slowly ‘pulling’ it into the cutting head and through the machine.

2. The infeed roller will pull the wood through the thicnknesser, planing a small amount off the top surface.

3. The wood will be planed as it moves through the thicknesser. For longer pieces of timber, support the end as it comes out of the machine, on the outfeed roller table..

HEALTH AND SAFETY - THE PLANER THICKNESSER

ARTICULATED DUST EXTRACTION - PLANER THICKNESSER

Planer thicknessers produce a large amount of wood shavings, dust and debris. Approved extraction, that complies with Health and Safety Laws, ensures that dust and debris is removed, preventing accumulating around the machine and interference with its operation.

Dust and wood shavings can pose significant health and safety risks. Dust can create slippery surfaces, obstruct visibility and presents fire hazard. An extraction system reduces these risks, by keeping the workspace clean and the ‘air’ dust free.

Articulated extraction on a planer thicknesser, has several advantages:

An articulated extraction systems can be ‘adjusted’ for the efficient collection of dust. It is designed to fit the various dust emitting parts of the machine. This helps keep the workspace cleaner and reduces the amount of airborne dust.

With less dust in the air, the machine operator can see your workpiece more clearly, allowing for greater precision combined with safety.

If dust is allowed to accumulate on and in a machine, it reduces the lifespan of important components, such as bearings and other moving parts. Efficient dust extraction reduces dust and debris from accumulating on the machine's components, extending the lifespan of the planer thicknesser.

A clean machine is easier to maintain and requires less maintenance. Removing dust and debris prevents ‘jams’ and other mechanical issues, that can lead to breakdowns and repairs.

Reducing the amount of dust in the air, improves the overall air quality in a workshop, producing a healthier working environment.

Some modern Planer Thicknessers have built in integrated dust extraction systems.

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