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    Planer Table: Shopmade

    Uploaded by

    Jim Lee
    1) The document describes how to build a simple adjustable table to attach to a benchtop planer in order to help reduce or eliminate "snipe", which is a slightly deeper cut at the ends of boards when planing. 2) The table has support cleats that can be adjusted to slightly raise the ends of the tabletop, giving it a subtle bow. This helps reduce snipe by preventing the ends of boards from dipping too low. 3) The author provides instructions on assembling the table using common materials, and adjusting it to find the best elevation of the tabletop ends to minimize snipe for different thickness stock.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Planer Table: Shopmade

    Uploaded by

    Jim Lee
    51 views2 pages
    1) The document describes how to build a simple adjustable table to attach to a benchtop planer in order to help reduce or eliminate "snipe", which is a slightly deeper cut at the ends of boards when planing. 2) The table has support cleats that can be adjusted to slightly raise the ends of the tabletop, giving it a subtle bow. This helps reduce snipe by preventing the ends of boards from dipping too low. 3) The author provides instructions on assembling the table using common materials, and adjusting it to find the best elevation of the tabletop ends to minimize snipe for different thickness stock.

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    011183072

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    1) The document describes how to build a simple adjustable table to attach to a benchtop planer in order to help reduce or eliminate "snipe", which is a slightly deeper cut at the ends of boards when planing. 2) The table has support cleats that can be adjusted to slightly raise the ends of the tabletop, giving it a subtle bow. This helps reduce snipe by preventing the ends of boards from dipping too low. 3) The author provides instructions on assembling the table using common materials, and adjusting it to find the best elevation of the tabletop ends to minimize snipe for different thickness stock.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    51 views2 pages

    Planer Table: Shopmade

    Uploaded by

    Jim Lee
    1) The document describes how to build a simple adjustable table to attach to a benchtop planer in order to help reduce or eliminate "snipe", which is a slightly deeper cut at the ends of boards when planing. 2) The table has support cleats that can be adjusted to slightly raise the ends of the tabletop, giving it a subtle bow. This helps reduce snipe by preventing the ends of boards from dipping too low. 3) The author provides instructions on assembling the table using common materials, and adjusting it to find the best elevation of the tabletop ends to minimize snipe for different thickness stock.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Shopmade

    Planer Table
    Low-cost, adjustable table prevents snipe
    Auxiliary tabletop,
    Attach tabletop to cleats 1 ⁄ 2-in. MDF
    with glue and finish nails.
    Cut to fit across
    bed of planer.

    Top of planer
    cabinet (or
    benchtop)

    Support cleat,
    3⁄4 in. thick by

    11 ⁄2 in. wide

    B enchtop thickness planers are com-


    pact workhorses that produce re-
    markably smooth wood surfaces.
    But, like any thickness planer, they often
    create snipe—that’s the 2-in.-long (or so),
    a length of 1⁄ 2-in.-thick medium-
    density fiberboard (MDF) that serves as
    the tabletop. The cleats attach to the top of
    the planer cabinet with a few carriage bolts
    and washers. The bolts allow me to elevate
    slightly deeper cut at each end of a board. the ends of the tabletop slightly, giving it
    Granted, some newer models have made a subtle bow. This slight rise at each end
    good strides at reducing the problem, but is the secret to reducing snipe.
    like the common cold, snipe defies eradi- I should mention that the adjustable table
    cation. Indeed, it’s rare to find a thickness- reduces the thickness capacity of my planer
    planed board that’s snipe-free. by 1⁄ 2 in., from 6 in. to 51⁄ 2 in. But since
    However, adding an adjustable table to a 31⁄ 2 in. is about the thickest stock I’ve ever
    benchtop thickness planer can help make planed, I don’t expect the reduced capacity
    snipe a non-issue—if not by eliminating to be a problem. Also, you’ll need to re-
    the problem, then at least by keeping it to move the folding infeed and outfeed table
    a bare minimum. Snipe that measures less extensions that are attached to the saw.
    than, say, 0.004 in. is rarely a problem. After cutting the tabletop to width and
    This adjustable table has only a handful length, attach the support cleats to the un-
    of parts. Four support cleats—two in front derside. First, though, drill both ends of
    B Y A N D Y B E A S L E Y
    of the planer, two behind—mount under each cleat to accept a carriage bolt. The

    72 FINE WOODWORKING Photo: Tom Begnal; drawings: John Hartman


    60 in.

    ⁄ in.
    18

    S U P POR T CLEAT
    Tabletop

    12 in. to 18 in.,
    depending on
    Adjust the two outside
    manufacturer Shallow, square
    support cleats until each
    Carriage bolt, 1 ⁄4 in. mortise prevents
    end of the table is elevated
    about 1 ⁄8 in. bolt from turning.

    Benchtop planer Support cleat


    Flat washer

    Top of cabinet Lock washer


    Hex nut

    Apply a few coats of


    polyurethane to both
    sides of the tabletop for
    durability, smoothness,
    and warp resistance.

    Shopmade guide
    rails, 1 ⁄8 in. thick
    by 1 ⁄2 in. wide

    bolt accepts a series


    of flat washers, lock washers,
    and hex nuts that attach the table to the that would
    cabinet below. best minimize snipe.
    Mount the two middle support cleats se- Adjusting the outside support cleats is
    curely to form a stiff, flat table through the easy: After loosening the hex nuts adjacent elevation of the
    planer. Two wood guide rails keep stock to the cabinet, simply tighten the upper tabletop ends. That’s be-
    on course as it travels through the ma- nut to raise the bed, or tighten the bot- cause thicker stock can’t flex as much and
    chine. Then, with a 6-ft.-long level placed tom nut to lower it. Because there are two will not conform to as much of a bow in
    lengthwise on the bed, adjust the two out- bolts on each support cleat, both must be the table.
    side support cleats until each end of the adjusted the same amount to avoid twist- Try a test piece before committing an
    table is elevated about 1⁄ 8 in. above the ing the surface. expensive board to the planer. 
    level of the table under the cutterheads. Once I determined the best table ele-
    vation, I locked the support cleats in Andy Beasley retired a few years ago from the
    Fine-tune for best results place for good. Keep in mind that if you Air Force, where he served as an instructor pilot
    I ran test boards through the planer until I switch to stock that’s thicker than about in a variety of locations, including the Air Force
    found the elevation of the tabletop ends 2 in., you might need to readjust the Academy. He lives in Hillside, Colo.

    www.F i neWoodwor k i n g.com MARCH/APRIL 2006 73

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