Minimum board length for SS Planer

[wdelliott]

I recall somewhere a discussion concerning the minimum length of board to run through the SS planer. Can someone help me remember? I have some short boards, such as 10 inches long, and I"m unsure about using the SS Planer.

Thanks.

[burkhome]

I don't have a shopsmith planer but I would think that if you butted you stock end to end you would be able to run them ok.

[dusty]

I don't have a shopsmith planer but I would think that if you butted you stock end to end you would be able to run them ok.The manual for the ProPlaner says that one should not plane stock that is less than 12" long. It does not report just what the hazard is if one does plane short stock.

I do know that if you try to plane short stock it quits feeding before it protrudes from the machine.:rolleyes:

It also says not to edge plane stock that is taller than it is wide

[Lodgepole]

If you have a board shorter than 12", you might want to use a "carrier board". A carrier board is just a board 12" or longer. Use double faced tape to secure the shorter board to the carrier board and then run it through the planer.

Because the boards are held together with just tape, I would suggest making very light cuts.

I hope this suggestion helps.

[mickyd]

Because I wasn't aware of any minimum length requirement, I did several 4"x4"x 1/2" pieces pushing it through with a piece of of 4"x12"x3/8". It worked fine BUT, I don't know the associated risks.

[shipwright]

In any planer, carrier board or no, the piece must be long enough to be under the control of one feed roller at all times. If the piece is shorter than the distance between the feed rollers there is nothing to prevent the cutterhead from lifting it and trying to make it explode.

Paul M