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Snipe—the shallow dip a thickness planer can leave near a board’s ends—can often be reduced by tuning the machine, supporting the stock, and taking lighter cuts. WOOD Magazine Staff’s seven suggestions, updated July 7, 2023, cover those adjustments. Treat the measurements as starting points, not universal settings: planer designs differ, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your machine.
Start with the planer tables
A board can dip at its ends when it is not adequately supported as it enters or leaves the cutterhead. Check the table setup first, using the adjustment method appropriate to your planer.
1. Raise benchtop planer tables slightly
For a benchtop planer, WOOD Magazine suggests adjusting the table-leveling bolts so the ends of the infeed and outfeed tables sit about a penny’s thickness higher than the planer bed. Consult your manual before changing the leveling bolts; the correct setup varies by machine.
2. Adjust cast-iron tables on applicable stationary planers
Some stationary planers use setscrews to tilt their cast-iron infeed and outfeed tables. If a model has no setscrews, the article suggests using metal shim stock to raise the tables. Make adjustments only as allowed by the manufacturer.
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3. Check table rollers only if your planer has adjustable ones
On some stationary planers, setting the rollers about 0.002 inches above the table may help. That figure is a model-dependent example, not a general setting. If raising the rollers makes snipe worse, WOOD Magazine advises lowering them until they are level with the table surface. Check the manual for the appropriate adjustment procedure.
Support the board as it passes through
4. Lift the free end gently
If table adjustments do not eliminate snipe, gently lift the free end of the board as it enters the planer and again as it exits. Keep the workpiece controlled and supported; do not force it upward.
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5. Feed several workpieces end to end
Butt workpieces of equal thickness together so one follows the next through the planer. Use scrap pieces before the first workpiece and after the last. This keeps the feed sequence continuous, but the boards must remain properly supported and controlled throughout.
Give thin stock a stable base
6. Use a carrier board for stock under 3/8 inch
WOOD Magazine notes that stock thinner than 3/8 inch can flex and rise into the cutterhead, producing snipe. It suggests adhering the workpiece to a carrier board, such as MDF, to add stability. Confirm that the carrier-and-workpiece setup is suitable for your planer and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe feeding.
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Finish with lighter cuts
7. Make the final pass or two shallow
As the board nears its finished thickness, remove about 1/64 inch or so on each face during the last pass or two. The article’s reasoning is simple: “The deeper the cut, the greater the chances for snipe.” The stated depth is a suggested finishing approach, not a guaranteed setting for every planer or workpiece.
Quick Recap
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- Four-column carriage lock drastically reduces the movement that causes snipe
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