Planer keeps going out of adjustment

Re: Planer keeps going out of adjustment

Keith Newton

If the hand wheel or crank stays where you locked it, then I'm with the PM guy. It may be a set screw in one of those parts is loose.

Why don't you try just putting a board in between the cutter and bed, then crank it up against it, and see if you can keep turning it. If you can look underneath while you do this, maybe you can tell where the turning quits.

Re: Planer keeps going out of adjustment

Randy Johnson

The handwheel isn’t what locks.

Underneath the bed between both the front and rear posts the table raises and lowers on is a steel rod threaded on both ends. One end of the rod threads into a locking nut which is nothing more than a small steel cylinder with a bevel on one side that bears against the the post(s) the table travels up and down on. The opposite end has a locking nut that is shaped the same but is bored smooth for the rod to pass through it. The treaded part on that end screws into the handle that draws the two nuts together making them act as a clamp with the posts between. Once both are tightened you should be able to remove everything above the table without it dropping

I've never had one of these type planers,

Keith Newton

so I've never run into this. However after finding a manual, I see the parts that you describe that clamp onto the columns. If you have not taken these out, I would do that, to see if they are glazed with wax or oily dust. Then I would try to use some very coarse abrasive to score the inside of that divot so it has a better chance of gripping.

Re: I've never had one of these type planers,

Randy Johnson

Wish I could say that I haven’t already tried that. Like I said, this even stumped the guy at Powermatic.

It’s driving me nuts because the planer worked fine the last time I used it. Oh wel, Indiana is on lock down until April 6 and the shop is five miles from the house. I have plenty of time to think about it.

Re: I've never had one of these type planers,

Randy Johnson

So far I have cleaned all four columns, checked the knife head and feed rollers to make sure they are turning like they should, and cleaned the lock nuts. The whole thing defies explanation but I was hoping somebody here had already been there done that.

Re: I've never had one of these type planers,

Ellis Walentine

I don't suppose there's any way the threaded rod that raises and lowers the bed could be turning due to vibration?

Ellis

Re: I've never had one of these type planers,

Randy Johnson

I’m sure that vibration is in the equation because the planer can just sit there and run for five minutes and the thickness indicator doesn’t move. I know this for a fact because I sat and watched it yesterday. There has to be a board getting planed.

Let’s change the machine we are discussing from a planer to an automobile.

Set the emergency brake, put the car in drive, and depress the gas pedal. As long as the emergency brake works the car shouldn’t move an inch.

On the planer the four locking nuts are the emergency brake. And they aren’t doing their job. One thing I haven’t tried yet is some 600 grit sand paper on the four columns where the nuts make contact. With the state on lockdown I probably won’t be checking to see if that helps any very soon. Since I might be ordering new locknuts in desperation I’ve also considered gluing leather to the ones I have now.

Re: I've never had one of these type planers,

Martin

Looking at the manual, page 19, two items to check. Those columns are held in place on the top and bottom

with allen heads. Might these have loosened and the columns are slipping? I see a chain system under the table on the same page. Looks like there is an adjustment mechanism, might that have come loose?

Re: I've never had one of these type planers,

Randy Johnson

That, I haven’t checked. Just looking at the parts diagram I’m having a hard time picturing exactly how all those parts tie in together. But since going out to the shop won’t expose me to any other people there is a better than even chance I will sneak out there tomorrow and check it out.

Re: Planer keeps going out of adjustment

Robert LaPlaca

When was the last time the knives in the planer were sharpened?