With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.

On Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:24:58 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.

Try setting as you have, but back it off that 1/32" before you feed???

On Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 11:41:43 PM UTC-5, Markem wrote:
On Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:24:58 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.

Try setting as you have, but back it off that 1/32" before you feed???

You obviously missed the point of my post. My process was just a test. With the planer running
the board feeds through fine.

On Mon, 28 Jan 2019 03:58:29 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 11:41:43 PM UTC-5, Markem wrote:
On Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:24:58 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.

Try setting as you have, but back it off that 1/32" before you feed???

You obviously missed the point of my post. My process was just a test. With the planer running
the board feeds through fine.

Then I would say that it is set up correctly.

On 1/27/2019 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?
....

It needs to be where it will pull the material on through after passing
the cutterhead, yes, but not so low as to be a barrier.

I've never had one of the "lunchbox" small planers so I can't speak for
their precise adjustment processes, but every planer I've ever had or
used has detailed setup instructions that give precise measurements and
steps for adjustments.

They also have the outfeed rollers spring-loaded so to account for the
difference in thickness between taking off a thin shaving vis a vis a
full cut.

But, the unloaded position has to be high enough the infeed rollers have
enough "oomph" to get it under the outfeed roller so it can do its job;
if it's too low or the infeed doesn't have enough grip, then you can
have the issue.

I've been told these little guys don't have it, but it's also possible
with a "real" planer that the pressure bar is too low and the board will
hit or drag on it.

Another alternative on the cast iron machines I'm used to is that the
rear bed rollers may be too high but I understand these guys don't have
them, either???

What is the particular planer you have?

--

On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 12:28:18 AM UTC-5, dpb wrote:
On 1/27/2019 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?
...

It needs to be where it will pull the material on through after passing
the cutterhead, yes, but not so low as to be a barrier.

Just to be clear, it's only a barrier with the planer off. When the board is fed into the
planet with the power on, it does not stop at the back roller.


I've never had one of the "lunchbox" small planers so I can't speak for
their precise adjustment processes, but every planer I've ever had or
used has detailed setup instructions that give precise measurements and
steps for adjustments.

The only adjustment given is an adjustment to prevent tapered cuts by ensuring
that the roller assembly is parallel to the bed in a side-to-side manner.

I will check that, but I don't think that that is what I am curious about. My question
in more about front-to-back.


They also have the outfeed rollers spring-loaded so to account for the
difference in thickness between taking off a thin shaving vis a vis a
full cut.

But, the unloaded position has to be high enough the infeed rollers have
enough "oomph" to get it under the outfeed roller so it can do its job;
if it's too low or the infeed doesn't have enough grip, then you can
have the issue.

Again, with the power on, the infeed roller has no problem pushing the board
hard enough for the outfeed roller to grab it. It's only with the power off that I
notice the board stop when it reaches the outfeed roller.


I've been told these little guys don't have it, but it's also possible
with a "real" planer that the pressure bar is too low and the board will l
hit or drag on it.

Another alternative on the cast iron machines I'm used to is that the
rear bed rollers may be too high but I understand these guys don't have
them, either???

No pressure bar, no bed rollers.


What is the particular planer you have?


WEN Model 6550, 12.5 inch.

On 1/28/2019 7:01 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 12:28:18 AM UTC-5, dpb wrote:
On 1/27/2019 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?
...

It needs to be where it will pull the material on through after passing
the cutterhead, yes, but not so low as to be a barrier.

Just to be clear, it's only a barrier with the planer off. When the board is fed into the
planet with the power on, it does not stop at the back roller.
....

Again, with the power on, the infeed roller has no problem pushing the board
hard enough for the outfeed roller to grab it. It's only with the power off that I
notice the board stop when it reaches the outfeed roller.

....

Well, why would you do that???? Of COURSE it will hit the outfeed
roller; how else could it possibly have enough friction applied to do
any good when planing?

--

On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 8:07:21 AM UTC-5, dpb wrote:
On 1/28/2019 7:01 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 12:28:18 AM UTC-5, dpb wrote:
On 1/27/2019 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?
...

It needs to be where it will pull the material on through after passing
the cutterhead, yes, but not so low as to be a barrier.

Just to be clear, it's only a barrier with the planer off. When the board is fed into the
planet with the power on, it does not stop at the back roller.
...

Again, with the power on, the infeed roller has no problem pushing the board
hard enough for the outfeed roller to grab it. It's only with the power off that I
notice the board stop when it reaches the outfeed roller.

...

Well, why would you do that???? Of COURSE it will hit the outfeed
roller; how else could it possibly have enough friction applied to do
any good when planing?


See my response to Mike. I provided a some more detail as to what I am
doing and what happens.

On 1/27/19 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.


It is probably set up perfectly fine.

Most planer feed rollers are spring loaded and will have some vertical
give to them.
My guess is when you force the board under the front roller, it pushed
the roller up into the spring. When the board meets the back roller,
the difference in height is the amount of upward travel in the from
roller.

If you continued to force the board under the back roller, it would
likely raise up to the same height as the front.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
www.mikedrums.com

On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 9:58:14 AM UTC-5, -MIKE- wrote:
On 1/27/19 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.


It is probably set up perfectly fine.

Most planer feed rollers are spring loaded and will have some vertical
give to them.
My guess is when you force the board under the front roller, it pushed
the roller up into the spring.

Perhaps I'm not explaining my "test" very well. I am not forcing the board
under the front roller in the normal "infeed" sense.

I placed the board on the bed and slid it back and forth under the infeed
roller as I lowered the assembly. As soon as I felt the *slightest* amount
of resistance from the front roller, I stopped lowering the assembly. Like
zero resistance, then a 1/4" turn (1/64") and there's the tiniest bit of
drag. So little drag that all up and down motion is eliminated but I can
still push the board with my pinky.

Then when I push the board in farther, it come to a hard stop at the
outfeed roller.

When the board meets the back roller,
the difference in height is the amount of upward travel in the from
roller.

I don't think so. I think the difference in height is much more than
that.


If you continued to force the board under the back roller, it would
likely raise up to the same height as the front.

Sure, but should I have to *force* it? It no longer takes just a pinky to
the get the board under the outfeed. It takes a considerable amount of full
hand push, so much that if the wheels on the cart weren't locked, I could
push it across the shop.

The outfeed roller is definitely lower than the infeed roller and that is
what my question is. Should it be?

On 1/28/2019 4:25 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
....

The outfeed roller is definitely lower than the infeed roller and that is
what my question is. Should it be?

See my response above...how could it possibly function unless it is
lower and by enough to still have sufficient friction force applied to
pull the material on through the planer _EVEN AT THE THICKEST POSSIBLE
CUT_???

I don't know what the limit stop is on these baby planers, it's 1/8" on
my PM180 so the outfeed has to be roughly that much lower or you would
have to adjust it on the fly for every significant cut thickness.

Even the little old Rockwell/Delta Model 13 is 3/32" to the stop bar...

--

On 1/28/19 4:25 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 9:58:14 AM UTC-5, -MIKE- wrote:
On 1/27/19 8:24 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
With the planer off, I lowered the cutter assembly just low enough that the
infeed roller exerted just a little bit of drag on the board as I manually
pushed it in. I ensured that the board was not tilted upward as I pushed it
through.

When I continued to push it through, it stopped when it reached the outfeed
roller. I had to raise the assembly just under 1/32" to allow the board to
go under the outfeed roller.

Is the outfeed roller supposed to be lower than the infeed roller since the
assumption is that the board is thinner once the blades have removed some
wood?

I verified that the bed is coplaner with both the infeed and outfeed tables.
I then inserted my 6' planer sled and verified that it was flat and level.
The inserted board did the same thing: stopped when it hit the outfeed roller.


It is probably set up perfectly fine.

Most planer feed rollers are spring loaded and will have some vertical
give to them.
My guess is when you force the board under the front roller, it pushed
the roller up into the spring.

Perhaps I'm not explaining my "test" very well. I am not forcing the board
under the front roller in the normal "infeed" sense.

I placed the board on the bed and slid it back and forth under the infeed
roller as I lowered the assembly. As soon as I felt the *slightest* amount
of resistance from the front roller, I stopped lowering the assembly. Like
zero resistance, then a 1/4" turn (1/64") and there's the tiniest bit of
drag. So little drag that all up and down motion is eliminated but I can
still push the board with my pinky.

Then when I push the board in farther, it come to a hard stop at the
outfeed roller.

When the board meets the back roller,
the difference in height is the amount of upward travel in the from
roller.

I don't think so. I think the difference in height is much more than
that.


If you continued to force the board under the back roller, it would
likely raise up to the same height as the front.

Sure, but should I have to *force* it? It no longer takes just a pinky to
the get the board under the outfeed. It takes a considerable amount of full
hand push, so much that if the wheels on the cart weren't locked, I could
push it across the shop.

The outfeed roller is definitely lower than the infeed roller and that is
what my question is. Should it be?


Call the company.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
www.mikedrums.com

On 1/28/2019 4:25 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
....

The outfeed roller is definitely lower than the infeed roller and that is
what my question is. Should it be?

Went and looked and I'd actually forgotten on the Model 13 both are set
the same height, only the compression spring is adjustable.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/18135.pdf

shows how a planer is designed to work and has some very useful
description of usage that is applicable for any.

Now I don't know about these little guys...well, gargle,gargle...oh!
there actually is a manual! It says right there

"The planer is supplied with planing blades mounted in the cutterhead
and infeed and outfeed rollers adjusted to the correct height."

Ergo, while there's no cross-sectional drawing as in the other manual,
it appears like with the Model 13 the position of the rollers is fixed
and you may/may not have an adjustable pressure spring or it may be
these are fixed, too...

Inspection of the way the thing is constructed should answer the
question, but I'm guessing there is no adjustment provided to change the
position.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1078112/Wen-6550.html?page=16#manual

--

On 1/28/2019 7:30 PM, dpb wrote:
On 1/28/2019 4:25 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
...

The outfeed roller is definitely lower than the infeed roller and that is
what my question is. Should it be?

Went and looked and I'd actually forgotten on the Model 13 both are set
the same height, only the compression spring is adjustable.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/18135.pdf

shows how a planer is designed to work and has some very useful
description of usage that is applicable for any.

Now I don't know about these little guys...well, gargle,gargle...oh!
there actually is a manual!Â* It says right there

"The planer is supplied with planing blades mounted in the cutterhead
and infeed and outfeed rollers adjusted to the correct height."

....

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/655/1296.pdf

Now, here's a kni^h^h^hplaner!

It doesn't show the outfeed rollers; you're on your on to adjust as see
fit! I'm almost certain I remember they do have both compression spring
and height adjustment but I'll have go look to be certain; I've not had
to adjust it in years...one advantage of the mass--nothing flimsy to it...

--

On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 8:30:53 PM UTC-5, dpb wrote:
On 1/28/2019 4:25 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
...

The outfeed roller is definitely lower than the infeed roller and that is
what my question is. Should it be?

Went and looked and I'd actually forgotten on the Model 13 both are set
the same height, only the compression spring is adjustable.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/18135.pdf

shows how a planer is designed to work and has some very useful
description of usage that is applicable for any.

Now I don't know about these little guys...well, gargle,gargle...oh!
there actually is a manual! It says right there

"The planer is supplied with planing blades mounted in the cutterhead
and infeed and outfeed rollers adjusted to the correct height."

That's exactly what the manual for my planer says.

The thing is, they might as well have added the words "are supposed to be",
as in "infeed and outfeed rollers *are supposed to be* adjusted to the
correct height".

That is basically the whole point of my question. I know what the manual
says but I don't if the guy/gal who put mine together did it right. Since I
don't know squat about planers, I have no idea if the engineer's idea of
"the correct height" is what my planer is actually set at. What does
"correct height" mean - both rollers the same distance from the bed or the
outfeed lower then the infeed roller by 1/32"?

In other words, just because mine came out the box the way it did doesn't
mean that it's set up correctly.


Ergo, while there's no cross-sectional drawing as in the other manual,
it appears like with the Model 13 the position of the rollers is fixed
and you may/may not have an adjustable pressure spring or it may be
these are fixed, too...

There is no adjustment on mine, so either uneven is right or it's screwed
up. That's what I'm trying to determine.



Inspection of the way the thing is constructed should answer the
question, but I'm guessing there is no adjustment provided to change the
position.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1078112/Wen-6550.html?page=16#manual


I figured that anyone who had a planer similar to mine (e.g. lunchbox)
could try my simple test and let me know what theirs does.

The company I shall call.

On 1/28/2019 8:59 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
....

That is basically the whole point of my question. I know what the manual
says but I don't if the guy/gal who put mine together did it right. Since I
don't know squat about planers, I have no idea if the engineer's idea of
"the correct height" is what my planer is actually set at. What does
"correct height" mean - both rollers the same distance from the bed or the
outfeed lower then the infeed roller by 1/32"?

In other words, just because mine came out the box the way it did doesn't
mean that it's set up correctly.


Ergo, while there's no cross-sectional drawing as in the other manual,
it appears like with the Model 13 the position of the rollers is fixed
and you may/may not have an adjustable pressure spring or it may be
these are fixed, too...

There is no adjustment on mine, so either uneven is right or it's screwed
up. That's what I'm trying to determine.

....

Well, if works, doesn't it?

Seems to me like you're looking to make a problem that doesn't exist.

--

On 1/28/2019 8:59 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Monday, January 28, 2019 at 8:30:53 PM UTC-5, dpb wrote:
....

"The planer is supplied with planing blades mounted in the cutterhead
and infeed and outfeed rollers adjusted to the correct height."

That's exactly what the manual for my planer says.
....


In other words, just because mine came out the box the way it did doesn't
mean that it's set up correctly.
....

There is no adjustment on mine, so either uneven is right or it's screwed
up. That's what I'm trying to determine.
....

Is the thing constructed so you _could_ adjust them if you wanted to, or
are they in a solidly-mounted assembly? For these little guys, I'd not
be terribly surprised if the latter were the case...there's only one
place they _can_ be. Then again, they may be mounted in a
bearing/sleeve holder on a threaded rod so they can be moved but if so
would expect would be part of the maintenance/setup info.

I thought maybe the manual would have a picture of the actual machine.

I still think the real answer is "If it works, it's OK!" How it acts
dead is pretty-much totally immaterial; go make chips!

--