Wen 6550 Instruction Manual page 11

OPERATION
FEEDING WORK
The planer is supplied with planing blades mounted in the cutterhead and infeed and outfeed rollers adjusted to
the correct height. Planer feed is automatic; it will vary slightly depending on type of wood.
• Feed rate refers to the rate at which the lumber travels through the planer.
• Align the work perpendicular to the rollercase so that the work feeds through the planer straight.
• Raise/lower rollercase to produce the depth of cut desired.
• Stand on the side of the planer with the handle.
• Boards longer than 24" should have additional support from free standing material stands.
• Position the workpiece with the face to be planed on top.
• Turn the planer on.
• Rest the board end on the table and direct the board into the planer.
• Gently slide workpieces into the infeed side of the planer until the infeed roller advances the workpiece.
• Let go of the workpiece and allow automatic feed to advance the workpiece.
• Do not push/pull on workpiece. Move to the rear and receive planed lumber by grasping it in same manner as
it was fed.
CAUTION: To avoid risk of injury due to kickbacks, do not stand directly in line with the front or rear of planer.
• Do not grasp any portion of board which has not gone past the out-feed roller.
• Repeat this operation on all boards which need to be same thickness.
• Planer has return roller on top so assistant can pass work back to operator.
NOTE: Assistant must follow same precautions as operator.
• Surface that the planer will produce will be smoother if shallower depth of cut is used.
AVOIDING SNIPE
• Snipe refers to a depression at either end of board caused by an uneven force on cutterhead when work is en-
tering or leaving planer.
• Snipe will occur when boards are not supported properly or when only one feed roller is in contact with work at
beginning or end of cut.
• To avoid snipe, gently push the board up while feeding the work until the outfeed roller starts advancing it.
• Move to the rear and receive planed board by gently pushing it up when the infeed roller loses contact with the
board.
• When planing more than one board of the same thickness, butt boards together to avoid snipe.
• Snipe is more apparent when deeper cuts are taken. Lower depth helps to avoid snipe.
• Feed the work in the direction of the grain. Work fed against the grain will have chipped, splintered edges.
11