why does my jointer snipe

Snipe on a jointer is caused by the outfeed table being set too low or too high relative to the cutter head. Snipe on both ends does not sound like a jointer to me. Snipe on a planer

is caused by a multitude of scenarios dictated by which machine you have.

Full Answer

Where does snipe occur on a jointer?

Snipe nearly always occurs on the jointer at the trailing end of the board. Also, the snipe is confined to an inch or two at the end of the board. Most often this is caused by the outfeed table being lower than the knives when they are at the top of their arc.

Why does my jointer have a divot in it?

The divot is the result of something called jointer snipe. Jointer snipe occurs when the outfeed table is positioned below the jointer knives. In most jointers the height of the outfeed table is adjustable, and that makes the fix to jointer snipe a relatively easy one. Ensure that the knives are set properly.

How do you fix a sniping jointer?

In most jointers the height of the outfeed table is adjustable, and that makes the fix to jointer snipe a relatively easy one. Ensure that the knives are set properly. Check carefully with a good straight edge, and be sure that the knives are set in parallel with the table.

Why is my jointer cutting tapered edges?

When jointing the edge of a board, a common problem is ending up with a tapered cut. In some cases, this can be caused by infeed and outfeed tables that aren’t parallel. But a more common (and easier to fix) cause is an outfeed table that is just a bit higher than the jointer knives.

How do I stop sniper on jointer?

0:513:58How to set jointer knives the correct way(no snipe) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThrough a straight edge you do not want it pulling your straightedge backwards at all you want toMoreThrough a straight edge you do not want it pulling your straightedge backwards at all you want to completely flush with your outfeed table and you'll get absolutely no snipe. That's.

Why is my jointer making concave cuts?

If they're too high or too low, you can't make a straight cut. Too high, and the jointer will make a slightly concave cut; too low and the cut will be convex. Whenever you move the fence, check its angle to the tables with a square or protractor.

How do you adjust planer to eliminate sniping?

5:376:36How To Adjust Your Planer To Eliminate Sniping - WOOD magazineYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo by raising the outside edge of the table slightly you counteract that sag on the leading end andMoreSo by raising the outside edge of the table slightly you counteract that sag on the leading end and you reduce the snipe.

What causes snipe?

Snipe occurs when the board lifts slightly, due to the fact that it is only being held down by this single roller. The end result is a board that is just a hair thinner at the leading and trailing 3-4 inches.

Should jointer tables be parallel?

To work correctly, the tables must also be parallel to one another. To check for flatness, use a straightedge and a set of feeler gauges. Place the straightedge lengthwise along each edge and down the middle of both tables. If there is a gap of more than 0.005 in.

Why is my jointer not cutting flat?

In some cases, this can be caused by infeed and outfeed tables that aren't parallel. But a more common (and easier to fix) cause is an outfeed table that is just a bit higher than the jointer knives. As the board travels over the cutterhead, the outfeed table acts like a ramp, lifting the workpiece ever so slightly.

How do I get rid of snipe?

6 Ways to Reduce SnipeCut the Snipe Off the Ends.Adjust the Infeed/Outfeed Tables Up.Use a Sacrificial Board Before and After.Use Sacrificial Side Runners for Glue Ups.Run the Boards Through on an Angle.Lift the Board In and Out of the Planer.

Can you sand out snipe?

Standard procedure is to just waste the sniped area by cutting it off. You might be able to sand it, but the thickness of a playing card will take forever with a palm sander. A belt sander would be faster.

Does a planer sled help with snipe?

0:445:14How to Stop Planer Snipe on YOUR Planer - Easy Tips, Tricks, and Jigs ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it really helps reduce that snipe. But even so when you get longer heavier boards the weight ofMoreSo it really helps reduce that snipe. But even so when you get longer heavier boards the weight of them makes them want to rock. And it can cause a lot of snipe.

How can snipe be prevented?

Roll away the snipe Stationary planers have table rollers whose main function is to reduce workpiece drag on the table. Raising these rollers on some models about . 002" above the table helps prevent snipe. If this increases snipe on your planer, drop the rollers level with the table surface.

What does snipe mean in woodworking?

Snipe, in woodworking, is a noticeably deeper cut on the leading and/or trailing end of a board after having passed through a thickness planer or jointer.

How do you stop snipe on a ridgid planer?

6:388:546 Ways to Reduce Planer Snipe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWorks. This is the board that just came through with lifting on the edges. Let's see how that wore.MoreWorks. This is the board that just came through with lifting on the edges. Let's see how that wore. This is the front edge. There's a little indentation.

Why is my jointer creating a bow?

Sounds like the tables may not be coplanar. Adjust the infeed to zero and check the tables with a long straight edge. If the tables are not in plane then you need to adjust the outfeed table by loosening the gib screws and inserting shims. I used cuttings from a soda can to shim my jointer tables.

How do you tune up a jointer?

5:507:03Tune Up Your Jointer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf it's not loosen the screws lock nut and back the screw off a little. After squaring the fence toMoreIf it's not loosen the screws lock nut and back the screw off a little. After squaring the fence to the table reset the stop screw and retighten its lock nut. To confirm your fence stop setting.

Can you cut a bevel on a jointer?

Jointers can be used to bevel and taper stock, and some models will also cut rabbets and tenons. In shops with limited space, a quality jointer can do the job of the surface planer, too.

How do you use a jointer?

8:1311:27How to use a Jointer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow that you have a flat reference on the bottom of the board pass. The board over the join as youMoreNow that you have a flat reference on the bottom of the board pass. The board over the join as you normally would keeping slight pressure over the plate. Now. It's time to joint the edge of the board.

Why does my jointer snip on both ends?

Snipe on a jointer is caused by the outfeed table being set too low or too high relative to the cutter head. Snipe on both ends does not sound like a jointer to me.

Why does my planer snipe?

Snipe on a planer is caused by a multitude of scenarios dictated by which machine you have. It can be the bed rollers are set too high, chip breakers or pressure bar not set properly, etc. Some cheap machines simply do not have the frame rigidity and will snipe. Tell us what machine you have, make, and if it is a jointer or planer.

How to tighten outfeed on a test board?

When you run your test board, watch where it runs over the outfeed table. If it doesn't go from the infeed to outfeed on a level plane, look at the first 1-2 inches, then adjust the outfeed to solve.

How to keep your jointer sharp?

1) Use a good dial indicator. 2) Keep your knives sharp. Many small errors in setup can be overcome, but a jointer simply will not perform properly on hardwoods without sharp knives. I have also found that really high quality knives stay sharp longer and thus require fewer setups; well worth the extra cash.

How to correct a gap in a jointed edge?

Hold the two jointed edges together. If there is a gap at the center, you can correct it by raising the outfeed table ever so slightly (sneak up on it). If the two jointed edges are convex and roll on one another, you need to lower the outfeed table ever so slightly.

What does it mean to set a knife slightly higher than the outfeed?

Setting the knives slightly higher than the outfeed is correct. Slightly higher means .001 to .0015. Measure with your trusty dial indicator with a 3/8 or larger button tip.

How long does it take to swap out 8" knives?

It is a major pain to learn, but eventually you will get it. After 19 years, I can swap out a set of 8" knives in about 30 minutes.

What is divot in a jointer?from wwgoa.com

The divot is the result of something called jointer snipe. Jointer snipe occurs when the outfeed table is positioned below the jointer knives. In most jointers the height of the outfeed table is adjustable, and that makes the fix to jointer snipe a relatively easy one. Ensure that the knives are set properly.

What happens if you leave a divot on the edge of a joint?from wwgoa.com

If your jointer is leaving a divot on the trailing edge of your work piece, it will not only drive you crazy, but it will produce unsightly blemishes on your projects. As you face joint your pieces, that divot will invariably end up in a visible place on your table top or other prominent location. When the divot occurs on an edge it will result in ...

Why is my board a bit higher than the jointer knife?

As the board travels over the cutterhead, the outfeed table acts like a ramp, lifting the workpiece ever so slightly. After making several passes, the board will start to show a pronounced taper.

What is the function of a jointer?

One of the primary functions of a jointer is to create a straight edge that is square with the face of the board. A jointer that can’t do this isn’t of much value. Most out of square problems can be traced to fence alignment issues. The first step in fixing this problem is to do a simple check of your fence.

What to look for when jointer knives are sharp?

Dull jointer knives can often be the cause of this. But if your knives are sharp, there are a couple of other things to look for. FEED RATE. Each knife takes a small, circular “bite” out of the wood. Ordinarily, these bites overlap so that you can’t tell where one ends and the next one begins.

What is a jointer tool?

The jointer is a deceptively simple tool. All there is to using one is to turn it on and run your workpiece over the top. If everything is adjusted properly, you end up with a flat, straight edge (or face).

Why are my tables not coplaner?

If the tables aren’t coplaner, you’ll notice gaps between the straightedge and the surface of the table. Sometimes this misalignment can be caused by something as simple as sawdust and debris that has built up on the dovetailed ways that the tables slide on. You can clean the ways by lowering the tables and brushing out the debris with a nylon or brass bristle brush.

How to tell if a knife is a culprit?

You can determine which knife is the culprit by using a straightedge and a set of feeler gauges. Then it’s simply a matter of loosening the knife gib bolts and adjusting the height of the knife, just as you see in the photo shown at left.

How to eliminate ridges in knife blades?

OFFSET KNIVES. In this case, you can often eliminate the ridges by slightly shifting one of the knives in the cutterhead. This offsets the nicks in the blades just enough so that they’re no longer lined up, eliminating the ridge.

Why is my snipe confined to an inch or two?

Most often this is caused by the outfeed table being lower than the knives when they are at the top of their arc. As the end of the board leaves the infeed table it drops onto the outfeed table, making a deeper cut in that last portion of the board.

How does a jointer work?

Jointers work on "cuts-per-inch" or how many times a single knife makes a cut as the board moves one inch across the center of the cutterhead. This is a major reason three knife heads are favored over two knife versions. Without changing anything else, the three-knife head increases the cuts per inch by a third.

Why does my outfeed table taper?

The outfeed table being higher than the knives can cause tapering. Often by the second or third cut the end of the board will begin catching on the edge of the outfeed table which is a good indication that this is the case. Also, the taper will cover more and more of the board as additional cuts are taken.

What happens when a wood jointer produces a concave shape?

When a jointer produces a concave shape in the surface being jointed make sure that you are not pushing down too hard and flattening the wood out during the cut. When the pressure is released the wood comes back up. Repeat this error and the concave shape can get worse.

How to check knife height?

Checking for the knife height is pretty straightforward. We want all of the knives flush with the outfeed table surface at the top of their arc. The knives also must be parallel to the table surface across their full width. The amount that a knife must be above the others to produce ripples is tiny, in the thousandths of an inch range. Consequently, taking your time to set the knives right the first time can save a bunch of time and frustration, not to mention avoiding resetting of the knives later.

Why do knives have ripples?

Ripples, or waves in the jointed surface can be caused by one knife being slightly higher ( roughly by the depth of the ripple ) than the rest. The other cause is using too fast of a feed rate. Rarely a combination of both of these can arise but that is very infrequent.

What causes ripples in joints?

Though hard to see in a photo, the ripples (arrows) will show up in a finished joint. In most cases one high knife or an overly fast feed rate is the culprit. Start with the feed rate!

What Causes Snipe?

In order to understand what causes snipe, you first have to briefly understand how planers work.

How to stop sniping?

One way to reduce sniping is to use sacrificial boards before and after you put your workpieces through. The concept here is that the first and trailing boards help even out the pressure from the rollers, leaving your workpiece smooth and with even cuts.

How to prevent snipe on a planer?

In that case, one of the simplest ways to prevent snipe is to lift up the backend of a board as it makes contact with the cutter head. This helps to make sure the front end of the board is in contact with the table of the planer and makes even contact with the cutter. You’ll want to do the same thing as it exits the planer too.

What is a snip in woodworking?

The word snipe in woodworking refers to a deep cut in lumber that occurs at the leading and/or trailing end of the board. This occurs as it passes through a planer or jointer.

How to keep a wood planer from snipping?

Check the rest of the planer equipment for sappy residue, lubricant buildup, dust, and wood chips. Apply some finishing paste wax to the table of the planer to help the wood pass smoothly under the cutter. That can also help reduce snipe.

Why is my planer board thinner than the rest?

That causes the workpiece to lift slightly into the cutting blade making the first 3-4 inches of the board to be thinner than the rest.

How to eliminate snipe?

Eliminating snipe is pretty easy. Simply cut the ends off the boards where the snipe is located. The issue with this process is twofold. Not only is it expensive, because you have to purchase longer boards, but it’s also inefficient. For each board you run through the planer, you’ll need to make one to two more cuts.