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13.5 Planer Tables
The surface tables are formed from cast iron, and may become warped or bent as a result of
neglected maintenance and excessive wear. The dust and vibration from surfacing miles of hard
maple say, or pitch pine, will loosen adjustments and make slideways sticky. A sloppy fit
hammers adjoining precision surfaces, and poorly lubricated slideways wear quickly. Never place
anything on these tables which doesn’t belong there. An excessive weight laid to rest on a table
could, over time, cause the table to sag, necessitating a re-grind. Also take great care when
handling the machine (refer to Handling Instructions). Any attempt to lift or drag the machine by
its top tables could result in them coming out of true.
If at any time you suspect that your top tables are out of true, first check them for flatness
using a long straightedge. Raise the infeed table until it is level with the outfeed table. Check
the individual tables first, longitudinally for parallelism and then diagonally for flatness. Measure
any space under the straight edge with an engineer’s feeler gauge - any gap should be less than
0.010 in. Next, check both tables as a unit. Check next to the fence and on the opposite side,
and then check the diagonals for twist. Ideally the tables should be less than 0.010 in. out of
parallel end to end.
Should you find that adjustment is necessary, begin by removing the infeed table (sometimes
dirt between the slideways can build up and cause alignment problems). Clean all surfaces and
lubricate with a light lithium grease. Reassemble using a 19mm AF Spanner to tighten the gib
screws. If they are not tightened correctly the table will sag at the end. If they are over
tightened the table will not rise and fall. The rise and fall action should only require moderate
action.
If this method fails to align the tables, adjust the levelling of the fixed outfeed table until it is
aligned with the infeed table at its highest point.
13.6 The Fence
The squareness of the fence relative to the infeed table is adjusted via a back stop. First tighten
the fence lateral lock, untighten the fence cant lock, and push the fence into the vertical. Use
an engineer’s square to check the angle between the fence and the infeed table. If necessary
release the 8mm lock nut at the back of the fence using a 13mm spanner, and adjust the stop
using the 4mm allen key supplied.
