OPERATIONS
-22-
Operation Requirements
•
Never allow hands or push blocks to come
within 4" of the cutterhead while it is mov-
ing.
•
Carefully inspect any lumber that you plan
to run through the jointer. Some defects
such as moderate twisting, loose knots or
severe cracks may make the stock unusable.
•
Only use clean stock. See
Figure 33
.
Remove all dirt, nails, staples, imbedded
gravel, etc. from any lumber you plan on
using. A hidden nail in a workpiece will
instantly damage the sharp edges of the
knives. This will cause unsatisfactory results
in future operations.
•
Use ONLY natural wood fiber. Never use
wood composites such as particle board,
plywood or MDF. Also, never use laminates,
formica or other synthetic materials.
•
Always cut WITH the grain. Cutting against
the pattern of the growth rings will chip the
wood instead of cutting it. This will make
the workpiece look rough and irregular and
may increase the chances of a kickback.
To determine if you are going to be cutting
with the grain, look at the pattern on the
side of the board. If the arc of the cutter-
head knife will follow the same lines in the
grain pattern, then you will be cutting WITH
the grain. If the arc of the cutterhead knife
will cross the lines in the grain pattern,
then you will be cutting AGAINST the grain.
Refer to
Figure 34
for clarification.
•
Avoid using wood with a high moisture con-
tent. Stock with more than 20% moisture, or
stock that has been exposed to rain or snow,
will cut poorly and cause unnecessary wear
on the knives and motor. Excess moisture
may also cause rust or corrosion problems.
•
Never take cuts deeper than
1
⁄
8
" and plan on
taking multiple cuts before you can achieve
a completely flat surface.
Figure 33.
Only plane clean stock.
Figure 34.
Correct and incorrect grain
alignment to cutterhead.
•
Sharpen knives immediately if they show
any signs of dulling during operation. We
recommend keeping a spare set of knives at
all times.
•
Keep your work area clear. Always make
sure that long workpieces are supported and
have enough room to exit the jointer.
