Mine makes no snipe on mid length boards. For long boards especially thick stock the overhanging weight kicks the board up into the cutter head when the end passes the inbound roller. I guess it compresses or flexes the outbound roller. Similar happens on the start of a pass. This starts to be a problem with 6/4 stock over 3 ft long, or 3/8" stock over 6 ft long. Just depends on the cantilever moment. I could set up extended support but my shop is small and doesn't need any more stuff. It's easy enough to lift by hand to carry the weight. A little practice and no more problems. Quicker than setting up temporary support too.
One would think that as long as you approach your head setting by lowering the head to where you want, the nuts would all four be pushing the head down and there would be no backla effect. And indeed, this is mostly true. But it's not absolutely true, unless all four posts are perfectly aligned for head lowering, and there is wear or backlash in the sprocket and roller chain that synchronizes the four posts.
Not a surprise, really. It's not like there are precision ball screws and scales in there on that kind of machine.
I think your planer is probably adjusted just fine. The problem with the board you showed is that it was too short. You should never run a piece through a planer that is shorter than the distance between the feed rollers. A piece being planed must be in full contact of at least one roller at all times, otherwise it is no longer being held down and it will get chewed up by the knives. You can seriously damage your cutter head by doing this.
The owners manual has a minimum safe length to be planed of 12"
minimum.JPG
Last edited by Lee Schierer; 12-14-2019 at 11:36 AM.
Lee Schierer
USNA '71
Go Navy!
My advice, comments and suggestions are free, but it costs money to run the site. If you found something of value here please give a little something back by becoming a contributor! Please Contribute