Joiner Problems

[Navycraig]

I recently purchased the Delta Jointer talked about in the "Bargin Alerts" forums and have just completed the set up process. I followed the steps exactly, letter by letter and once done ran my first piece of material through the joiner. I ran a 1X4 piece of poplar and only took about 1/16 cut on it, but at the very end of the cut...about 1/2 inch from the end of the board, it has a small area where it seems to take a larger bite. I'm not sure it this is what's called snipe or not. I always thought snipe was a choppy, tattered cut along the entire edge of the board, but this is not that...it's just one small area cut deeper. The rest of the cut is perfect, but this one area cuts deeper. It's still smooth, but cut deeper than the rest.

Ideas?

Craig

[LCHIEN]

its a jointer not a joiner and yes thats snipe. A little gouge about 4-5 mils deep about 1-2" from the end, full width, usually on a thickness planer. Should not happen on a jointer unless its not "tuned" or setup properly.

When it happens on a jointer I think its usually its because the outfeed bed is not matched to the height of the blades properly.

[Alex Franke]

Yes, that's snipe you're describing, and it sounds like your outfeed table is a little too low -- or maybe you're pressing down on the material at the end when it goes over the blade. The outfeed table was really difficult to adjust on mine. And be sure you turn the belt to make sure all of the knives are aligned as well -- if you made the outfeed table level with just one knife, it could be that another knife is set too high. . .

(Now that I've had the same jointer for a whole week, I consider myself an expert ;P)

[sweensdv]

Also, when jointing, you should be applying downward pressure to the outfeed side of the board and not the infeed side.

[Navycraig]

Thanks for the correction.

its a jointer not a joiner and yes thats snipe. A little gouge about 4-5 mils deep about 1-2" from the end, full width, usually on a thickness planer. Should not happen on a jointer unless its not "tuned" or setup properly.

When it happens on a jointer I think its usually its because the outfeed bed is not matched to the height of the blades properly.

[Navycraig]

Okay, thanks. I followed the directions very carefully, but it seems that I need to go back and try again.
I took great pains in adjusting the height of the knives (all 3) as described by the instructions...adjusting them so that the just barely touch the piece of straight edge wood that was placed on outfeed table.
I'll give it another go today and see what happens.

Yes, that's snipe you're describing, and it sounds like your outfeed table is a little too low -- or maybe you're pressing down on the material at the end when it goes over the blade. The outfeed table was really difficult to adjust on mine. And be sure you turn the belt to make sure all of the knives are aligned as well -- if you made the outfeed table level with just one knife, it could be that another knife is set too high. . .

(Now that I've had the same jointer for a whole week, I consider myself an expert ;P)

[Navycraig]

Yep, I was very careful about that as well.

Also, when jointing, you should be applying downward pressure to the outfeed side of the board and not the infeed side.

[Duff]

I had that 'snipe' issue w/my jointer so I got a bunch of scrap and just kept making extremely minor raises to the outfeed until it went away.

Good luck

Navy Ward (EMC USN AD)