R4330 planer...just wondering

[Salty]

The manual says that you should not plane a piece of stock thinner then 5/16".
So, why does it have a 1/8" setting on the repeat-a-cut?

Am I missing something here?

I'm pretty sure I understand the purpose of the Repeat-A-cut feature but it is poorly named. Also, you wouldn't really want to perform the operation according to the instructions. It leaves out an important detail. When you lower the cutterhead until it stops, the wood must be in the planer.

Salty

[catta12]

The manual says that you should not plane a piece of stock thinner then 5/16".
So, why does it have a 1/8" setting on the repeat-a-cut?

Am I missing something here?

Salty

Ignore the Repeat-a-cut feature. It looks good, but inaccurate in my experience. Go order this: ($10 digital caliper with free shipping) You will be surprised at how handy it is to have around anyway.

If you really want to plane thinner, you can put another board under your stock for support.

[Mr__Bill]

Ignore the Repeat-a-cut feature. It looks good, but inaccurate in my experience. Go order this: ($10 digital caliper with free shipping) You will be surprised at how handy it is to have around anyway.

If you really want to plane thinner, you can put another board under your stock for support.

Now I'm missing something. How does one use a caliper to set a thickness plainer? Is there a way other than trial and error and keep measuring the piece?


Bill
If it weren't for confusion people would think I'm stupid.

[Salty]

Oh, I have a digital caliper and use it all the time. I can get close with the guage on the side but then I measure it after each pass once I get close.
It just seemed odd to me is all. They don't want you to lower the cutterhead beyond 5/16" from the table but they provide a depth setting to 1/8".
Weird.

[catta12]

How does one use a caliper to set a thickness plainer?

The caliper tells you what the depth really is instead of the built in Repeat-a-cut feature. The measurements on the machine get you hand-grenade close, but when I want 3/4", I want 0.750

[rcp612]

Ignore the Repeat-a-cut feature. It looks good, but inaccurate in my experience.

I have to disagree. The Repeat-A Cut works great, at least for me.
I recently needed about 65 lineal feet of 1" stock which after setting up and planing 9 boards I then checked with my calipers. They were perfect, and true end to end, and side to side.
I think it's a great tool.