Pro Planer Advice, Please

Mike907 · Post by **Mike907** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:37 pm

Today I purchased a 1998 Pro Planer that came with extra knives, the knife setting gauge, and a cover, but no manual. I've never used a planer before, so are there any DON'Ts (like turning the SS speed control without the motor running, etc.) that I should know about before I can get a manual? Any help, ideas, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:48 pm

Mike907 wrote:Today I purchased a 1998 Pro Planer that came with extra knives, the knife setting gauge, and a cover, but no manual. I've never used a planer before, so are there any DON'Ts (like turning the SS speed control without the motor running, etc.) that I should know about before I can get a manual? Any help, ideas, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

Here are the warnings specific to the planer from my manual.

[ATTACH]21842[/ATTACH]

Mike907 · Post by **Mike907** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:14 pm

Thanks, Rob

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:43 pm

Add to that, do not ship without adequate packaging support(especially the lead screws).

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 4:29 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Add to that, do not ship without adequate packaging support(especially the lead screws).

Very true. I brought the remaining parts from a few thickness planers that was shipped without good protection and in a cardboard box. Each one had damage to the jack shafts, feed rollers and housing. It looked like a truck drove over each of the cardboard packages. For the one planer I shipped, I used a 3/4" plywood platform bolted to the bottom of the planer and built a plywood box around the planer using 2x4 on the edges. It was less than 70 pds when done. I put the table at the bottom and packed the control box and feed motor inside the planer. I have many jack shafts available as I brought all that was available on Ebay for many years. I have rebuilt a few planers so would be happy to answer any questions. I recently found one in my storage shed that needs rebuilding as I never wanted to ship another one.

Mike907 · Post by **Mike907** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:35 pm

Well, maybe I should have asked sooner. I had to lay it over on its side supported by the table edge and the stand legs to fit it in my car to drive it home. Hopefully, I didn't damage it. I haven't had much time to play with it, but other than a few scratches on the stand legs and some sawdust, it looks almost new. The table cranks up and down smoothly and quietly, as opposed to the one Nick uses here:
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Archives/SS105/SS105_Planing_Procedures.htm

Mike

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:49 pm

Mike907 wrote:Well, maybe I should have asked sooner. I had to lay it over on its side supported by the table edge and the stand legs to fit it in my car to drive it home. Hopefully, I didn't damage it. I haven't had much time to play with it, but other than a few scratches on the stand legs and some sawdust, it looks almost new. The table cranks up and down smoothly and quietly, as opposed to the one Nick uses here:
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Archives/SS105/SS105_Planing_Procedures.htm

Mike

Believe it or not, the table is the recommended hand hold!

If yours was mounted to a stand, the jack posts could not be damaged.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:54 pm

Mike907 wrote:Well, maybe I should have asked sooner. I had to lay it over on its side supported by the table edge and the stand legs to fit it in my car to drive it home. Hopefully, I didn't damage it. I haven't had much time to play with it, but other than a few scratches on the stand legs and some sawdust, it looks almost new. The table cranks up and down smoothly and quietly, as opposed to the one Nick uses here:
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Archives/SS105/SS105_Planing_Procedures.htm

Mike

I had the same concern when transporting mine, but the PO assured me that was no problem. Based both on experience and on subsequent understanding of the planer construction, he was right. Bullet-proof packaging is needed only to protect against shipping-company abuse.

Enjoy your planer! My own scrap pile has dwindled to almost nothing, now that I can resize lumber to whatever I may need.

dlbristol · Post by **dlbristol** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:16 pm

I can't add much to this, except that after replacing a roller set and re setting the chain and jack screws, I was very surprised at how much easier it was than I expected. I was totally intimidated by the planer and while is was not easy to do, it was nowhere near as bad as I had feared. I use mine a lot, and there are some things I still don't fully understand about the one I have. Mine arrived in a box that suggested it had been drug from the east coast to Colorado! I was fortunate not to have had any major damage. It will stand being on its side, it is sharp bangs on the table that seemed to have bent one jack shaft. I would not stand it on the ends of the table. With advise from Bill Mayo and others I decided to leave my minor bend alone and I cannot find any problems with the results. It is a good tool, I would replace mine with another SS id this one ever got beyond fixing. Enjoy.

Mike907 · Post by **Mike907** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:54 am

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

I'm going to try to give the planer a good going over, and then learn how to use it. I already know that the blades are nicked, so that will be a good opportunity to try out the planer blade jig for my Tormek, as I don't own the SS planer blade jig. The PO said that new blades aren't that sharp, but I haven't inspected the extra set that came with the planer to see if that is correct. Anyone else have to resharpen new blades?

Mike