Thread: 2 questions regarding router planing

I have a Safe-T-Planer and there is absolutely NO WAY I would ever use it in a router.
In a drill press it is a great tool.
If you made a suitable sled you could straighten and dress all your boards pretty easily on a drill press.
The cutters are HSS so you would need to sharpen them a bit with Tuart but the sharpening kit is included with the tool.

If you fitted it to the end of a 2850 RPM motor and used it router like on a sled you would effectively be able to level ANY slab.

it would make much more sense rather than using a router to use an electric planer, if you really wanted you could build this into a structure and make it work like a jointer planer.


I would not use the drill press accessory on the router, it is far too big and unstable and it will be spinning at least 3 - 5x faster than what it was designed to do.


A recipe for disaster IMHO.

routermaniac

No worries fellas! I shall now throw that thought out the gate and not be doin so... I was just wondering and when one wonders one should ask the question eh? so when I saw the thing I thought "Wow why not?" So I asked and youve given me the answer right quick smart... beauty!... So thats that one out the whooziewhatzit!

Wait for my next question! :eek:

Thanks!

As the 'maniac' mentioned, a good method could be using a handheld power planer.

If you could somehow design a sled that suspends the planer over the work, then move the sled to plane timber flat relative to the top of your bench or whatever.

This works a treat with a router for planing timber, but would be even quicker with the planer.


Cheers.........Sean the cogitator :eek:

Routermaniac and Sean

Are you cogitating or have you actually attempted this? Do you have all your teeth? Eyes? Had a serious injury lately? :eek:

It strikes me as a most dangerous idea. A planer suspended over timber is just asking for kickback. How do you hold the planer bed flat against the timber?

Sorry if I sound very critical, but this appears a most unwise idea. I will bow to you and apologise if I am wrong.

Stick to the router in a sled for planing.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi Shane,

I made a small jig for router planning a few years ago.
See if this link works.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...&highlight=jig

Glen.

Gday Derek, done half arksed I guess there could be a potential for kickback, but that potential also exists in trying to take too big a bite of poorly secured timber under a router sled, or even careless technique when using the power planer by hand.

Securing the timber down for machining would be a given, as would taking a reasonable depth of cut. I don't necessarily agree that having the planer baseplate flat against the timber or not would be the key determinant of any kickback.

My main reason for not trying this yet (aside from the fact that the router jig works well and the planer idea is just food for thought) is that I haven't thought up a suitable design that would suspend the planer securely, safely, and accurately above the workpiece, while allowing easy height adjustment.

Fair to say there is potential for harm in many of the power tools we own so an appropriate level of care needs to be taken when using them either as the manufaturer intended, or otherwise.

Appreciate your concern.............cheers.............Sean

Derek not at all advocating suspending a hand held planer to use as as a thicknesser, I should explain myself... .

What I did some time ago (before I had a router) i fixed the planer upside down and build it into a table with a fence. I had an adjustable jig that would act as a guide and could be adjusted to each workpice (think triton planer attachment but instead of mounting the planer on its side, you mount it on the back).

I have to say that it worked very well and there was NO kickback provided the wood was fed at a reasonabe rate. Having a few routers at my dispoal I do not use this anymore, I have a few offset fences (fully adjustable) for planing.


routermaniac

Routermaniac

All I can say is "Good Grief"! (or words to that effect).

I'm in awe (or shock :eek: )

Regards from Perth

Derek