Thread: Is my thicknesser a dud or am I the problem?

First remedy to try is to wax the plates that the timber runs over (including infeed/outfeed). You may find that there is a build up of resins or whatever, so a good rub over with White Spirits or Turps first.

If that doesn't help then there is another problem, which would probably be the feeder rollers. but start with a quick and easy waxing.

I am seconding what FenceFurniture said about cleaning and waxing the table

could also be an idea to look at the infeed roller pressure

Rob

I had exactly the same problem with a brand new carbatec. The infeed rollers didn't pull.

They swapped the unit and it's now a champion.

What they said - from your video, it's almost as though it doesn't HAVE an infeed roller !!

Hi,
Maybe the key has fallen out (or never installed) of the sprocket on the input roller.
Regards

In my experience, when the machine gets super loud and stops feeding properly, it means the knives are dull. Full stop. I thought about a hundred different scenarios for why mine was messed up. Engine dying, power supply inadequate, rollers gummed up... none of that. It was the knives. I changed them and it was like night and day.

Whether that's the problem here is hard to say, but I think it would be worth thinking about/investigating.

Cheers,
Luke

Thanks very much for the replies.

I'll try waxing but I'm not sure if that's the problem as the amount of force required to get the timber through the machine almost results in the thing tipping over.

I was also thinking that the knives could be the issue but I didn't think dull knives would result in that much friction. They are the factory ones though... I'll flip them around and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by chode

Thanks very much for the replies.

I'll try waxing but I'm not sure if that's the problem as the amount of force required to get the timber through the machine almost results in the thing tipping over.

I was also thinking that the knives could be the issue but I didn't think dull knives would result in that much friction. They are the factory ones though... I'll order some new ones now.

You may just consider getting the current knives sharpened. There's a company that does it in Brisbane called Peacock Saws. They're down in Richlands, but they offer a pickup and dropoff service. It was super reasonable when I priced it for straight knives, but helical heads have a lot of individual cutters and they're carbide... They were really nice on the phone. Probably worth calling.

Don't take this the wrong way if it's kind of a "duh" statement, but you know you can rotate the cutters on most helical heads, right? Each cutter usually has four sides so you can essentially start over with new blades four times before you actually need to order replacements.

Hope that helps some,
Luke

Originally Posted by chode

I'll try waxing but I'm not sure if that's the problem as the amount of force required to get the timber through the machine almost results in the thing tipping over.

Yup, that's what happened to me.....'cept mine weighs 350kgs (it didn't tip, but it did get pushed sideways a bit). There's a fair old bit of force exerted by those rollers.

If you purchased the machine new 8 months ago then I doubt it's the cutters, but you never know. Make sure you only try one remedy at a time though, otherwise you won't know which one fixed it.

Regardless of the why things are happening. If the board stops feeding, or slows down, YOU MUST get your body weight behind it and push it through immediately. Otherwise the rubber outfeed roller grinds itself away and then it won't push the timber through at all. And possibly you have a rubber infeed roller also and it has been allowed to grind itself away which will be a major factor as to why it is struggling to feed.

I run a squiggle of candle wax on my thicknesser bed everytime I am about to do a wide cut. And only every now and then when I am just running standard widths like 70-100mm..

Don't underestimate the amount of resistance that a blunt helical head can put up. The resistance is an insane amount more than blunt straight knives.

This may be a basic, but you seem to be over one side of the opening. I wonder is the timber running along the side guide and creating drag. Have you tried positioning the timber in different positions in the opening?


Regards

Router

Originally Posted by chode

bench thicknesser

Found the problem :P

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Found the problem :P

Poor Chode, he isnt the problem. Its the tools

its always the tools fault

looking forwards to seeing it resolved, cleaning and waxing the tables will defiantly help, it'll be interesting to see if the blades are dull and if the timber being centered will help with this machine.

i have no issue with feeding left, then to right to work the whole blades to get a bit more life out them.