Thread: GMC Planer/Thicknesser

Hi Mick

What you have is normal, provided that its no more than say 3" on each end, and most users just add that extra into the calculations before thicknessing.

Though its a waste its far cheaper than buying DAR .

Apricot really tripped out and found a fix for the sniping so search 'snipe fix' and you should come across it.

IMO I would just put up with it and be happy with the new found freedoms of dressing your own.

good luck

dazzler

Mine doesn't snipe much unless the wood is thin. Mind you, I too simply thickness then trim.

Cam

Mike,
I have the Ryobi version of your GMC. Following advice from the forum I extended the infeed and outfeed supports by removing them and replacing with a single 10mm piece of Melamine cut to fit and supported onto the bench the thicknesser is fixed to.
As a result of this or maybe luck I am now getting no snipe. Time will tell.

bids

Complacency, that's what this is, why don't bloody manufacturuers address this problem. Ok, it's GMC, but buggered if I'ld pay $1200 for a Delta thicknesser only to have it snipe. The market is used to it and just bends over and accepts it!

Thanks to everyone who helped me. I am just disappointed that a new machine regardless of what brand will snipe. Is it because the infeed and outfeed are not accurate with the base. If I bought say a Hare abd Forbes would it still do the same thing?????? or from Carbatec??????:confused:

i think all machines do mate...i don't think the gmc has adjustments on the in/outfeed tables to compensate for snipe...i got one of those once and used it for 1 job and brought it back, there so bloody noisy and slow, got a 15in carbatec instead, beautiful machine , all 300kg of it, it has good adjustmeents on the heavy in/out feed tables so if set just right should be snipe free, i got it seecond hand too so it was just $850...if your only thicknessing the odd piece here and there then go the gmc or just buy the damm timber dressed, if you want to make a house full of furniture and then some , invest in a muscle machine, you won't regret it ...




la H

There are adjustments on most of these types of thicknessers.

In the case of mine both the in feed and out feed dropdown tables have two locking nuts underneath to set the base and roller heights. I have carefully eased up both the infeed and outfeed beds this way. I now get little or no snipe at all.

This is a trial and error thing and you will need to set aside some time to get it right because the adjustments are very minimal between too much and too little.

Have a go as see if it helps. I have found that most of these machines are not properly aligned from the factory.

Anyway have a go as theres nothing to lose be trying it.

When I get the camera back from SWMBO I will run some timber thru and post the results.

thanks dustmite that wold be great when u can do that cheers

Mick from Sunny QLD

Currently only ran this piece thru the thicknesser. It will make the side of one drawer fpr my daughters tallboy, which is finally nearing completion.

The piece in the photo was run through the thicknesser three times per side. As with any 15mmm board there is a bit of cupping. I gennerally put the piece throught with the cupped side down and the bowed side up.

I do two passes at that then flip it over and repeat the process.
The board is then flipped back over for one final pass on each side.

I end up with a nicely flat board and no snipe.
Each pass is about 1/2 a mm per pass.
The finished board is exactly 12mm.

Piccys 1 & 2 are of my thicknesser.
Piccy 3 is the board in question. You will note there is no snipe evident and I have left the board natural so that it is as I bought the timber.
Piccy 4 is the tallboy that the board will be used for.

The timber is Macrocarpa.

Cheers for that Dust Mite great pics and very greatful for all your efforts. I am now adjusting my thicknesser and hopefully soon I will have it down pat. Once again many thanks

Mick

Hi Fesmac,

Was watching "Tools, Tips and Techniques" on Fox the other night and they mentioned this exact problem. One solution was to make a jig, just a flat sheet of ply, the right width with a cleat on one end to help it stay in place.

Put this from the infeed right through to the outfeed and you have a nice smooth bed to place your timber on.

The example he used looked like the Ryobi version of the GMC so hopefully it will work with yours.

Regards

Originally Posted by skratbag

Hi Fesmac,

Was watching "Tools, Tips and Techniques" on Fox the other night and they mentioned this exact problem. One solution was to make a jig, just a flat sheet of ply, the right width with a cleat on one end to help it stay in place.

Put this from the infeed right through to the outfeed and you have a nice smooth bed to place your timber on.

The example he used looked like the Ryobi version of the GMC so hopefully it will work with yours.

Regards

Just checked out their website and found this

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hi_too...904098,00.html

Has the jig and instructions there.

Regards

Hiya Scratbag,

manythanks for your advice muchly appreciated, will have a look now

thanks once again and have a great day

Mick

It could be as simple as this

Controlling Planer Snipe