Thread: Setting up planer outfeed table on Hammer C3 31

Hi lachstar,

Look, I'm not entirely sure what your problem is so ignore my rambling if it doesn't pertain to your question. Are you new to the C3 31? I hope you are because then my reply may make more sense. And please excuse me if you know all this...

The infeed and outfeed tables when using the planer should be at different levels. The outfeed table should be slightly higher than the infeed table allowing the knives to remove the amount of stock equal to the difference in the two levels. Adjusting the table, adjusts the infeed table only. The top (cutting edge) of the knives should be at the same level as the outfeed table. Using non standard knives may have them sitting just below the level of that table so your timber will tend to hit the edge of the outfeed table after passing over the knife. This is, I think, why when you refitted the standard knives, the timber cleared the outfeed table (edge) again. The ripples could have been caused by the timber 'bouncing' on the higher knife.

I've never considered adjusting the outfeed table, but I feel sure there is a way however, I reckon you'd have to be pretty desperate to attempt that exercise.

Cheers
Brian

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your reply. No I am not that new to the machine; I have had it for a few years now. However, noramlly it just sings along and I have never really needed to make these sort of adjustments. It seems fairly clear to me now that although the infeed table was slightly out, the real issue was that the knives were slightly narrower. So you are correct in that this was the cause of the work piece not clearing the outfeed table.

BTW my understanding is that the knives should be slightly higher than the outfeed table (that is why the manual states that they should move a test piece of wood between 2 and 3mm as the knives are rotated by hand.

It may be that the only way to use the replacement knives is to move the grub screws in the holder to make the knives sit a little higher. I will have to think about it...

Peter

Originally Posted by lachstar

my understanding is that the knives should be slightly higher than the outfeed table (that is why the manual states that they should move a test piece of wood between 2 and 3mm as the knives are rotated by hand.

It may be that the only way to use the replacement knives is to move the grub screws in the holder to make the knives sit a little higher. I will have to think about it...

Hi Peter
setting the knives relative to the outfeed table is the way to go

adjusting the outfeed table to match the knives is a sure way to frustration

Originally Posted by lachstar

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your reply. No I am not that new to the machine; I have had it for a few years now. However, noramlly it just sings along and I have never really needed to make these sort of adjustments. It seems fairly clear to me now that although the infeed table was slightly out, the real issue was that the knives were slightly narrower. So you are correct in that this was the cause of the work piece not clearing the outfeed table.

BTW my understanding is that the knives should be slightly higher than the outfeed table (that is why the manual states that they should move a test piece of wood between 2 and 3mm as the knives are rotated by hand.

It may be that the only way to use the replacement knives is to move the grub screws in the holder to make the knives sit a little higher. I will have to think about it...

Peter

The beauty of the hammer machines is that you should never need to adjust the blades. The clearance is pre-set at the factory and the replacement blades should sit at the factory preset height. The table alignment similarly should not be an issue. If something has happened to upset the alignment then, and only then should it be adjusted. Hammer /Felder service is one of the best in the business and I would be tempted to get the experts to set it it all to factory spec.

Might be easier to get some original blades, the QC and reproducibility of the cut without having to fiddle with the settings is one of the selling points of the machine