Fox planer thicknesser

[Lea rodgers]

Hi i bought a fox planer thickness set it all up as i started the machine it makes a loud sort of squealing noise it tried putting a 2.4 meter length of 6x1 saw timber through the bottom section for planing but the finish is not smooth i sent it through a few times adjusted slightly but still same result as if the blades aren’t shape enough and this is a brand new machine has any got any ideas

 

[Deadeye]

Hi i bought a fox planer thickness set it all up as i started the machine it makes a loud sort of squealing noise it tried putting a 2.4 meter length of 6x1 saw timber through the bottom section for planing but the finish is not smooth i sent it through a few times adjusted slightly but still same result as if the blades aren’t shape enough and this is a brand new machine has any got any ideas

Hi Lea

You may get more input with the same post in the "General Woodworking" forum - you've posted in "New members", which is really just folk saying hello.

Squealing on startup doesn't sound right - usually the bely slipping because it's incorrectly tensioned.
The finish is terrible, even for soft pine. Is the timber properly dry? If it's not, tear out happens much easier.

Are the blades both/all adjusted to be exactly the correct height?

My guess is the moisture content of the wood is 16%+ and one of the blades is doing all the work. Have you tried a piece of properly dry hardwood?

 

[Fitzroy]

That is a tough piece of timber for any machine. The knot will have reversing grain around it so one side of the grain will be facing into the cut, with very sharp knives and a very light cut I would still expect some tear-out. As deadeye said if the wood is not very dry the job is even harder.

I would not trust any bladed machine to be well set from the factory, and would expect to remove the knives, give the edge a touch up, and reinstall correctly before the machine gave good results. I know this sounds daft for a new machine, but quality is not what it used to be.

Fitz