Wadkin BFT Planer - Help

[Tierney]

First attempt at planing yesterday and only managed to get the timber convex along it's length (approx. 1mm over 750mm).

The blades appear to be set ok, my technique could probably improve; but, after some inspection I noticed that the infeed table seems to be at a slight angle relative to the outfeed table (i.e. the outfeed table is level along it's length; but the infeed table slopes downward away from the cutter block (again about 1mm over 750mm)

Can the angle of the tables be adjusted (the wadkin manual I have doesn't tell me what to do)?

Also, can anyone recommend a book, the only one I could find to buy was on the GMC website: Jointer & Planer Fundamentals (Popular Mechanics Workshop)

Thanks,

David

 

[bjm]

Hi David

I wouldn't get too hung up on the tables being a bit out of parallel. As long as the cutter block is parallel to the outfeed you should be OK.

Your convex cutting is due to the outfeed table being slightly too low to your cutter block - you may be getting some snipe on the end of your board? When you make the initial cut and transfer pressure onto the outfeed side of the block you will end up lifting the back end of the timber very slightly resulting in a convex cut. You will hardly notice you are doing it but raise the outfeed table very slightly and you should see the difference. I do mine by trial and error!

Brian

 

[Green]

Hi there

I recently restored a BFT 9"

There is no adjustment for levelling the tables on the BFT's, the tables slide up and down on solid rods that are located in machined channels.

The only things I can think of that may be causing your problems are that the sprung bolts holding the tables against the rods have slackened off or that the rods/channels are really worn.

Tightening the bolts is a bit of a fiddle and you might need to remove the cutter block (pretty easy) to get into the bolt heads. I had mine down to every last nut and bolt before rebuilding it and didnt have to do any fettling, I just tightened everything up and the tables were out by about 0.1 of a degree.

Hope that helps, if you need anymore info im happy to help

 

[Tierney]

Thanks for the quick responses, it looks like I need to work on my technique. I was hoping it was the machine

I've dug out an old copy of F&C; that should help my technique

Cheers,

David