Surface Planers
Surface planers from top manufacturers for even wooden surfaces
What is a surface planer?
A surface planer is used in the initial preparation of wooden workpieces – to smooth planks, boards and square-shaped timber produced out of wind-distorted and bent timber, and make them into flat surfaces. In other words, a surface planer is a piece of woodworking machinery that can adjust the thickness of a board, thus creating a completely flat surface with square edges; surface planers are used for the pre-treatment of already cut wood workpieces that need to be smoothly planed on both sides. After the wood workpiece is treated with a surface planning machine, it can be further processed using a planer-thicknesser.
Machine processing of wood workpieces
Smoothing and straightening of wood
Prerequisite for subsequent thickness planing
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The design and operation of surface planers
A surface planing machine features a motor with a cutter-head that rotates at a high speed. Wood surface planers are usually quite large and heavy, which is why they are often placed onto a dedicated surface like a plane bench or a table. Surface planers can differ in size, whereas the size of the planer also determines the size of the boards that can be processed. A typical surface planer is made out of a long surface table with a planing shaft mounted in the middle and two planing knives.
MARTIN Surface planner in operation
The surface table is split into two parts: an infeed and an outfeed. The non-adjustable outfeed corresponds with the height of the cutting circle. The chip removal of the workpiece is determined by the height-adjustable infeed. There are several types of knife-driving shafts, the most common ones being a traditional cutterblock and a spiral knife.
Different types of surface planers
Over time, different wood surface planers have been developed for different work-steps, from the smoothing of wood to the development and production of folds and grooves. The surface planer can be specialised for the production of double-sided, planed, square pieces of timber, whose surfaces stand at a right angle to one another. This process is very similar to the process of milling because the work tool rotates along the workpiece. For further processing, a planer-thicknesser may be used. There are also combined surface planer and planer-thicknesser machines available, which can be easily modified and are especially adequate for use within small spaces.
Safety and precaution measures for operating a surface planer
To avoid undesirable results, every unit should contain identical knives. A cutterblock protector is there to ensure that the surface planer operator does not accidentally come into contact with the rotating cutterblock. There are three different types of safety measures depending on how old the wood surface planer is: the clapper guard, the cutterblock protection device, and the protecting bridge. The clapper guard is made out of several wooden flaps that are hinged together. On the other hand, the cutterblock protection device moves to the side upon contact, providing space for the cutterblock. Finally, the most modern and the safest measure is the protecting bridge that covers the cutterblock and only frees it when the workpiece is in the right position.
Used surface planers from well-known manufactures
Generally, these machines are long-lived and a used surface planer is often still in good condition even after years of use. These machines are manufactured by KÖLLE, MARTIN, SCHEPPACH and SCM, and it is often possible to find a quality surface planer for sale in our numerous industrial auctions here at Surplex. We recommend you to visit us regularly, as our used machinery offer is constantly being updated, and subscribe to our newsletter in order not to miss any special offers in the future.
