Running plywood through a planer

[i386]

I've discovered that a part I made by gluing up 3 pieces of 1/2" plywood is too thick. I was thinking I might find someone with a planer to take it down 1/4" for me.

Can you run plywood through a planer without damaging the knives? The cut won't get down into my epoxy joint, but it will have to cut the plywood's own glue.

I just wanted to know what I was in for before I asked someone.

 

[jameskb2]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Yes, it can be run through a planer. It would have to be a large shop planer though.

Wood or glue will not hurt planer knives, but nails or screws will.

Also, since you're taking off 1/4", you will be removing one of the veneer layers, perhaps two. This will effect strength but I'm not sure how much. One of the "surface" layers will be toast for sure. The secondary layers in the veneer are often lesser grade lumber so your result might not be what you seek.

You could just rebuild the piece and chalk it up to experience, no?

 

[i386]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

It's a piece about 1" square. I just need it a little thinner. I'd have to go buy some different thickness plywood and glue that up to get the exact thickness. I think I'd be ok just having it planed down. It's getting glassed in too.

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

I would not let you run plywood through my planer.
Glue and even paint is not good for the knives.
Find someone with a wide belt sander.

 

[Coors]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Yeah, hike up your belt, and sand/grind it. no ply through my planer.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Would it be too much to get a new piece and measure it and re-glue it?

How large of a piece is it? I would not try to plane it.

 

[i386]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

I would not let you run plywood through my planer.

Thanks. That's the kind of real world response I was hoping to avoid by asking here first.

The problem is this is 1/4" too thick.

It's sandwiched in between the transom and spashwell/cap. It's got to be pretty close to dead on. If it's a little too thin, I can build it up with glass. If it's too thick it just won't fit. I built it using the leftovers from my deck. I'd have to go buy more plywood just to make this so I'm looking for an alternative.

BTW, it goes here:

 

[jameskb2]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Well, I'd let you run plywood through mine, if it was big enough. I've power planed plywood countless times with no ill effects to the knives.

I can't tell if it's just a small section or the whole piece you're trying to reduce, but a sander or grinder would work quick and easy if it's just a smaller section.

BTW, if you have a wood shop at the high school, and you pay your taxes, you can run down there and talk nice to the teacher. I've used the school's very large planer a few times for cleaning up barn beams.

I believe in using tools. That's why they make them! (I didn't say abuse them....)

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

You can surface your parts with a router.
Chuck in about a 1/2" dia bit and extend it 1/4" out the base.
Start at one side and start removing the 1/4", resting half the router base on the area not surfaced yet.
When you run out of material to rest the router on get a piece on 1/4" plywood scrap, slip it under the other half of the router base and finish surfacing your part.
This is much better than asking someone to let you ruin there planer knives.

 

[i386]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

That sounds like a good idea. I'll have to see if I can find someone with a router. I'll buy 'em a new bit to route it for me.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

A good new router bit is not that cheap!

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Twenty bucks and you should get change.

 

[Robj]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

I have run plywood through a planer many times. No problem. What is the difference between planing plywood and just dimensional lumber?? No difference IMO, except for maybe he orientation of the grain. If you do run it through, do so in such a manner that you get the grain of the outer layer running in the dirrection which you want for optimum strength,

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Definately go the router method, ply is not good for planer knives. You would have to talk REAL nice to let a high school shop do it for you. Once you get through that first layer you will be planeing off just the epoxy thats where you can run into probs with knife damage. The router would be easy to set up and only take 15-20 min with minimal cost of a bit. Make sure to have some pieces of scrap that are the same thickness you are removing so you can use them as a build up once you have removed enough that the table doesn't have any thing to rest on.

 

[i386]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

I have run plywood through a planer many times. No problem. What is the difference between planing plywood and just dimensional lumber?? No difference IMO, except for maybe he orientation of the grain. If you do run it through, do so in such a manner that you get the grain of the outer layer running in the direction which you want for optimum strength,

Have a great day,

Rob.

I believe the issue is cutting through glue. No worries. I'm taking it over to a buddy's after work and we're going to use the router method.

 

[jameskb2]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Yeah, you wouldn't want all that hard as nails glue to hurt the steel.

Well, around these parts, folks are kind and will lend a hand. I grew up in a farm community, where you work hard, clean up, and have fun. It's not a big deal to head over to the school for a favor. I understand some of those folks that are afraid to break a nail or scratch some paint. I mean BY GOD don't use something! My wife's aunt was like that. She died last year with a nearly mint '78 Cadillac in the garage that she had bought new. Wouldn't even drive it in the rain!

'Cause...it might hurt it.

She put plastic on the couch too......

You know what? Same kind of folks. BTW, she left everything to two charities and not one family member got a red cent. She wasn't hurtin' either, but sharing wasn't one of her forte's. So, easy enough to figure out.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

put some 30 grit on a belt sander and take off the area needed. will take about 5 minutes. looks like this area is all the needs to be taken off.

 

[i386]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

put some 30 grit on a belt sander and take off the area needed. will take about 5 minutes. looks like this area is all the needs to be taken off.

Nah, the thickness of the whole piece had to come down 1/4". I'm not sure how I screwed up measuring the original piece but I did big time. I've been taught better too.:redface:

Anyway, it's all fixed now. My buddy has a router and we took it down 1/4" as was suggested earlier. It took a little time but it worked fine. I even offered to buy a new bit but he insisted I didn't since I helped him tile three bathrooms earlier this year. I'm still not sure we're even.

 

[redfury]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Better late than never, but a suggestion I would have made would have been to go to a cabinet shop and ask if you could reduce the thickness using their "time saver". Essentially a large belt sander with a belt feed. You just run it through a few times and you'd have it done. If they had a decent grit belt, you'd get a nice surface for the resin/fiberglass to adhere to. Cabinet shops probably aren't really busy right now, throw them 20 bucks or a case of beer and I'd bet you'd have no problems getting it done. No chance of hurting the sanding belts as long as you didn't try to force the board through unless you were going to hit anything metallic ( which would groove the belt rendering it useless ).

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Running plywood through a planer

Glad you got it fixed.I was going to suggest a circular saw as well if you could make up a jig to rest the saws foot on that surrounded the piece that needed resizing.I would have crosshatched it and used a wide wood chisel to chip out the sections,light sanded it if needed and be on your way.
Hopefully you had some scrap that you could experiment on)Ron G