Say Goodbye to Planer Snipe!

Planer snipe is a deeper-than-intended cut at the beginning or end of a workpiece when using a thickness planer. It happens due to uneven pressure from the in-feed and out-feed rollers, or lack of material
support, causing the board to lift slightly during entry or exit.

Yes, planer snipe is a common issue even in high-quality planers. However, proper setup and technique can significantly reduce or eliminate it.

The most common planer snipe causes include:

• Uneven roller pressure
• Improper cutterhead height
• Lack of in-feed and out-feed support
• Taking too deep of a cut
• Not locking the cutterhead (on models that have one)

The best way to fix planer snipe is to adjust the in-feed and out-feed roller heights, use additional support tables, take shallower passes, and ensure the cutterhead is locked in place if your planer has that
feature.

Absolutely! The Dewalt Planer Snipe Fix Kit is designed to help you fine-tune the in-feed and out-feed roller heights, reducing unnecessary pressure on your workpiece. By minimizing flex in the planer, this kit helps maintain consistent cutter depth when transitioning between rollers, effectively reducing snipe.
Check it out our product for a simple and effective solution!

To minimize snipe, adjust roller heights, support long boards with in-feed/out-feed tables, take lighter cuts, and lock the cutterhead in place if your planer has that feature.

Yes, you can remove snipe by sanding, using a hand plane, or trimming the affected ends with a table saw or miter saw. All these steps will cause issues like wasting wood or changing the intended dimensions. Best is to prevent snipe in woodworking before it happens.  

While you can greatly reduce it, some planers will always have slight snipe. Using a planer snipe jig, supporting the board properly, and making fine depth cuts are key to minimizing it.

A planer snipe jig is a tool or method used to prevent snipe, often involving sacrificial boards, or melamine table extensions.
Placing extra boards in front and behind your workpiece keeps the pressure even, reducing snipe on the main board.

No, a helical cutterhead, like a shelix, improves cut quality and reduces tear-out but does not directly eliminate snipe.
Proper roller adjustments and a snipe-reducing techniques are still required.

Use in-feed and out-feed tables, roller stands, or a planer snipe jig.
Keeping the board level throughout the cut prevents sudden pressure changes or seesaw effect that cause snipe.

Yes! Running boards end-to-end reduces snipe because the rollers remain
engaged, preventing the pressure changes that lead to snipe at the start and
end of a single board.

Use in-feed and out-feed tables, roller stands, or even lift the board slightly as it enters and exits the planer to keep it level.