Planer snipe is one of the most frustrating problems in woodworking. That telltale dip or gouge at the beginning and end of a board ruins an otherwise perfect surface. The good news? It's almost always preventable. Here are five proven tips to reduce or eliminate planer snipe for good.
1. Support the Board on Both Ends
The most common cause of snipe is the board tipping as it enters or exits the planer. When the trailing end of a board lifts slightly, the cutterhead takes a deeper bite, and that's snipe. Use infeed and outfeed roller stands (or a helper) to keep the board perfectly level throughout the entire pass. The board should never sag or tilt at any point during the cut.
2. Take Lighter Passes
Aggressive cuts put more stress on the feed rollers and increase the chance of snipe. Reduce your depth of cut to 1/32" or less, especially on the final passes. Lighter passes give you more control and a smoother surface overall, and they dramatically reduce snipe depth.
3. Feed Boards End-to-End
One of the simplest tricks: butt your boards together end-to-end as you feed them through the planer. When one board immediately follows another, the feed rollers are always engaged on a board, eliminating the moment when a single board's end is unsupported. This is especially effective for shorter boards that are prone to snipe.
4. Adjust Your Feed Roller Height
On machines like the DEWALT DW735, the feed rollers can be adjusted to apply more downward pressure on the board. If the rollers are set too high, the board can lift slightly as it exits, causing snipe. Check your owner's manual for the correct roller height setting and adjust accordingly. Even a small tweak here can make a big difference.
5. Use a Snipe Fix Kit
If you've tried everything and still can't eliminate snipe on your DEWALT DW735, the problem may be worn or improperly tensioned components inside the planer. Our Planer Snipe Fix Kit for DEWALT DW735 is designed specifically to address the root mechanical causes of snipe on this machine. It includes everything you need to restore proper roller tension and eliminate snipe at the source, with no guesswork required.
Final Thoughts
Planer snipe doesn't have to be a fact of life. With the right technique and the right tools, you can get glass-smooth boards from end to end. Start with tips 1-4, and if you're still fighting snipe on your DW735, check out our Snipe Fix Kit. It's the permanent solution.