What Causes Snipe?
If you've ever used a thickness planer, you’ve likely experienced planer snipe—that frustrating deeper cut at the beginning or end of a board. It can throw off your measurements, waste material, and add extra sanding or trimming to your workflow. But the good news is that planer snipe can be minimized or even eliminated with the right techniques.
In our previous post, we explained why planer snipe happens, focusing on two key causes:
- Uneven pressure from the feed rollers, which leads to a deeper cut when only one roller is engaged.
- Flex in the planer mechanism, allowing the cutterhead to shift slightly under pressure, even if the board is fully supported.
Now, in this guide, we’ll cover 6 tips to prevent planer snipe so you can get smoother, more precise results with every pass. Whether you're using a DeWalt DW735, a Powermatic 20-inch planer, or another model, these strategies will help you take control of your planing process and achieve professional-quality finishes. Let’s dive into the best ways to reduce planer snipe and improve your woodworking projects!
6 Tips to Prevent Planer Snipe
1. Proper Material Support
One of the most effective ways to prevent snipe on a planer is by ensuring your wood is properly supported as it enters and exits the planer. In-feed and out-feed tables or reliable roller stands are essential for keeping your material level and steady throughout the planing process. Without support, the workpiece can push the leading and trailing edge of the board up into the cutter head, causing planer snipe—that annoying depth variation at the beginning or end of your board. This is especially important when using long boards or boards that already have snipe on the opposite side, as the seesaw increases the chance of uneven pressure, which causes deeper cuts.
2. Gradual Depth-of-Cut
To avoid wood planer snipe, start with a deeper cut and gradually reduce it. Think of it like sculpting—begin with a rough pass to remove the bulk of material, then finish with a light, shallow pass. This prevents the planer from applying too much pressure on the wood, which could cause snipe in woodworking. By gradually reducing your cut depth, you’re minimizing the risk of flex in the machine or uneven pressure from the rollers, both of which contribute to snipe.
3. Balanced Roller Pressure
Uneven pressure from the in-feed and out-feed rollers is a major culprit behind planer snipe. When only one roller engages with the wood, it causes a slight shift in the relative position to the cutterhead, resulting in deeper cuts at the ends. Adjusting the pressure on both rollers ensures an even cut across the width of the board.
4. Roller Height Adjustment
Make friends with your in-feed and out-feed rollers. Keeping them level and at the right height is essential for preventing snipe. Many industrial planers, like Powermatic (e.g. 209HH Manual P.17) and Grizzly (e.g. G1021Z Manual P.43), include detailed instructions on adjusting roller height. If you want to learn more, check out the linked manuals. If you’ve got a DeWalt DW735 like I do, you might feel limited by the lack of adjustability—but don’t worry, check out our Planer Snipe Fix Kit, designed specifically to solve this issue!
5. Effective Material Handling
To further reduce snipe in woodworking, make sure to handle your material carefully as it enters and exits the planer. Lifting the leading and trailing edges slightly as the board passes through can help to minimize snipe. This technique prevents sudden shifts in the board’s position and ensures more even pressure across the rollers. It's a simple yet effective planer snipe fix that can help you get better results, especially on longer boards.
6. Use Sacrificial Boards
If you're looking for a proven planer snipe fix, consider using sacrificial boards. These extra pieces are fed before and after your main workpiece to maintain consistent pressure from the rollers. By allowing the feed rollers to engage and disengage on the sacrificial boards instead of your project piece, you prevent any snipe from occurring on your actual work. This is one of the most reliable ways to fix planer snipe and ensure smoother planing results.
Conclusion
When it comes to how to prevent snipe on a planer, these 6 strategies are essential for achieving smooth, professional-quality results. Whether you’re working with a DeWalt planer or another model, the key is to properly support your material, fine-tune your depth of cut, adjust roller pressure, and use sacrificial boards. If you're looking for a DeWalt planer snipe fix or simply want to learn how to fix planer snipe in general, these tips will give you the tools to eliminate the problem and improve your woodworking projects.
By understanding what planer snipe is and applying these tips, you can minimize wood snipe and ensure your planing process is smooth and precise every time. Happy woodworking!