What a Planer Should Sound Like. Signs of a Dull Planer

When the blades get dull, you'll know it! Atleast that's what I thought until I learned about the small subtleties that these little benchtop planners give off as hints. Today I take you through things you can look for to identify when your planer blades need sharpening. I'm using the Dewalt 733 2- blade planer in this video and if you're wondering, it's been a solid performer. I mill mostly pine with it and even when I think it may start to bog-down the machine with heavy cuts, it doesn't. I'd buy this machine again if I had the chance. Anyways, pay special attention to the sound you're machine is making as when that sound gets louder than normal, your machine is likely working overtime because of dull blades. If the finish on the wood is not smooth and you can feel the grooves in the wood, your blades are dull. If the sawdust looks like dust and less like wood shavings (think peeling an apple), then your blades are dull. Hope these times help you and you get the same enjoyment and long life out of your machine that I have.

[FromSteelToWood]

Absolutely right Sandy! One other indication is when the feed rollers have problem pulling the wood. That will happen on the hardwood. You have to push the planks through the planer. Not good! At some point, the blade will be more hammering the wood than shaving it! Video #33 on my channel describes a method to sharpen a planer blade using a table saw. It's not for professional use, but great for hobby use. Thanks Sandy!

[jimm]

This information is exactly what I was looking for, Thank you! Providers like you make YouTube Awesome!!

[franciscotoro]

Truly useful video. A video on changing the blade is not needed if you have the manual and can read. However, this guide to determining when the blade needs changing provides real value.
Thank you.

[blahdiblah]

This is the exact video I needed. Only you decided to explain WHEN to change the blades and now I know for sure my suspicion is correct, my blades are dull.

And it's not exactly an old machine I have. Not even a full year of mild use and it's dull.

[heresy]

Selling a planer and had a question about whether it was making strange noises and I'm an amateur so I don't have a clue. So I watched your video which didn't have any noises for me to compare it to but you seem to have an awesome personality so I subscribe to your channel. I'll check you out in the future.

[grega]

This was incredibly helpful. It also explains why I’ve been batteling with the last 10 pieces. Thank you!

[efb]

The world needs more videos that are practical like this one. For a table top planer like this one, how do you feed long material like what you show in your trailer? A stationary planer won't tip over, but for a table top, do you need to set up in and out feed tables if you're working alone?

[jercartier]

Great video, thank you! Short, concise and full of great information. Definitely worth a subscribe and look forward to checking out your other videos. Also thanks to others for the add-on comments. Sandy, did that stack of wood behind you take multiple sets of blades to plane?

[richvail]

It sure is helpful. I inherited my pops planer, so I had no idea how it sounded when it was running good. The shavings tell me that it’s time to turn the blades. Great help, thanks.

[lumberjill]

I have a dw734 planer and one of the things I notice when the knives get dull the infeed rollers don't want to grab on to the board and create a black burn out mark. I like on this model how easy it is to change the knives and that they're double sided so you can flip them around.

[mountainmanprojects]

Funny to come across one of your old videos. I did not realize you had been making them this long. My how time flies... BTW When are you going to build that solar kiln?

[steveshephard]

Thanks for the information...I guess it's time to change the blades on my thicknesser!

[THTH]

Been all over the internet and watched a ton of videos. Yours hands down is the clearest and best video that explains my problem so thank you so much for sharing! As a side note I opened mine brand new and only ran about 15 boards through 5 or 6 times each and the blades are already dull? Maybe I tried to remove too much material?

[markchidester]

Sweet!
New to planning. Just got a slightly used 735. I planned a few hundred feet of white oak and walnut. I seem to have the small chips and the feed is slowing a bit. Time to flip the blades and order a new set to have on hand.
Thanks!

[mattbarton]

Very helpful information that alot of you tuber talk about.big thank you😊

[laercioneves]

Hi. Thank you for this tip. I use my machine on hard wood and even remove very tiny layers, the machine built some heat and trip the circuit breaker. The bad blades could cause it ?

[chriscox]

Good tips on how to determine dull blades. 👍

[DeadEyeRabbit]

New to planing
And have a used dewalt 733. What does it mean when it quit pulling the board through on its own accord?

[Transcendental]

very helpful, thank you for the video

[heyyoubuddy]

How much wood did ya plane before the blades dulled? I just look at the price of blades 40 bucks us ouch! Being a tight fisted dude I’m thinking sharpen those bad boys. Thanks buddy I’m so looking forward to what ya do with the wood and the cabin.