Modern Woodshop

Maintaining a lunchbox planer is pretty easy; performing just a few simple steps on a regular basis will keep it running like the day you brought it home from the store.

I own an older Ridgid planer, so that is what I am showing in the pictures below. Most lunchbox planers have a similar design, but consult your users manual for specific instructions for your machine. Also, before you do any maintenance on your planer, please make sure that it is unplugged.

Step One: Level the Infeed and Outfeed Extensions With the Planer Bed

Lay a long straightedge across the planer bed and the extensions. The extensions can be leveled by adjusting two bolts, as pictured below. Tiny adjustments in these bolts can make significant changes in the position of the extension table, so take your time… this can be a bit fussy. Once everything is in the proper position, lock it down by tightening the nut at the base of each bolt.

Step Two: Change the knives

My planer has a two knife cutterhead with reversible knives. If there is still an unused edge on your knives, you can remove them, rotate them 180 degrees, and replace them. In my case, I had already used both sides of the knives, so I am putting in a new set.

First, remove the dust collection connector.

Next, remove the upper cover for easier access to the knives.

Now remove the dust chute.

My Ridgid planer has a cutterhead lock, which is really handy. Depress the red bar on the left hand side and rotate the cutterhead until a knife is in position. Release the red bar and the lock will snap into place.

Loosen all seven locking screws for the first knife.

You can remove the old knife using the magnetic tool that came with the planer. This keeps your fingers away from the sharp edges. This tool can be used to put in the new knife, as well.

Just like the jointer, the locking bars on your planer will be gummed up with pitch, sawdust, and grease. Remove the bar and clean it with Simple Green. I also recommend that you clean out the cutterhead.

Here’s the clean locking bar and a new knife, ready for installation.

Now, reverse the process shown above. Insert the new knife, making sure to keep it parallel to the cutterhead. Lock it down by tightening the screws on the locking bar. Release the cutterhead lock, rotate the cutterhead, and repeat the whole process on the second knife. Reassemble the planer.

Step Three: Clean the rollers

The feed rollers also get covered in pitch and wood chips over time. This can cause the rollers to slip on the workpiece while it is running through the planer, and possibly result in the wood getting jammed. Not good. Use a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to wipe the rollers clean.

Step Four: Clean and wax the planer bed

Keeping the planer bed clean and waxed will allow your workpieces to move smoothly through the machine, reducing wear on the motor and giving you a better quality cut. Wipe the planer bed down with some Simple Green to clean off all the pitch and gunk.

Finally, follow up with a coat of wax. Let it set for a few minutes and then buff it out.