Rounded Depression on Stock: aka ‘Snipe’

Rounded Depression on Stock: aka ‘Snipe’

What causes a rounded depression near the end of my planed stock?

Tim Inman: This is called “snipe” or “sniping,” and it is caused by the tail end of the board being able to “jump” up into the cutterhead after it leaves the infeed rollers on its way out through the cutters and outfeed rollers. Correct it by adjusting the infeed and outfeed rollers (sometimes there is a pressure bar, too), or by just being there to make sure the tail end of the board is supported and unable to lift into the cutterhead at the end of the pass. Or cut the snipe off and make heat out of it.

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