Short pieces of hardwood have a way of piling up around the shop. And when the wood is figured, exotic, or simply too good to throw away, those scraps can be perfect for boxes, handles, inlays, and other small projects.
The problem comes when that short piece needs to be planed to thickness.
Many thickness planers specify a minimum workpiece length. A board that’s too short may not remain properly supported by the feed rollers as it passes beneath the cutterhead. That can lead to severe snipe or damage to the workpiece.
Always check your planer’s manual for its minimum workpiece dimensions before planing short stock.
Make the Short Board Act Longer
The solution is to temporarily add length to the workpiece.
Glue a long, narrow scrap strip to each edge of the short board. Inexpensive straight-grained pine or fir works well for the runners.
The runners extend beyond both ends of the hardwood workpiece. As the assembly travels through the planer, these longer strips remain supported by the feed system and help keep the short board flat against the planer bed.
Let the Scrap Take the Snipe
There's another benefit to this setup. Any end snipe is more likely to occur on the extended scrap runners rather than on the hardwood you're trying to save.
Take light passes until the hardwood reaches the thickness you need. Once you're finished, remove the sacrificial strips by cutting them away at the table saw.
WOODSMITH TIP: Save Those Hardwood Offcuts. Keep a small box specifically for short pieces of quality hardwood. Walnut, cherry, maple, and exotic scraps don't take up much room, and they're useful for everything from plugs and pulls to small boxes and decorative details.
The next time you're tempted to toss a short hardwood offcut, hang onto it. With a couple of inexpensive scrap runners, you may be able to turn it into useful project stock instead.
Get More From Your Thickness Planer
Your planer can do a lot more than simply thickness lumber. Learn how to flatten warped boards, plane thin stock, straighten edges, work with short pieces, and size multiple parts consistently with these 5 Essential Planer Secrets.
SEE 5 ESSENTIAL PLANER SECRETS → Tips to Get More From Your Thickness Planer
