Why Your Planer Is Smoking?

Why is your planer smoking?

The reason your planer is smoking is because the armature in your planer has failed or your belt is slipping. A dull planer blade or a bad carbon brush is another reason your planer is smoking.

Failed armature

The only moving part in a motor is the armature, which is also responsible for providing your planer power. The armature has brushes that provide an electrical route and wire windings that carry the electricity. When the armature fails, your planer will start smoking because the wire windings in the armature are melting down, which reduces the motor’s efficiency.

When this happens to your planer, you either replace or repair it. Removing the armature from the motor will probably be necessary for you to check the windings. But if the motor has brush holders on the outside, you can unscrew the brush caps and take the brushes out.

Depending on the size of the brushes, this might make it possible to get to the commutator without taking the armature out of the motor.

Slipping belt

A slipping belt will produce a squealing noise and smoke in your planer as it slips over the pulleys. Take off the planer’s side cover and check the belt to see whether it needs replacing. Also, check the belt for signs of fraying, sloppy stitching, or uneven wear along the sides.

Once you notice these signs, you should immediately change the belt to prevent your planer from smoking. A slipping belt can be easily recognized.

Bad carbon brush

The carbon brushes ride the commutator and transfer electricity to the armature. As you keep using your planer over time, the carbon brush will wear down, and this will cause the carbon brushes to begin to spark excessively, leading to smoke.

Carbon brushes can be checked and replaced by removing the brush caps on either side of the motor.

Dull Planer blade

The planer blades are on the planer head, which spins and cuts the wood to the thickness you want. Over time, these blades will get dull, which will make the motor work harder so that the dull blades can still cut. As blades wear down, they smoke the wood and turn the shavings into sawdust.

The head of the planer gets overheated, and that heat gets sent to the motor. The moment the planer’s head gets overheated, your planer will start smoking.

How to fix a planer that is smoking?

You can fix a smoking planer by replacing the belt or installing a new planer blade. Replacing the carbon brushes or replacing the armature is another way you can fix a smoking planer.

Replace the belt

Planer Belts are flexible and aggressively cut the particles, producing a smooth and uniform finish. Once the belt slips, your planer will not work effectively, and your planer will start smoking. Replacing the belt is the only you can fix this.

Here is how to replace it;

To begin the belt replacement process, check if your model has a tensioner.
If it does, loosen the belt’s tension, remove it, and put a new one on.
Then, tighten and adjust the tensioner.
If your model doesn’t have a tensioner, removing the belt can be difficult because the parts are close together.
Use a screwdriver to pry the belt off each pulley a small way, then just walk the belt off the pulleys.
Another option is to simply cut it off.
Place the replacement belt over the smaller pulley first
Then use a screwdriver, set the tip on the larger pulley nut, and pry over the larger pulley a little bit. (This can be challenging because of clearance issues)
After starting the belt on the pulley, you can walk it on the remaining distance before replacing the side cover.

Install a new planer blade

The blades are on the planer head, which spins and shaves the wood to the thickness you want. If the blade becomes dull, you need to replace it to prevent your planer from smoking. Here is how to install a new planer blade;

Remove the hood and screws that hold the blade with your T-handle tool.
Keep pressure on the bar when taking out the screws because it is spring-loaded.
Once the screws are out, lift up the bar
Then lift up the blade
Bring out the springs.
Remove any debris from the inside so that the new blades and bar can lay flat.
Put in the new blade and the springs (Blades are typically reversible since they have two sides).
Install the bar and ensure it is on the nipples to keep it from moving.
Then screw the ends first to prevent the springs from rising.
Then, put in the rest of the screws.
Use your hands to tighten the screws, and then use the T-handle tool.

Replace the carbon brushes

The motor in your power tool is wired and powered by two carbon brushes. Over time, the carbon brush may become worn from contact with the moving commutator. It is essential that you replace it to prevent your planer from producing smoke.

Here is how to replace it;

Take the chip guide off of the planer’s side.
Use a screwdriver to take off the cap.
Take the old brush away.
On the other side, take off the brush.
Line up the new brush with the holder for brushes.
Put the brush in the holder for brushes.
The brush cap holds the brush in place. (If you tighten the brush cap too much, it will break.)
Do this again with the second brush.
Finish by putting the chip guide back in place.

Replace the armature

First, you need to take off the side covers and the gearbox cover.
Remove the rings holding the sprockets and chain, then slide them off the shafts.
Loosen the bolt on the tensioner for the belt and pull the belt out.
Take off the power cables hold-downs
First, take off the bolts that hold the motor housing to the planer. Then, take off the cables’ hold-downs.
Remove the ground wires from the bottom of the motor by lifting it up.
Put the motor on a bench and remove the brush caps and brushes.
Remove the brush caps and brushes from the motor.
Pull the switch housing away from the motor housing and other wires.
Remove the screws on the back cover of the motor and then the retaining ring behind the pulley on the other end.
Tap the pulley with a rubber mallet to remove the armature from the motor casing.
Take off the armature’s back cover, and then take the spring washer off the armature shaft.
Now, put in the new armature.
Reinstall the retaining ring behind the motor’s pulley.
Replace the spring washer and cover.
Connect the housing of the switch to the housing of the motor and run all the wires back through it.
Reattach ground wires.
Reattach the motor housing and tighten the bolts.
Attach power cord clamps and feed roller spacers.
Insert the sprockets into the chain and align their keyways. The sprockets’ hubs face the planer.
Install the lock rings, and then put the gear cover back on.
Put the belt back on the pulley, adjust the tension, and tighten it.

Why your planer is overheating?

The reason your planer is overheating is because the fan in your planer is faulty. The fan is there to prevent the motor from overheating, if the fan isn’t working properly, the motor will overheat. A tripping circuit breaker or worn housing is another reason your planer is overheating.

The circuit breaker prevents the planer from overheating when overloaded. However, if the circuit keeps tripping the breaker, it will cause your planer to overheat, and you need to replace it. Bearings in many planers are located inside the housing. Your planer will overheat if the housing is worn because its bearing will rotate, generating friction and heat.

Note: Whenever your planer gets overheated, you should stop using it at that moment and allow it to cool down. However, if, after allowing your planer to rest, it is still overheating, then you need to call an expert to help you fix it.

Why is my Dewalt planer smoking?

The reason your Dewalt planer is smoking is because of a slipping belt. A slipping belt that slips over the pulleys will make a squealing sound and smoke as it slips. A failed field or a clogged breaker is another reason your Dewalt planer is smoking.

In an electromagnet machine, the field is an electromagnet that makes a magnetic field. The motor is made up of the field and the armature, which is inside the field. If the field is shorting out, it can make too many sparks, which can cause the windings in the field to overheat and melt, making the field smoke.

Note: Check your field for any burn and replace it if you notice any.

Here is how to fix a Dewalt planer that is smoking;

Unplug the machine
Open the head up
Remove all the screws on the blade
Clean the blade area
Insert a new blade and screw
Then change the belt of your Dewalt planer

Why is my Rigid planer smoking?

The reason your Rigid planer is smoking is because the carbon brushes in the Rigid planer are faulty. Since the carbon brushes ride on the commutator to send electricity to the armature, they will wear down over time. When the carbon brushes get old, they spark more, make more heat, and make your Rigid planer start smoking.

A dull blade or a bearing is another reason your Rigid planer is smoking. The bearing is the mechanical component that allows for rotational or linear motion while also reducing friction and managing stress. However, bearings wear out over time, causing your Rigid planer to start smoking.

Note: When your bearing wears out, ensure that you replace it to avoid further damage to your Rigid planer.

Here is how to fix a Rigid planer that is smoking;

Loosen the three screws holding the blade.
Take out the blade
Now, you can pull the blade out of its slot with a screwdriver.
Now turn the other side of your Rigid planer and do the same to the second blade.
Put in a new blade.
Look at how the notches on the blades line up with the slot on the drum. Put the notch in the right spot and slide the blade into place.
Loosely tighten the two nuts on the outside.
Set up the blade.
Make sure the blade is in the middle of the planer, so it doesn’t rub against either side.
Once the blade is in the middle, you can tighten all bolts.
Do the same thing on the other side.