HL 850 question

[ear3]

Just picked up the HL 850 and am putting it to immediate use on a new stand I'm making for my lathe out of heavy framing timber (2x6s and 2x12s).  I've never owned a hand held planer before so I don't have a sense yet of its limits, and have a question about running the planer over knots.  I'm setting up the boards to minimize the knots along the top edges (where I'll be planing), but there are still a few that are unavoidable.  Is it kosher to pass the planer over knots (the wood is fir or spruce), provided I take a shallow cut?

 

[tjbnwi]

Knots should have no affect on the planer.

Tom

 

[Brent Taylor]

I second that, don't worry Edward. But do watch for flying debris, I have had knots blow out before,  also nails are bad and hard on the blade or blades in my case. Used wood can have surprises. Shallow passes and use the edge guide.     

 

[ear3]

Thanks.  Just from using it earlier, it seems like the edge guide should be used whenever possible.  Gives the machine much more stability, and of course, gives a square edge.

 

[Bill Chang]

Depending on how you work, it would be a good idea to get a long life bag.  That 850 can fill 'em up fast!

 

[Birdhunter]

You might want to think about using some thin super glue around the perimeter of the knot. I do that often on larger knots and it keeps them from coming loose.

P.S. I always wear safety glasses when using super glue. Dangerous stuff!