Planing Epoxy off River Board

It probably won’t be as clear and smooth as you’ll want it, so plan on doing some sanding and polishing after the planing.

In my experience running epoxy filled boards through my planer (and lots of it), it won’t gum anything up, but what may happen is that the little shards of epoxy embed themselves in your rollers and make them slippery. I’ve had that happen several times and a good scrubbing with naphtha cleaned it right off. Still, it’s a pain.

-- Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner

I’d question the hardness of the epoxy before I ran it through my planer. I’d ask what the Shore D hardness is of that epoxy. The higher it is, the harder it’s going to be on your blades…

-- Brian Famous :: Charlotte, NC :: http://www.FamousArtisan.com

I d question the hardness of the epoxy before I ran it through my planer. I d ask what the Shore D hardness is of that epoxy. The higher it is, the harder it s going to be on your blades…

- BFamous

good point. I can tell you that right now it feels soft (at least in terms of epoxy hardness. You know, like when you mix epoxy and feel like you used too little hardener.). It feels sticky on one side, like it ought to cure longer. I’ll also look up the product to see. Thanks for the reply.

It probably won t be as clear and smooth as you ll want it, so plan on doing some sanding and polishing after the planing.

In my experience running epoxy filled boards through my planer (and lots of it), it won t gum anything up, but what may happen is that the little shards of epoxy embed themselves in your rollers and make them slippery. I ve had that happen several times and a good scrubbing with naphtha cleaned it right off. Still, it s a pain.

- Rich

I really don’t feel like gumming up the rollers. I’ve had that before and it’s miserable.

I wonder… I have a Performax 16-32 sander. That epoxy would gum up the sanndpaper real quick, but maybe I use some old, used 40 grit for a couple passes, then return to the planer when the blades need replaced anyway.

These boards are super common, right? What do people do usually?

Maybe these river-board-making people aren’t deep into woodworking, and don’t care about gumming up their planer. Hmm…...

-- Keith | Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithsTestGarage

I’ve run some boards with epoxy in knotholes and such through my DeWalt 735 planer.

If the epoxy is still sticky you are correct in your assessment that they might not have used enough hardener. Running un-cured epoxy through your planer would likely result in gummed up blades that would have to be replaced. The sticky epoxy might pull out of the wood as well. (your results might differ from mine).

I think I’d suggest that they get some coarse sandpaper, a ROS or hand held belt sander, and sand it down, then work through to fine paper and finally polish it (worked well enough for me). The drum sander belt would fill up and start burning the wood and you would have a real mess then.

This is one time where I would give it back to them and say “sorry, I can’t help you”.

-- Earl "I'm a pessamist - generally that increases the chance that things will turn out better than expected"

Good point about the drum sander burning the wood when gummed up.

Last night I noticed that the stickiness was from tape. Now I remember him telling me that. The epoxy seemed hard, so I change my perspective there.

I decided to run it through the planer on a light pass and see what happened…and realized the issue of snipe. That board can’t afford to have 2” of snipe on each end of it.

So, I may do something with rails to avoid snipe, but wonder if that will affect the rollers’ grip on the epoxy. ROS /belt sander may be the best way at this point as you said.

Thanks for the advice.

-- Keith | Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithsTestGarage

You’re overthinking it. Just run it thru. I’ve had no problem plaining epoxy fill down. If you’re worried about chipping just do lighter cuts.

-- Bruce, Boise, ID

You re overthinking it. Just run it thru. I ve had no problem plaining epoxy fill down. If you re worried about chipping just do lighter cuts.

- johnstoneb

+1. Also let your friend know that he’ll owe you new knives or beer to pay for any damages!

Ok, I’ll probably just glue some longer rails to the sides to prevent snipe, and just do it.

Thanks for the counsel.

-- Keith | Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithsTestGarage

I have used a flattening jig and a router, same one I use for flattening slabs

I have used a flattening jig and a router, same one I use for flattening slabs

- Davevand

yeah, I keep meaning to make one of those….

-- Keith | Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithsTestGarage

I’d tell my friend to buy a scraper for $25 on amazon lol

i think id show him how to use some blocks and sandpaper to go through the grits to sand it down.

I’d tell my friend to buy a scraper for $25 on amazon lol

- avsmusic1

Your friend must be theoretical.

-- Keith | Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithsTestGarage

I have used a flattening jig and a router, same one I use for flattening slabs

- Davevand

yeah, I keep meaning to make one of those….

- Keith Kelly

Yeah, but they are a pain to dig out and set up. Just run it thru the planer, which will probably give you a more uniform surface anyway. :-)

-- Andy - Seattle USA

Even if it doesn’t affect the planer knives, he still owes you beer! In fact, I would charge a beer retainer just for consulting.
Just Sayin’

-- I remember when Grateful wasn't Dead