Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article What's New  |  Site Map 

 

 
   
   
 
 


Today's
Sponsors:


Eagle America

Eagle Machinery and Repair Co.

EasyCoper Tool Company

ECabinet Systems

Edge-It Edgebanding

Electrophysics

Elias Woodwork & Manufacturing

Elkom North America

Endeavor Hardwoods

EnRoute WOOD

ETemplate Digital Measuring

Eterna Lighting

ETK International

Eurosoft, Inc.

EX-FACTORY

Excel Dowel and Wood Products Inc.

ExpressSander.com

Extrema Machinery

FastCap

Finish Systems

FlexiCAM

FORDAQ

Forest City Tool

FormWood Industries

Freeborn Tool Company

FS Cruing

FS Tool Corporation

FS Tool Outlet.com

Fuhr International

Fuji Spray

Furniture D Cube

G&M Woodcopy Lathes

Gabbiani Machine

Glue Machinery Corporation

Goby Walnut Products

Granite Road

Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association

Great Northern Lumber

Greco Manufacturing

GreCon

Green Forest Products

GUHDO

Hanson and Leja Lumber Company

CIM-Tech

Clear Lake Lumber

CNC Auto-Motion

CNC Parts Dept.

CNCROUTERSTORE.com

CNT Motion Systems

Colonial Saw

Construction Programs and Results

Construction Recruiters

COOLwoodworkingstuff.com

Copemaster

Cordes Machine

Country Saw & Knife, Inc.

Courmatt International Inc.

CP Adhesives

CraftMaster Manufacturing

CSH Custom Service Hardware Inc.

CTD Machines

Custom Woodworking Business

Cutlist Plus

D.S. Brown Machinery

Dancer Logging

Delle Vedove USA, Inc.

Delmac Machinery Group

Delmhorst Instrument Co.

Delta

Denray Machine

DeVilbiss

Diehl Machines

Direct Source Imports

Dispoz-A-Blade

Diversi-Tech

DMC

DODDS

Don Hall & Associates

Donald Dean and Sons

Doucet Machineries Inc.

Downdrafttable.org

Durable Wood Products

E.W. Tooling Inc.



WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?



Setting up a powerfeeder       The care and use of powerfeeders. November 7, 2000

Q.
I just purchased a powerfeed to run a batch of rough aspen into half inch t&g. I have never used one before and know nothing about set up for one. I have not been able to find any literature on them, either. Any help would be appriciated.

A.
The VERY FIRST thing to do is call Western Roller and get the tires replaced. If you have the dull yellowish tires on the feeder they will cause you more grief than you'll care to deal with. Western Roller will have a standard tire that fits your feeder. You will also have to buy the wheels for them, a one time deal. After that you'll just have to replace the tires as they wear.

As far as the operation of the feeder, it needs to be bolted solid to the bed of the machine you're using it on, and it needs to be level. That means equal pressure on all the tires. The feeder also needs to be "angled" slightly into the fence, so that as it feeds it always "pushes" the material towards the fence. It doesn't take much, maybe just a 1/16" to an 1/8" closer to the fence on the outfeed side than the infeed side.

When you operate the feeder make sure ALL joints are TIGHT. This is where I had some problems when I first started. Something would come loose as I was machining, the feeder would walk and it's ugly. In the event that does happen just know what you're going to do and keep it in the back of your mind, shut off the feeder, then the saw/shaper/whatever.

Brian Personett, forum technical advisor



Brian, I have a feeder with the standard tires you mentioned. What problems do they cause/how will the others help?


The dull yellowish/beige tires are too hard for most woodworking applications. Consequently, they are also slick and they don't push all that well. I also found that this slipping would allow the workpiece to stray away from the fence. I found myself constantly cleaning them off with laquer thinner to keep them gripping. I tried everything from hairspray to belt dressing to get the things to work. I finally stumbled upon an ad for Western Roller, and gave them a call. You can tell them what you are doing and they will get you the tire you need. Their tires are color-coded by durometer. Anymore when I order a new feeder, the next call I make will be to WR. I'll give them the feeder info--that way everthing gets here at once, and I'm ready to go.

Brian Personett, forum technical advisor



When selecting feed rollers the duro or hardness is important. The higher the duro the harder the roller. The color of the urethane does not indicate the hardness. Any color additive can be added to produce rollers. For many power feed applications the use of either a 60 or 70 duro works well. This allows the roller to flatten slightly onto the wood surface.

It should be noted the the softer the duro or hardness, the quicker the roller will wear. When I work on new power feeders, I use the rollers provided at first. Since there are many manufacturers of power feeders, the quality of the rollers varies greatly. If the roller does not work then I look for other options. Western Roller Corp is one of many sources. They normally have in stock the rollers you need.

Dave Rankin, forum technical advisor



I didn't mean to give the impression that the color of the tire was indicitive of the durometer for all makes of tires. It has been my experience that the dull yellowish tires that come on every feeder I have bought are too hard. According to Western Roller their tires are color coded by durometer, the bright yellow ones which I use being in the 60-70 durometer range.

Brian Personett, forum technical advisor


Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Accessories

  • KnowledgeBase: Dust Collection, Safety, Plant Management: Safety Equipment

  • KnowledgeBase: Solid Wood Machining: General

  • KnowledgeBase: Solid Wood Machining: Setup and Maintenance

  • KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Tool Maintenance

  • KnowledgeBase: Woodworking Miscellaneous: Woodworking

  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB