Ripples or chatter marks after planing or jointing

What you see

1. Evenly spaced ripples, waves or chatter marks across the face of the board, or raised lines running along it.

   4 sources agree , sources [1, 2, 3, 4]

Likely causes

Most-agreed first: the more makers name a cause, the higher it sits.

1. Feeding too fast.

   4 sources agree , sources [1, 2, 3, 4]

2. Knives set at uneven heights in the cutterhead.

   3 sources agree , sources [1, 2, 3]

3. A nicked or chipped knife or insert.

   3 sources agree , sources [1, 5, 4]

How to tell which

1. Marks across the face, evenly spaced, point to the feed rate or to knives at uneven heights.

   3 sources agree , sources [1, 2, 3]

2. A raised line or ridge running the length of the board points to a nick in one knife.

   3 sources agree , sources [1, 5, 4]

What to change

Change one thing at a time, so you know which change fixed it.

1. Slow the feed.

   4 sources agree , sources [1, 2, 3, 4]

2. Reset the knives so they all sit at the same height.

   3 sources agree , sources [1, 2, 3]

3. Rotate or replace the nicked knife or insert.

   3 sources agree , sources [1, 5, 4]