question for wood workers before I wreck my planer

RRP

Someone who is dearly beloved in our home used a metal meat mallet to pound something on my favorite bamboo cutting board. It now has serious dents that will not swell out no matter what I have done. I fear those indentations may eventually harbor yuck regardless of cleaning efforts. Can I just re-surface it using my surface planner or do I run the risk of damaging the blades?

MountainGriller

I would think that you could use a planner on bamboo - unfortunately, I don't have a planner so I don't know for sure -

Ripnem

If the board is an end grain style, don't think so. Those blades would be pounding like mad. Although, Bamboo probably isn't end grain, and would be fine in a planer.

Doug in Eggmonton

In my opinion your planer will suffer no harm with a bamboo cutting board, it's likely around as hard as oak (depends somewhat on treatment) and I have planed a lot of that with no trouble.

Doug

Frank from Houma

I think you are good to go. I wouldn't think it would be much worse that maple. Depending on your model, I suspect you can remove and flip your knives. I have flipped my knives a few times because of nicks from recycled wood and have had them sharpened a few times as well. The cost for getting them sharpened is about 1/3 the cost of new knives.

RRP

Thanks guys! I ran it through my Ryobi surface planner making tiny cuts with the first couple passes and had no trouble. Ended up taking 1/8" off the damaged side and looks good as new. Interesting part is the saw dust from bamboo is like very straight fine straws or wooden toothpicks about 2" long!