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    Video

    Ep 3a: Machine Setup – The Jointer part 1

    In this episode, Matt Wajda sets the jointer tables using only a straight-edge and some scraps of paper

    By Matt Wajda Jul 30, 2018

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    Videos in the Series

    • Ep 1: Machine Setup – Introduction

      July 23, 2018

      When a machine is tuned up and maintained properly, it will not only make your woodworking more accurate, but it will also make your time in the shop more enjoyable

    • Ep 2: Machine Setup – The Tablesaw

      July 23, 2018

      In this episode, Ellen Kaspern takes you through all the steps to setup a tablesaw to perfection

    • Ep 3a: Machine Setup – The Jointer part 1

      July 30, 2018

      In this episode, Matt Wajda sets the jointer tables using only a straight-edge and some scraps of paper

    • Ep 3b: Machine Setup – The Jointer part 2

      July 30, 2018

      In this episode, Matt tackles the frustrating task of setting the jointer knives, finishing off the jointer setup

    • Ep 4: Machine Setup – The Bandsaw

      August 7, 2018

      In this episode, Ellen sets up the 14-in. bandsaw, a FWW shop favorite

    • Ep 5: Machine Setup – The Hollow Chisel Mortiser

      August 13, 2018

      In this episode, Matt gets the tables of the hollow chisel mortiser lined up perfectly, for perfectly in line mortises

    • Ep 6: Machine Setup – The planer

      August 20, 2018

      In the final episode of this video workshop, Matt takes on the aging workhorse of the FWW shop, the twenty inch planer

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    About This Video Workshop

    A well-tuned machine makes woodworking more accurate and shop time more enjoyable. Not only have Matt Wajda and Ellen Kaspern spent countless hours making furniture, but they’ve also both taught classes on setting up and maintaining machinery. In this series, you’ll learn how to tune up: Tablesaws  Jointers Bandsaws Hollow-chisel mortisers Planers Video by Jeff Roos and Ben Strano Edited by Jeff Roos Produced by Ben Strano More about this Video Workshop

    Comments

    1. User avater
      Nick_Carruthers | Aug 03, 2018 06:27am | #1

      This series has come at a very opportune time, as I am completing the restoration on my 1966 Northfield HD / Porter 301 jointer. Thanks for the tips!

      https://instagram.com/p/Bl9DgTwgoaZ/
      http://www.instagram.com/thegraindoctor

    2. User avater
      Woodyinde | Aug 06, 2018 08:26pm | #2

      Matt - what is the recommended period between maintenance cycles?

    3. TonyT | Aug 20, 2018 12:40pm | #3

      Why do you have a 'Powermatic' label on what is obviously a Grizzly?

      1. User avater FWW Editor
        BenStrano | Aug 20, 2018 01:52pm | #4

        Surely, you're joking, right?

    4. user-5032973 | Aug 24, 2018 03:42am | #5

      Thanks for this video - very useful.

      I am a little confused about the decision to shim the outfeed table. At around 3:30-3:50 into the video, Matt concludes that the tables appear to be leaning in the same direction. The way he holds his arms at 3:50 looks like another way to say "the outfeed table is a little higher than the infeed table". It is not obvious that there is an angle between the tables. For all I understand, the tables may at that point be parallel but just not coplanar. If the infeed table had just been adjusted a little upwards/forwards, could it not have turned out that they were already parallel?

      1. User avater FWW Editor
        BenStrano | Sep 12, 2018 08:17am | #6

        You're somewhat correct. The tables might be parallel, but it could be said that using Matt's simple set of tools, you can't really prove that they are until they're parallel and coplanar. Once you're committed to doing a setup, you might as well make sure that the tables are coplanar since the process was probably the least tedious aspect of the setup. Then, going forward, you KNOW you're good! Did this machine need a setup? Probably not, but that wouldn't have made much of a video now would it?

    5. jdeeredad | Sep 17, 2018 01:54pm | #7

      Great to see this series. We love the master craft videos showing the experts!!! But for the ordinary person starting out - this will make all the difference in the world!

    6. user-7511422 | Sep 14, 2019 03:10pm | #8

      I followed this procedure for tuning up a 6" Delta Jointer. However, a strange thing happened: all the paper shims on the infeed table are tight under the straight edge, the inner and outer ones on the outfeed are also tight, but the middle one on the outfeed is slightly loose (it has a little purchase, but is still looser than the other two). This is probably good enough, but I'm wondering how that arrises and how one corrects it. Is the outfield table warped?

    7. user-6883386 | May 04, 2020 10:11pm | #9

      Put your straight edge on it. Most likely it is warped or just not machined "perfectly" in the first place.

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