For a while now, I have been getting annoying tapering cuts and more chatter cuts on my jointer. The machine seemed to be set up correctly (co-planer beds etc). I decided to replace the knives on my jointer. I bought a jointer knife setting jig and a new set of knives (so I can have a spare sharp set).
I thought it was supposed to be a real pain to set the knives, but I think that it only took me about 10 minutes once the jig was set. Is this normal for setting jointer knives?
Lastly, I have to say, wow! what difference it made.
Replies
maybe you're just a natural
theres several kinds of knives and mounting systems. Some take more effort than others. Jigs is another variable. Some are pointless, some good.
I have a 6" at home that takes almost a half hour. I have a 6" where I work that takes about your 10 minutes.
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
You realize that you are making me paranoid that I didn't do it right! But I guess, the proof is in the jointing. I'll be out there shortly to joint some more boards.
You oughta know right quick.Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
I have a 16" italian jointer with its own blade setter, takes the same 10 minutes to change the blades, as long as you just look at the pictures in the manual and don't try to understand the text.
10 minutes to change 3 knives is about average for newbies. It takes me about two minutes, faster if I'm in a hurry.Practice makes perfect and faster. In 1973 I won the Mr. Congeality and joiner knife changing contest, 1minute 11 seconds. This works out to 23.666 seconds per knife, still a world record.
mike
I have an old Craftsman 6". The first time I replaced blades, I used the block-of-wood/straightedge method of trying to get an even set in all knives. I must have taken about an hour. Then I discovered Jointer Pal, a magnet system for aligning blades while doing adjustments. A snap! I think that I was set up and ready to go in about 30 minutes.
I sprung for the jointer pal myself and that did make things really easy. Unless you've got Tersa head cutters, I'm not even sure how one could do it without a magnetic device on the knives. It's just that it seemed too easy from all the other things that I've read about changing knives. The 24-inch steel straight edge I put on the jointer afterward showed a successful change as well. The proof of course was in the jointing.
I have the jointer pal as well and liked it so much I sprung for the planer pal too. Highly recommended.
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
dg, who manufactures/sell the jointer pal and the planer pal? thanks, patrick
It's a Woodstock International product, Woodstock is a branch of Grizzly.
Amazon has the Planer Pal here.
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
dg, thank you. patrick
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