Replies

1. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 23, 2008 03:11am | #1

   The first  indication that the blades are set too high is that you will get a good snipe on the end of the board.

2. 
   BrianDerr | Jan 23, 2008 05:19am | #2

   thickness planer or jointer? I was assuming thickness planer, but the other contributer sounds like they're talking about a jointer. Seems like setting the blades on thickness planers is usually a snap compared to jointers, though.

   Brian

1. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 23, 2008 07:09am | #3

   Your are right, Had a senior moment and thought he was talking about jointer blades. On a plane it isn't as critical but the blades extending too much are subject to excessive stress. Sorry about the mix-up

1. 
   Disputantum | Jan 23, 2008 07:46am | #4

   OK, thanks.ne sutor ultra crepidam

3. 
   GW52 | Jan 23, 2008 04:52pm | #5

   John White has a video on a shopmade tool to set jointer knives. It works!

4. 
   JohnWW | Jan 23, 2008 05:24pm | #6

   Setting significantly too high can cause problems with chip clearing, potential blade damage, and the machine will be noisier too.

   What make and model of planer, and how do you know that neither size of Planer Pals will work?

   John White

1. 
   Disputantum | Jan 23, 2008 07:25pm | #7

   This'un: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39860Cutterhead is 2.289". Maximum for Mini PPs is 2.125", minimum for regulars is 2.5".ne sutor ultra crepidam

1. 
   dgreen | Jan 24, 2008 02:03am | #8

   It should have come with a knife gauge. In the manual it shows how to use the jackscrews to raise the knife until it just touches the gauge.------------------------------------

   It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore

1. 
   JohnWW | Jan 24, 2008 04:35am | #9

   Or the knives are spring loaded and set by a gauge that came with the tool, but neither work as well as a magnetic gauge.John White

1. 
   dgreen | Jan 24, 2008 05:10am | #11

   I downloaded the manual, thats where I got their directions. They showed the gauge but had no part number.------------------------------------

   It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore

2. 
   JohnWW | Jan 24, 2008 04:48am | #10

   I would try the Mini set, they will probably work, the difference between the 2.125 and 2.289 shouldn't make much of a difference in the height of the blades. You can probably put a piece of tape on the magnets. The tape would set the blades lower without cutting the attraction of the magnets so much that the blades wouldn't cling to them.Just check your clearances before you turn on the machine. The full size Planer Pals are probably too big to fit inside of your machine, but they are adjustable for the blade height.John White

1. 
   Disputantum | Feb 07, 2008 02:38am | #16

   Thanks for the info. I received the mini-PPs, and they set the blades about 1/16" too high even with the tape. I haven't tried planing anything yet.ne sutor ultra crepidam

2. 
   BruceS | Feb 07, 2008 05:38pm | #17

   I was thinking along the same line as you about building up the magnets.   But had the little rare earth button magnets in mind.

    Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

5. 
   mike4244 | Jan 24, 2008 08:15pm | #12

   You do not need knife gauges, you need one or two magnets and a piece of plate glass. Unplug the jointer and loosening the screws that hold the knife tight in the slot ( jib locking screws).Lower the INFEED table only. Place plate glass on the outfeed table. Move the cutter head to about the top dead center, not critical with my method. Extend the glass over the outfeed table a little beyond top dead center.

   Put the magnets on top of the glass on either side of the knife.If the screws are slacked off enough you will hear the knife hit the underside of the glass.The knife is now dead perfect,up against the underside of the glass and the bevel is entirely on the glass. Snug up the screws, check by sight to make sure the knife hasn't moved.

   Then continue to tighten the knife.Repeat for all three knives.When changing blades,make sure the slot,knife and locking jib are clean.Then spray litheum grease on all above parts, a little bit will do.Wipe off any heavy excess.Then proceed with the plate glass method. I used to use a dial indicator to set the knives, no need to now,this method works every time. It take me about 40 minutes to remove,clean and reinstall a new set of knives. I am sure I could do it faster, I'm retired and don't care how long something takes.

   mike

1. 
   JohnWW | Jan 24, 2008 09:04pm | #13

   It wasn't clear perhaps, but he is talking about setting the blades in a planer not a jointer.

   John W.

1. 
   mike4244 | Jan 24, 2008 09:25pm | #14

   I should have read the post again. I thought he was referring to a jointer.

   thanks, mike

2. 
   Disputantum | Jan 25, 2008 12:06am | #15

   Thanks much for that. I need to tune my jointer too. Saves wasting $$ on Jointer Pals.ne sutor ultra crepidam