Replies

1. 
   Gramps | Feb 22, 2011 10:41am | #1

   planer/jointer blades

   Holbren tools  I've bought blades and was very satisfied with quality

2. 
   AutumnWoods | Feb 23, 2011 05:20pm | #2

   The steel is everything.

   Get a good quality T-1 high speed steel with 18% tungsten content.  They will last around 3 X longer without sharpening.  Amana tools makes a good set, but they cost a little.  I recently tried out a new supplier called Template Services at http://planerknives-n-blades.com/.  They carry T-1 and carbide knives at really good prices.  I'm happy with the product so far.  Best of luck.

1. 
   workthewood | Feb 26, 2011 10:00am | #3

   Jointer/Planer knives

   Thanks for your informative suggestions. It is quite surprising that the only thing touching the wood in either piece of this expensive equipment are the knives and it seems that us woodworkers know so little of the steels that do all the work as evidenced by the lack of comments on this subject. Oh well!!!!!

3. 
   hammer1 | Feb 27, 2011 09:27am | #4

   I just sharpened two sets of 15" planer blades. One set was the original Delta knives, the other were inexpensive Taiwan knives. I've been using both for several years. Can't say I notice any difference with the exception of the face and back. The Taiwan imports aren't machined as finely but neither is perfectly flat. Both these knives perform the same. I've been setting up and running many machines over the years, knives of all kinds from turn of the century to brand new. I wouldn't say any of them have been significantly different either in terms of sharpening or longevity. If you are running teak, they all are going to dull quickly, poplar, they can last a long time. A piece of grit or sand because you laid the board on the floor and didn't clean it, nicks them all.