Hi everyone,
I need some advice! I had a stroke 3 years ago but I am woodworking again although I still have some limitations – my right hand is significantly weaker than my left hand. I am having problems with jointing. I am able to edge joint but faces come out less than flat. I am considering a power feeder but I know of none that attach to a small jointer (mine is a Powermatic 8″). Does anyone know how to do this? Thanks.
Replies
Craigpw,
This used to be a pretty common practice in commercial shops before molding machines came into widespread use. Now a 6 head molder can S4S a board in less than a minute. Some will run up to 800 feet per minute!
You will need a full size, 1 hp powerfeed, and the best are 4 wheels with 8 speeds. The 8 speeds are best because they can go as slow as 6' per minute, which is really slow, and gives a really fine cut. The 4 speed models usually only slow to 13 feet per minute.
The down side to these big feeders is that they are really heavy and awkward to move around. I use a Steff-Maggi which weighs 242 pounds. The good news is that you can simply swing it out of the way when you don't need it. You will need help to move it around your shop though.
It needs to be mounted so that the powerfeed basically feeds on the outfeed end of the jointer. In fact, the back tire should be just past the cutter end of the table. You will then start the board, and when it goes under the back wheel, it should feed itself if everything has been set up correctly, and you have a board that is a good candidate for this. You'll need to know that lumber isn't what it used to be in terms of pretty straight and flat to start with.
You also need to have sharp blades in the jointer. If they are pounding, the feeder can't hold the boards down well.
Good luck,
Hal
http://www.rivercitywoodworks.com
Hal J,
I looked at your website - your woodworking is impressive. My woodworking is a hobby although I have been building furniture for 15 years and now have more time since my early retirement. Would a lesser than full power feeder (1/4 or 1/2 HP) be possible since I would only use it part-time? Also, a full size power feeder seems large for my 8" jointer. How do I attach a power feeder (mine has no place on the outfeed table)? Could I build a base next to the jointer to hold the power feeder?
Craig
You should be able to attach it to the base of your jointer. If not, you will need a really sturdy something attached to your jointer. It cannot be separate or you will just lift it off the floor when a board runs through.
The full size feeders have adjustments for everything you could possibly want them to do so if you can find a way to attach a base to your machine, you should be able to adjust it so the tires are pointing down. Worst case scenario would be that you might have to get a machinint to make a longer tube for you.
No, I don't think that a little feeder will work. Sorry. Even with a large feeder, things are less than ideal.
Hal
I saw a picture of a setup that could be used. It was mounted separate, on a steel column, and bolted to the floor. It's not mobile, but your tools could be, and wheeled over to it when needed. This might fit the need.
That's a good idea!
You might need to bolt your machines to the floor though or else the powerfeed will push them around.
Hal
Edited 4/26/2007 4:01 pm ET by Hal J
It will never replace hand feeding for really twisted boards. The wood mist be reasonably flat for it to work on a jointer with a power feed. They make a machine called a facer which has a power feed with hundreds of spring loaded steel finger which comes as close as you can get to the hand feeding with a simple machine
Hi craigpw ,
Just as a suggestion , perhaps if you purchase S2S lumber it can eliminate the need to face joint , let's face it (no pun intended) it can be risky and difficult with full power in two hands executing this operation .
regards dusty
I used to have a jointer power feeder. I got it from Wilke machinery, who no longer sells it. I am fairly sure it was made originally by CoMatic. It was meant to be installed on the side of the outfeed table, so you need a pretty sturdy jointer, as it was heavy, and frankly, not made with great precision. I had to work on the extension tube to get it to fit.
The "wheels" is a big studded thing, meant for flattening rough lumber, as it leaves little indentations in the wood. It also does not ride well when the wood is not reasonably flat. So you have a jointer meant to handle only rough sawn wood, but does not handle rough sawn wood well. Maybe you can find a used on on Ebay (I sold mine). It ran on 110V, which is also not common with many jointers (they generally have a big amperage pull--even my small bandsaw feeder is 220).
I think you might be better off coming up with a sled that will hold the rough sawn lumber, and running it through your planer. I am fairly sure FWW had an article on this a few years back.
How about using a router on a ski sled for the initial flattening?
Like this one:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=24118
Fix the rough timber on a bench, place straight, parallel rails (they can be wood) on each side, and use them to support the router, using a cutter specifically designed to flatten boards. This isn't so fast as a planer(UK) or jointer(US) and won't give such a good surface. But, it's cheap and doesn't need a lot of strength. Once the boards are reasonably flat, put them through the thicknesser(UK) or planer(US) to create a conventional planed finish.
I have seen a setup where a sled is made that can feed a board through the planer to flatten the first face. The parts of the board that are not touching the base of the sled are supported with appropriate shims. After the first side is flattened then the board is run through the planer as usual. I will try to find the article again. GOod luck in returning to the shop.
ALL,
Thanks for all the ideas. I will try the FWW article to build a sled to joint using a planer. This would be easier and less expensive. If it doesn't work as hoped I will try a power feeder. My hand and arm does get better with extensive exercise and therapy so I hoped to be jointing without aids eventually. Thanks again.
Edited 4/28/2007 10:52 am ET by craigpw
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