Replies

1. 
   GW52 | Nov 20, 2008 05:42pm | #1

   Skip,

   When you sharpen a disposable blade you change the geometry of the blade because you are basically shortening the width of the cutting edge. You might be able to touch up little nicks but that's about all.

   I had a set of blades sharpened for another type of planner and the cost was about $30.00 and I was without the use of the planner when they were being sharpened.

   Greg

2. 
   flairwoodworks | Nov 20, 2008 08:00pm | #2

   Skip,

   First of all, have a look at the blades and see if they are clean.  If they are covered with pitch, a little cleaning might make them cut like new.  If not...

   Like Greg said, you can hone them, but won't be able to grind any nicks out of the blade.  Get some wet/dry sandpaper (no other fine abrasives are availible 12" long) and set it up on a flat surface.  Because the blade length (from front to back) is relatively short, you should have no problem keeping the blade geometry honing free hand.  With the point of the blade away from you, draw the blade towards you a half dozen times, then lap the wire burr of the back side with two or three strokes.  Then repeat with the other blade, using the same number of strokes so that the same amount of material is removed and the cutterhead remains balanced.  You might be able to do this one to three times before having to replace them.

   If the blades are thin, they may flex, causing some areas to abrade more than others.  If so, clamp a scrap of wood to the back to provide the necessary rigidity.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

3. 
   RickL | Nov 20, 2008 09:10pm | #3

   http://www.amazon.com/Delta-22-562-2-Inch-22-560-Planer/dp/B00002239G

   Are these the blades???? You give to gain. Disposables are throw away knives. You typically get 2 edges so the costs aren't as high as they seem, plus disposable knives are pretty much quick setting so time is a factor. They are cheaper than you think in the long run. 

   You can hone then but not sharpen them. Honing is done long before they get dull. You might be better off with an indexable cutterhead but the initial cost of the machine and head is going to be considerably higher.

   Do you realize that tolls are actually cheaper and more plentiful than they were 30 years ago. Back then your only option for a planer was a 12" Belsaw and that was $500 without a motr back in the early 70's.  That was a lot of money back then. Lunchbox planers weren't around until Ryobi came out with the 10" in the 80's. Guys dreamt about owning a planer in the early days.