Replies

1. 
   GaryW | Aug 31, 2009 06:59am | #1

   Most are carbide, so order a second blade brought to you by your local sharpener and let him then pick up the dull one and sharpen it. 

   Gary W

   gwwoodworking.com

2. 
   philip | Aug 31, 2009 12:43pm | #2

   "Is sharpening a biscuit jointer blade an option? I Hit a nail over the weekend working on some re claimed wood".
   Depends on the extent of the damage. Being carbide , it may be small enough to have a professional shop regrind without altering the width of cut which is critical. At the least the depth of cut may be slightly affected.
   A proper sharpening service will tell you if it viable to re-grind, or re tip or if is better to buy a replacement.
   How can you be cutting nails anyway?

   Philip Marcou
3. 
   Lataxe | Aug 31, 2009 01:12pm | #3

   WT,

   The kerf-width of the slot for biscuits is critical - it needs to be accurate to around 0.1mm or less, if biscuits are to go in the slot.  The slot should ideally be exactly 4.0mm as most biscuits have a dry starting thickness of 3.9 - 4.0mm and expand by around 0.2 - 0.3mm.  If the biscuits live in a humid part of the country, they are likely to be 4.0mm or even a tad thicker.

   Any regrind of the teeth on a jointer blade is likely to reduce the width from it's new-condition 4.0mm width.  A regrind to remove damage from a screw or nail (rather then a regrind to just sharpen dull teeth) is likely to reduce the width of the teeth well below that 4.0mm, as there will have been chunks of TCT taken out of the cutting edge when it hit that steel.  I know this only too well.  :-/  The more TCT needs to be ground-off the teeth, the thinner will be the kerf.

   So, given that a good jointer blade can be had for not much money, I would recommend you buy a new one.  To be frank, I'd recommend getting a new blade rather than resharpening a dull one, never mind a damaged one.  Any deviation from that exact 4.0mm kerf is potentially going to cause biscuit-fit trouble.

   Lataxe

4. 
   JohnWW | Aug 31, 2009 04:23pm | #4

   Why do you think you "hammered" the blade? If it still cuts well don't worry about it. Carbide is fairly tough, the blade may have survived the nail strike without serious damage. The best thing to do is look at the blade. It is more likely that you broke some of the teeth than dulled them, so the damage, if it occurred, should be obvious.

   If the blade is damaged it will be easier, and probably cheaper, to replace it than to get it repaired.

   John White
   Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998-2007