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Forum topic by groland | posted 11-24-2018 05:26 PM | 1005 views | 0 times favorited | 17 replies | ![]() |
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11-24-2018 05:26 PM |
Topic tags/keywords: jointer knives placement I have been looking at YouTube videos and web pages devoted to the correct installation of jointer knives, and I have cause for making an inquiry about that topic here. I have an old 8” Grizzly jointer with a cutter head containing three straight blades. I have replacement blades and all kinds of alignment tools, so I’m about ready to go. Just waiting on arrival of some knife Gib screws to replace damaged ones. So here’s my question. Some say the tops of the knives should be exactly the height of the outfeed table. Others advocate that the knives should catch a straightedge and move it 1/8-1/4 inch. Perhaps the distance moved is not that important, but the knives must all move the straightedge exactly the same amount. So which is correct? What are the advantages of one method over another, if any? Thanks |
17 replies so far
#1 posted 11-24-2018 05:31 PM |
Just get them all set the same. -- Aj |
#2 posted 11-24-2018 06:10 PM |
+1 I use a dial indicator to set my knives even to the out feed table. This is actually just a reference point at this point but also very close to where they end up. Then I lower the out feed table about 1/8 or 1/4 lower than the knives. I then make a make a cut with a piece of stock I know is straight until its a inch or two over on to the out feed side. Then I raise the out feed table up to just barely touch my cut. This works for me. And like Aj2 says if you get any snipe the out feed table it a tad low. -- Alaskan's for Global warming! |
#3 posted 11-25-2018 04:30 PM |
Ditto. Get em even. Fine tune table height later. -- Shooting down the walls of heartache. Bang bang. I am. The warrior. |
#4 posted 11-25-2018 04:40 PM |
You don’t want to be messing with the outfeed table (if you even can, some designs have immobile outfeed tables). You reference everything off the outfeed table. You make the infeed coplanar to it. You set the knives to be a thousandth of an inch or two above the outfeed table. Leave the outfeed alone and adjust everything else to it. |
#5 posted 11-25-2018 06:03 PM |
I set my jointer (Delta DJ-20) knives with just a straight edge. Straight edge is placed on the outfeed table then knives are raised until they just touch the straight edge. This sets the knives at exactly the same height as the outfeed table which has always given me excellent results. I have never adjusted my outfeed table and would advise against messing with it. -- Roger M, Aiken, SC |
#6 posted 11-25-2018 06:49 PM |
Unless there’s something seriously wrong with your machine you should be able to lower and raise your outfeed any day of the week. Jointers are designed to keep the tables in plane with each other as they are moved. Up or down -- Aj |
#7 posted 11-25-2018 07:55 PM |
The infeed and outfeed tables of a jointer are NOT aligned (in plane) with each other. The outfeed is aligned with the wood surface beyond the cutter head which is clearly different from the infeed side. -- Phil Allin - There are woodworkers and people who collect woodworking tools. The woodworkers have a chair to sit on that they made. |
#8 posted 11-25-2018 08:40 PM |
Ok professor Phil -- Aj |
#9 posted 11-25-2018 09:01 PM |
This is for those of you who have straight planer blades, not the spiral carbide type. Here is a hint: If your present planer blades are set properly but just need replacing, LEAVE THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT ALONE when removing the old blades and re-installing new ones. Straight planer blades are machined to all be the exact same height. You should be able to simply drop the new blades in and tighten up. This should hold true on properly machine resharpened blades. If you do this, its not the nightmare job blade change can be. Further adjustments should only be adjusting the infeed and outfeed tables. -- Always remember: It is a mathematical certainty that half the people in this country are below average in intelligence! |
#10 posted 11-25-2018 09:08 PM |
I agree. |
#11 posted 11-25-2018 09:33 PM |
I assume you meant jointer blades, not planer. It’s definitely not the case with my Jet jointer that they just drop in and are aligned. I use a magnetic jig to set them at the same height as the out feed table. Then again, maybe you are thinking of a planer since that’s how the DW 735 blades work. -- Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner |
#12 posted 11-25-2018 09:41 PM |
I move my out feed table all the time. Not a problem in the least. I’ve been doing it on my present jointer for the last 19 years. I can’t think of a single reason to change now. -- Alaskan's for Global warming! |
#13 posted 11-25-2018 10:10 PM |
Did anyone read the instructions that was with the drawing in my first post? It started with “I use a dial indicator to set my knives even to the out feed table.” -- Alaskan's for Global warming! |
#14 posted 11-25-2018 10:13 PM |
What jointer do you have Alaska guy. I remember seeing part of it in a post once I didn’t recognize the make. I think some guys on this forum are watching too many you tube videos like the wood whisperer and other cornballs. -- Aj |
#15 posted 11-25-2018 10:40 PM |
-- Alaskan's for Global warming! |
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