Jet jj-6-csx jointer, So Frustrated

The manual I looked at said the knives should be 1/16” above the cutterhead. My 8” Jet says “approximately .079”...which is slightly more than 1/16”. I’d reset the knives lower and not fret about it too much. The other thing is that the outfeed table may not be co-planer. If the far end is up too much it might create the problem you have. I’m not sure that you mean when you say “performs like I do not have enough blade sitting above the cutter head”. Maybe you can elaborate a little?

-- Our village hasn't lost it's idiot, he was elected to congress.

Forget trying to get the knives 3/16 from anything. Does the cutterhead have jack screws on this model? If so run them all the way in, pick a spot to set your out feed table, make the infeed table the same height (probably about where a zero Pointer lines up) and bring the knives up to the out feed table height.

Here's a video

I have that same jointer. I set the knives differently. I install them all the way into the cutterhead, then adjust the tables to eliminate snipe. I keep the cutterhead from rotating and hold the knife down with a scrap of wood, then tighten the screws.

They all need to be at the same height. By installing them the way I do, they will be.

Jigs, micrometers, magnets or whatever method used are ways to install them all at the same height. Then you still need to adjust the tables to eliminate snipe.

-- Genghis Khan and his brother Don, couldn't keep on keeping on...

The manual I looked at said the knives should be 1/16” above the cutterhead. My 8” Jet says “approximately .079”...which is slightly more than 1/16”. I d reset the knives lower and not fret about it too much. The other thing is that the outfeed table may not be co-planer. If the far end is up too much it might create the problem you have. I m not sure that you mean when you say “performs like I do not have enough blade sitting above the cutter head”. Maybe you can elaborate a little?

- Fred Hargis

Fred is correct I meant to say 1/16th, Fred the blade is barely above the retainer bar,it seems like the bar and the blade are hitting the material. As far as jack screws, I have two small allen screws that the bar sits on and then the retainer bar. I am using a digital height gauge off the table so I know Iam pretty much dead on whatever number I use…

Sorry to read. Machinery can be very frustrating.

Did you start with only aligning the out feed table and cutter head to same plane? Then, Work on in-feed table coplanarity after they are set? You can adjust the table positions to be above the knives and create this problem if you work out of order.

Due geometry of the out feed table and cutter head; there can only be one of two problems:
1) The out feed table is too low.
- Did you check that the gib screws are snug ( and out feed table is not moving up/down)?
If these are too loose, there can be too much up/down movement in table. If too tight, can not adjust out feed table position. It’s a balancing act to get them set right.
- Have you checked that the gib(s) for out feed table are not missing or damaged?
If the gib is missing, or badly worn, it could cause the out feed table to be lower.
- Cast iron is damaged.

2) The cutter head is too low.
Considering the cutter head bearing blocks rest in a pocket in main casting, hard to see how this could happen unless the cutter head bearing caps are damaged? Regardless, since the bearing caps are held into casting from bottom with one bolt each side, you could insert some wide shim stock under each bearing cap and raise the head slightly. If adjusting the out feed table doesn’t work, and only need small lift; might try this. Be warned, to remove the cuter head bolts, have to remove/lift the entire cast iron assembly off the base.

PS – Once tool is out of warranty, Jet technical service/parts department does not really care if you bought machine new or use. They just want your machine working. If the checking/adjusting the gib(s) doesn’t fix the out feed height issue, give them a call. They helped me once over the phone fix a damaged CL purchased jointer.

Best Luck.

-- I'm an engineer not a woodworker, but I can randomly find useful tools and furniture inside a pile of lumber!

The manual I looked at said the knives should be 1/16” above the cutterhead. My 8” Jet says “approximately .079”...which is slightly more than 1/16”. I d reset the knives lower and not fret about it too much. The other thing is that the outfeed table may not be co-planer. If the far end is up too much it might create the problem you have. I m not sure that you mean when you say “performs like I do not have enough blade sitting above the cutter head”. Maybe you can elaborate a little.

- Fred Hargis

Fred is correct I meant to say 1/16th, Fred the blade is barely above the retainer bar,it seems like the bar and the blade are hitting the material. As far as jack screws, I have two small allen screws that the bar sits on and then the retainer bar. I am using a digital height gauge off the table so I know Iam pretty much dead on whatever number I use…

- slolearner

If you post a pic of the knives and gibs as they sit in the jointer we can at least check that you have the correct parts.

-- Aj

Sorry to read. Machinery can be very frustrating.

Did you start with only aligning the out feed table and cutter head to same plane? Then, Work on in-feed table coplanarity after they are set? You can adjust the table positions to be above the knives and create this problem if you work out of order.

Due geometry of the out feed table and cutter head; there can only be one of two problems:
1) The out feed table is too low.
- Did you check that the gib screws are snug ( and out feed table is not moving up/down)?
If these are too loose, there can be too much up/down movement in table. If too tight, can not adjust out feed table position. It s a balancing act to get them set right.
- Have you checked that the gib(s) for out feed table are not missing or damaged?
If the gib is missing, or badly worn, it could cause the out feed table to be lower.
- Cast iron is damaged.

2) The cutter head is too low.
Considering the cutter head bearing blocks rest in a pocket in main casting, hard to see how this could happen unless the cutter head bearing caps are damaged? Regardless, since the bearing caps are held into casting from bottom with one bolt each side, you could insert some wide shim stock under each bearing cap and raise the head slightly. If adjusting the out feed table doesn t work, and only need small lift; might try this. Be warned, to remove the cuter head bolts, have to remove/lift the entire cast iron assembly off the base.

PS – Once tool is out of warranty, Jet technical service/parts department does not really care if you bought machine new or use. They just want your machine working. If the checking/adjusting the gib(s) doesn t fix the out feed height issue, give them a call. They helped me once over the phone fix a damaged CL purchased jointer.

Best Luck.

- CaptainKlutz

SUCCESS…!!! I USED THIS METHOD…I think I was so wrapped up in trying to use what I found and read on internet that I didnt stop to understand the mechanics of it and why snipe happens. Right now I have the cutterhead damn near flush with the apex of the blade and checked all 3. Never will I ever again coplane the in/out feed table then bring the blades in. From now on outfeed and blades then infeed to that, the biggest thing is the cutter head flush with the outfeed though….

Glad you figured it out.
FWIW – the Jet manual is available online and it shows same alignment sequence.
http://content.jettools.com/manuals/man_708457K.PDF

Remember, can believe less than half of what you read on internet. Biggest challenge is always figuring out which half. :-)

Cheers!

-- I'm an engineer not a woodworker, but I can randomly find useful tools and furniture inside a pile of lumber!