Jet jwp208-1

currently looking for the knife gauge … – Watercolor

- Need to stop using the marketing PN, and use the 6 digit product code. It’s a cluster flub if you don’t use the product code. They are changed with each new mfg, or major design change; but the bloody marketing PN stays same. Only with product code can you find the vintage of your machine, get right manual, and buy right parts.

- IME – Jet tech service and parts department is PITA when it comes to getting information. I found out that calling them in person, gets the best response and answers. And if the first person you ask can’t help; tell them to find the product manager, or some old geezer tech/service person that knows the machines history.

- I own a Jet JWP208 model planer, painted in antique Jet Blue. What I learned chasing parts for rebuild is all of the 20” Taiwan made four post planers are coming from same mfg, based on same design drawings. They use same; cutter heads, bearings, gear box components, and feed rollers.
There are 20” four post planers made in China (like Grizzly G0454), and they have slight different designs, and some different parts. But most Jet planers made in China are 16” models.
Have never attempted to work on Chinese mfg 20” planer, but have documented some differences on the 15” models, like slightly longer feed roller shafts, and drive chain/speed differences. The scary part of this commonality story is: the 15” and 20” planer designs from same country, use a lot of same parts (especially bearings, bushings, gear boxes). :-(0)

- Because of Jet parts challenges, I often use Grizzly planer parts when fixing Jet/PM planers.
So what does Grizzly have for knife gauge? LOL
Grizzly also discontinued the 20in planer G1033/G1033Z knife gauge and has replaced it with the knife gauge from G1021 a 15in model.

When I acquired my JWP208, Grizzly had the individual parts for 20” knife gauge in stock and I ordered a set. What arrived was same size as my 15” knife gauge, with same blade exposure. :-(0)

If you check the dimensions on the 20” G0454Z knife gauge on Grizzly site, it approximates just over 14” long.

By now, you are mumbling this Klutz has lost his mind; am I really suggesting to use a 15” knife gauge on 20” planer? Yes.
I sold a 15” planer with my last 15” knife gauge, but can show you a 20” G1033 guage is less than 15” wide:

And here is the 15” planer knife gauge from the Grizzly site (scale is 1”):

If you want to pay twice as much as Grizzly for the Jet version 15” knife gauge, look up the JWP15HO-KG.

PS – If you are new to planer setup, suggest you consider making a DIY rotocator.

YMMV

-- If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all, Doom, despair, agony on me… - Albert King - Born Under a Bad Sign released 1967

Thank you!
Ive always had helical cutter heads in the shops I’ve worked in. Ive set jointer blades with magnets, which always worked but probably wasn’t all that precise. That little rotocater is the next thing I’m going to make.
Thank you again!

-- Its not what they call you, its what you answer to.

Looks like a great planer. I hope you find your gauge.

Have you looked on eBay?

-- James E McIntyre

I have been on ebay, no luck. I think captain has it right.

Captain have you ever used the magnetic jig that have adjustable depth sets like these…

-- Its not what they call you, its what you answer to.

Only down side js the manual doesn’t have a recommended height for the knife and my googlefoo isnt producing a number either.

-- Its not what they call you, its what you answer to.

Never owned a planer magnetic jig, since Grizzly height jig is only $13-$15?

You can make your own magnetic knife jig. Bob Vaughn has posted detailed instructions on VintageMachinery.org site, and has posted a couple of videos using his jigs.

FWIW – With the magnetic jigs, don’t need to know the actual knife height, as you can measure/set the existing knife before removal :-(0)

Recommended height of knives varies, based on who you ask?
There are more than one WWW posts that PM tech support suggests ~3mm, or about 0.118” on 15/20” planers. Some of the Grizzly manuals that actually list a height, recommend 0.059” or 1.5mm on 15”. The standard PM, Grizzly, and Delta 15” knife gauges I have used; set height to between 0.062-0.065, measured with dial indicator.

Regardless of jig being used, there can be a lot fine tuning the knife height. First time setting knives can take many hours, depending your level of perfection. The difference between just touching, and light scrape across TDC of knife is easily 0.005” difference. Even with an inspection mirror, it’s hard to see the difference; so I end up moving the gauge back and forth to feel the friction difference to enable +/-0.002 difference across the blade. I find the mfg recommendation of 0.005” max difference end to end to be too large. It is enough to make panel glue joints noticeably uneven, and some joints too loose. YMMV

Will also learn that gib’s tend to move while tightening (will push jig up, or drop down); so best to snug the blade slightly too high; and use block of wood to tap the knife lower; then tighten down the gib bolts. This technique requires some practice, but I can change knives in ~hour. :)

Cheers!

-- If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all, Doom, despair, agony on me… - Albert King - Born Under a Bad Sign released 1967

I watched the bob vaughn video, good stuff. I ordered the knife setting assembly you gave me a link to and i got the parts to build the rotacater. I appreciate all the help.

-- Its not what they call you, its what you answer to.