I have 2 old 4 1/8″ jointers, one Tomlee Model 55 (~1952 vintage) and a Craftsman from the 1970s. Both are currently working and I only need one. I’m tempted to keep the Tomlee as it was my stepfather’s but am concerned about getting new knives and adjusting them. The Tomlee has 3 knives held in by 3 set screws each. The Craftsman has 2 knives with a side setscrew and a ‘microscrew’ adjustment pushing up from the bottom. This appears much easier to adjust but I haven’t fussed with either one of them. Any experience out there on adjusting jointer knives on these antiques? Sources of generic jointer knives? The Tomlee knife seems to be 1/8″ thick with a backer plate. The jointer gets light to moderate work in a home shop.
Replies
I have neither jointer but I would measure the blades as accurately as possible (dont forget about the thickness.. Go a GOOGLE on planer blade before you do anything.
Go to Grizzly web page and look at the catalog. You may find something. Grizzly just what I thought of and could be better blades out there. Just that they sell different sized blades
Thanks for your advice. Grizzly does sell a 4" jointer and has replacement blades. My older jointer has 3 blades, newer only 2. Is the third blade an advantage ( faster, smoother cuts) or more of a liability (more pain in adjusting blade heights)?
Jeff_LA
Years ago I had a Rockwell 4" jointer, no problem replacing the blades. I can't recall if the jib screws loosened by turning clockwise or counterclockwise. After loosening screws and removing knives, remove the jibs too. Clean everything thoroughly with an old toothbrush. Spray lithium grease on jib, jibscrew threads and the cutterhead slot.
Replace knives , adjust for height . A piece of plate glass pushing down on slightly high knife will get you very close. Snug jibscrews,check with a wood stick 1'x1'x12".Mark 1" from end of stick,lay on outfeed table with mark on top dead center. turn cutterhead by pulling on belt. When stick moves forward 1/8"to 3/16" you tighten the screws and check again. The stick has to move the same amount from each end of knife.Repeat with other knives. This may take some time, do not get discouraged. In my opinion you do not need any jig or other expensive gadjets to set up jointer knives. I gave away the jig I bought, I think it was called planer pal. Worthless piece of crap that took longer to use then a wood stick.
If you follow the cleaning and lithium grease steps described, you will elimanate a lot of aggravation.Check out Benchmark website, Phil explains setting jointer and planer knives better than I.I use the jigs he describes and his method for my planer, took hours off blade changing time. Also I do not cuss as much changing knives anymore.
mike
Thanks for your advice. I'll give your approach a try!
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