Delta Rockwell Jointer “Jointing Knives”
I finally bought a jointer-Rockwell Delta 6 in. # 37-220. Its in pretty good shape, had set in a cabinet shop for years with out use. Needs some cleaning and sharpening and a good stand made.I found a manual online for it, not sure how old it is.
Was wanting some advise on Jointing the knives, the manual had basic info. about jointing the knives. Using a stone with the jointer running makes me think of bad things happening.
Cant wait till I get it up in good working order, I think its a decent jointer
Thanks
Ron
Replies
I have a 8" Rockwell/Delta jointer and the manual said to do the same thing. I tried it and it did a all right job but a lot of prep work needs to be done before you start. I send my blades out to get sharpened. I am going to buy a second set so I don't have down time.
Scott C. Frankland
Was the Newfoundland Wood Worker soon to be the Nova Scotia Wood Worker.
Edited 1/4/2003 2:58:23 PM ET by Scott Frankland
Jointing will take as long as changing the knives so why bother. Get a spare set of knives and learn how to change them efficiently. Then take two boards the length of the jointer bed and joint them and put them edge to edge. If they match pefectly, you're golden. If not, then the work begins. The work of figuring out if your technique is off, setting of the knives is off or your tables need attention or all three.
Some moulders have jointing stones built into them. These are usually the ones that run 5,000 feet or more of a single run. If you can set your knives to within a thousandth or so it won't be a problem. Even if one knife is higher it will soon be level with the other knives. I've indicated the knives on some of our planers when it's time to change the knives and they typically are blunted down .005" to .010" from the original height.
That Rockwell International "piece sign" logo dates it from mid-70's to mid-80's (when Rockwell sold the machine tool line), if memory serves, but it's essentially the same machine they made for decades. If you call Delta with the serial number, they will date it and send you a manual for free. They've done this a lot for me with my vintage machines aquisitions.
Be seeing you...
TDKPE
Did you say Vintage, I love Vintage tools. I would like to see some picks of your tools . I have 2 old power tools 24 in.Delta scroll saw , Boise Crane lathe.
Thanks for the information on the jointer
Ron
Ron,
A while back I had somone tell me the same thing about the oil stone method of sharpening jointer blades . Like you I didn't feel comfortable sharpening the knives in the method that was explained to me but regardless I tried it. I set all the blades with the knife guage then I let the outfeed table down just ever so slightly so the highest portion of the blades just start to touch the stone then very slowly let the out feed table down. When all the blades touch the stone evenly your done. The biggest problem I have with this method is the blades end up being somwhat rounded over becouse the drum where the blades attatch is round so the blades actually have a rounded edge to them. Of course I didn't have a lot to loose and it couldnt hurt them a lot more than they already were since I had hit a nail with the knives. I do have to admit that this method did work good for straightening the knives. I just ordered a new set of knives from Grizzly since thats the type of my jointer. I figure that I wont have any down time and I'll have this set resharpened.
Good Luck,
James Clark at the "PUTTERIN YANKEE" woodworking shop
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled