Replies

1. 
   ctsjr | Dec 14, 2006 06:08am | #1

   I own the G0452 6" jointer, and when the time comes, I will be buying the dispose a blade system.  Yes, it's expensive but seems to be a time/patience saver.  Tom

   "Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
1. 
   Willie | Dec 14, 2006 06:24am | #2

   It takes me 10 minutes to change a set of blades on my 8" grizzly jointer, using the standard setting jig supplied with the machine. I don't have a need for the disposables, as I use different sharpening angles for different types of lumber. I try to get the final finish right off the jointer.

   I have not looked at the long term cost savings using the disposables, perhaps in a production shop this may be a motivator.

1. 
   ctsjr | Dec 14, 2006 06:28am | #3

   Do you sharpen them yourself or send them out?  That's my main concern about the standard blades--keeping the blade square/flat across its length.  Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Dec 14, 2006 06:57pm | #4

   It takes me a bit longer, but I can change blades fairly quickly and I sharpen my own. I began doing this after a two different sharpening services ruined some cutters and a saw blade. I have a bench grinder for which I made a wooden blade guide. I take very light cuts then hone by hand on an India stone. Fortunately, I don't have to do this very often. I keep a spare set of knives sharp in case of the unforeseen nick. Actually, if you aren't strapped for money, a lesser jointer with helical cutter sounds like a good choice. You avoid numerous hassles forever and probably save a little time which you can spend woodworking rather than maintaining machinery.Cadiddlehopper

2. 
   Willie | Dec 15, 2006 02:41am | #5

   I do them at work, on a surface grinder, but most sharpening services will do what you ask them to.

    

2. 
   frenchy | Dec 15, 2006 09:01pm | #6

   gurken

    I own an 8"  Grizzly and have both the disposable blades and the type that are resharpened..

     I bought the disposable because I'd heard all of the horror stories about how hard it is to get blades set correctly..

    I had an extra set of the regular blades because Grizzly sent them to me to make up for the jointer being damaged in shipping.  something totally unexpected and a pure gift since I hadn't asked for any special consideration since they airfrieghted the parts over night and I was able to install them all in a few minutes!

    It took me far longer to wire the plug end than it did to replace the broken castings..

    I digress..

      Anyway when the blades finally needed sharpening  I sent them to my favorite sharpening service thinking, what the heck, might as well have a spare set..

    I put in a new set of regular blades just to see how difficult it was..

        YAWN!  Not!

          I mean maybe five or six minutes.. real piece of cake with the jig they sold..

        I still have three complete sets of disposable blades and holders.. new never used..  The normal blades have all been sharpened several times and I'd guess that nearly 30,000 bd.ft. of hardwoods have gone across them..

    I tried sharpening them myself (I own the Tormex system)  and found that no matter how carefully I sharpened them they weren't as sharp as I got from Printers service.   (printers use similar blades in their printing presses.) overnite service was normal and if I asked they would do them while I waited..  cost less than 1/2 what a set of disposable blades cost.    

3. 
   frenchy | Dec 15, 2006 09:03pm | #7

   gurken,

    however if you'd like a used one, I'll sell you mine so I can buy the one with the spiral cutterhead,, make you a heck of a deal.. 

     I lust after that!

              I love how quiet they are and the fact that a nick in the blades can be addressed so easily..

1. 
   Willie | Dec 15, 2006 11:35pm | #8

   Frenchy,

   You are better off with your solid blades, the spiral with the replaceable bits leaves lines on your boards. If you re-finish after planing this is OK, but in most cases I don't. The solid spiral blade is a "b" to get sharpened.

    

1. 
   sanderdude | Dec 16, 2006 07:52pm | #9

   I mail ordered a brigdewood 12" jointer with spiral cutterhead with the 4 sided square cutters. It does not leave any lines on the wood at  all. Glass like finish regardless of grain direction, knots, figure, etc.  I used to be the go to guy in a shop I worked in cause I could change out the jointer and planer and molder knives.  Well fine, they paid me by the hour, it beat the hell out of being a sander dude for a while. Get a spiral cutterhead machine. No more blade setting ever. When all 4 sides of my cutters are dull it will cost about $100 for all new ones.  About $25 per"sharpening"

             Thanks, Robert in Mendocino, Ca.

2. 
   frenchy | Dec 16, 2006 08:04pm | #10

   Willie,

       The spiral I speak about has these square little cutter heads with four sides on each cutter. It takes but a minute to loosen and turn them. Once you've used all four sides you buy new cutters.. (cheaper than sharpening them)

     I've seen the faint lines you speak about, you can either sand or scrap them off quickly.  Frankly I doubt many of the boards I've run thru a jointer have gone straight to finish.