Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 22, 2002 08:16am | #1

   First of all, if you're this unfamiliar with jointers, I'd strongly suggest you obtain some written material -- "Planers and Jointers" is an excellent book, I'll find the author's name for you.  Jointers have major safety considerations, and you need to educate yourself as to what they are.

   OK, setting on up. 

   1. The knives must be level with the outfeed table at all times.  Once you get the outfeed table set, you don't change it until there is a problem attributable to that alignment.  You are referencing the edge of a knife when it is at the top of the cutting circle.
   2. The infeed table is lower than the outfeed table (and the knives) by the amount (depth) of cut you want to take.  When the infeed table is set at zero, the infeed, tip of the knives at the top of their arc, and the outfeed table are all in line with each other.
   3. Tables need to be flat and co-planar with each other.  Fence needs to be at exactly 90 degrees to the table.

   Most comments by Grizzly jointer owners have indicated that the machine was pretty well tuned when it came out of the box.  There hopefully isn't too much fiddling around you need to do.

   Jointer technique is something that takes practice.  You can have a perfectly tuned jointer, and still get imperfections due to incorrect technique.  Tune your jointer up and then come on back and get some info on technique.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   kerouax | Mar 29, 2003 02:19am | #7

   thank you for posting the jointer howto setup.

   I was given a slightly used 6" frejoth jointer with stand with no documentation. I did a quick search on google for online manuals and came up with none. So trying to set the infeed and outfeed tables just right was proving to be difficult at best.

   After following your steps I am now jointing straight wood.

   Thanks,

   Jack

   question: Why should i purchase a planer when i can use the jointer for all 4 sides?

1. 
   RW | Mar 29, 2003 02:26am | #8

   because a jointer makes flat and a planer makes parallel. Jointing 4 sides you could have a board 8 ft long, 6" wide, with a 3/4" edge and a 1/2" edge. All sides would be flat, but still a useless piece of wood." If you kill a man, it is a tragedy. If you kill a million, it is a statistic." - Josepf Stalin, attributed.

1. 
   PlaneWood | Mar 29, 2003 08:31pm | #9

   RW -

   Saw your quote at the bottom. Saddam Hussein has been attributed with saying this - "We have 20 million people in Iraq, but we only need 5 million."  Based on his actions, he must truly believe that.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

1. 
   RW | Mar 29, 2003 09:08pm | #10

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)

   And knobs and plane stuff. New weekend, new quote. Never had so much commentary on my choice for the week as this last. At least someone reads them. Guess that's the point. Makes me think, makes someone else think. Ouch. My head hurts now." Blessed are the forgetful: for they get the better even of their blunders" - Nietzsche

2. 
   forestgirl | Mar 29, 2003 09:58pm | #11

   Hi Jack, glad that helped!!  Jointers seem like such a simple machine at first glance, but not so much in practice, and safety is important.

   Your question about planers vis a vis jointers is not totally out of left field.  It took me quite a bit of "envisioning" to get an understanding of what's what in the basic milling process.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   jase | Nov 22, 2002 08:29am | #2

   Patrick, you want the outfeed table level with the highest point of knife rotation, the infeed table somewhere below, usually 1/16".

   From your description it sounds like you had your outfeed table set just a little too high. Too fix this lay a straightedge across the outfeed table overhanging the blades. Rotate the cutterhead (with the machine unplugged!) so you have a knife at its highest point. Raise or lower the outfeed table so the knife touches the straightedge without lifting it off the table.

   Jase--Is there a better way?
3. 
   FortworthPat | Nov 22, 2002 06:25pm | #3

   Thank you both for your comments. I have followed our advice and am still experiencing the same problems. I think I understand what is happening. The boards I am jointing are long and heavy (1.75 inches X 9 inches X 7.5 feet long). When the boards are at the ends of either table they are exerting a strong bending moment on the machine. I think the tables are deflecting. I can joint smaller lighter stock without problems. If I am correct, my problem is that I am asking a machine in this relatively light weight catagory to do more that it is capable of. The only thing that I can think of is to put my best blade on my table saw and mill the true edges there. What do you think?

   Thanks again,

   Pat

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Nov 22, 2002 06:40pm | #4

   Patrick-

   John White wrote an excellent article for Fine Woodworking, #142 (May-June 2000) on Jointer Tune-Up. Taunton also sells a video based on the article. The article has great illustrations that should guide anyone with mild mechanical skills to a well-tuned machine.

2. 
   jase | Nov 22, 2002 11:17pm | #5

   How small is jointer. Even with that size of board a cast iron table in dovetailed ways shouldn't be deflecting.

   The mass of the board could be causing the trailing end to sag when you begin the cut, as you said. I would suggest getting someone to help by supporting the weight of the trailing end of the stock while you keep the leading end against the outfeed table and fence.

   Jase--Is there a better way?

   Edited 11/22/2002 3:21:03 PM ET by jase

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 23, 2002 09:02am | #6

   Patrick

      If you try jase's idea of getting someone to support and you don't have anyone, I keep several adjustable height rollers on hand for that second person. Worth the $30 investment on many occasions. Just something else to ponder..

   Luck...

   sarge..jt