Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 01, 2005 08:09pm | #1

   (Before we start, you're working with a jointer.  "Joiner" refers to a biscuit joiner.  Getting the term right will help future searchers of the threads.) 

   It's possible that the jointer isn't tuned precisely.  Each blade needs to be at exactly the same height from the cutterhead.  The outfeed table needs to be exactly in line with the edge of the knives at the top of their rotation.  Or the knives (all of them) could be a couple thou higher than the OF table.   If one of the knives is a little high, you'll get lots of chatter and a very poor surface.  Are both of your tables flat over their length?

   How much are you trying to take with one pass?  Is this a 6" jointer? 

   Once everything is tuned properly, and you get the cutting depth down to something manageable, you enter the realm of "feeding technique."    Be sure you're not putting too much pressure on the infeed side of the board.  Once the board gets past the cutterhead, you want more pressure on the outfeed table just past the cutterhead area, as that's your reference area.  If you press down hard on the infeed side, you create a situation like you have with a planer -- the wood flattens out and the cutting action simply mirrors what's already there. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   
   

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   Edited 3/2/2005 1:01 pm ET by forestgirl

1. 
   pmorris | Mar 01, 2005 08:31pm | #2

   Thanks for the input.  Perhaps the problem has been the feed pressure as I have been applying too much to the infeed side of the board.  I will also check that all of the cutter heads are aligned with the outfeed at TDC.

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 01, 2005 09:53pm | #4

   Len makes a great point above.  I didn't "go there" because I'm hoping the problem is simpler than that, LOL!  At risk of setting off another storm of controversy, I'm going to introduce the term "co-planar" into the discussion.  The two tables need to be  flat and co-planar to each other.  Don't worry too much about this, though, unless the other tips don't solve the problem.  It is, however, something that needs to be checked when you receive a new jointer so you're sure you didn't get a dud.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   len1 | Mar 01, 2005 08:50pm | #3

   "doesn't make it level" "accentuates curve"  Are you sure that the infeed table is parallel in both directions to the outfeed table? You can check this with a straight edge and a feeler guage (move the blade out of the way).......Len

3. 
   hairball | Mar 02, 2005 03:37am | #5

   Sounds to me like a classic case of having the convex side of the board down and improper technique. Try holding the concave side down and see if your results improve.

4. 
   forestgirl | Mar 02, 2005 09:03pm | #6

   I edited my post above to reflect the fact that many wooworkers set their knives to be just a tad (.002 or so?) higher than the outfeed table.  According to Richard (Sgian), IIRC, the exact height depends on the wood you're jointing and how it reacts to the process.  Me?  I haven't gotten that sophisticated yet, and just keep them flush.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)