Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Sep 30, 2010 03:59pm | #1

   In theory the answer is yes, but it would be a challenge to create a jig that can grind the blades straight, keeping their width the same from one end to the other, while keeping all three of the blades to the same width, so they stay in balance.  Part of the problem is that a planer blade is narrow and hard to hold onto, the fixed rest needs to be at least twice as long as the blade, and often the grinder's motor housing gets in the way.

   I have tried a number of commercially manufactured grinder jigs meant for use in small shops and none of them worked very well.  The one jig that worked was a simple T shaped aluminum guide made by DMT that is used for hand sharpening on the benchtop using a diamond stone or sandpaper on a glass plate as the abrasive, a variation on the "Scary Sharp" method for plane blades.   It would be a bit slow with a badly dulled blade but it wasn't hard to set up and get an accurately sized set of blades using the jig.  It shouldn't be too hard to build a shop made version of the jig.

1. 
   whitedogstr8leg | Oct 04, 2010 02:33pm | #2

   Jointer blades

   I remember seeing a jig ONCE a long time ago.     It was made to hold a single blade, at the grinding angle.  I THINK it was just a saw kerf, cut at an angle that matched the angle of the edge of the blade.      My jointer has three rather thick blades, about 6" long.    Maybe just a block of hardwood, with that saw kerf?     These blades are getting hard to find in a new state.  Then, they aren't cheap, either.    The ones I have on hand are a bit nicked up, just need a fresh edge on them.   

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 04, 2010 04:39pm | #3

   Its been done...

    http://www.veritastools.com/Products/Page.aspx?p=121

   The above site has a jig for sharpening blades that is identical in function to the old DMT jig.  

    

   I also remember seeing some jigs that mounted a blade in a saw kerf.  I have seen jigs in old Popular Science or Popular Mechanics Magazines that mounted the blade in a simple kerfed block and then sharpened the blade on a drill press with a cupped wheel or on a table saw with a grinding wheel mounted on the arbor.

    

    

    

2. 
   Don01 | Oct 06, 2010 02:56pm | #4

   Jointer Blades

   I am sure you can find a source for a new set of knives for your jointer, most likely through a sharpening service. The accuracy of having a professional work the knives is small and the quality of the job should be high.

   Don