I’m considering going the cheap way out of buying a new jointer with a longer bed by just adding extensions to my existing jointer. Has anyone tried this with success/failure? My jointer’s bed is only 32″ long and I’d like to add about 12″ on both side so it will true up a long board. I saw a article in Shop Notes about doing this and just wondered if anyone has tried it?
Thanks for the help.
Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I’ll remember, but let me try and I will understand.
Replies
I drilled a couple of holes in the end of my jointer tables for some mounting bolts, made some simple table tops out of scrap and put an adjustable leg on them. The tables have to be flat and straight and perfectly aligned with the jointer tables. If you raise or lower a jointer table, you have to adjust the extension table for height. Extension tables will allow you to handle very large and long work easily. I'd hate to use a small jointer without them.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
What sort of jointer is yours? Years ago I built a support table to go under an Inca jointer (which I wish I still had). The table was longer than the jointer so I could put a roller support about a foot beyond the outfeed table. That solution was not dependent on the strength of the jointer which would not have supported an extension anyway. I also did not have to drill into the jointer which was aluminum. Even if it had been made of cast iron, I would not have added a 1-foot extension as you are proposing to do. I never put a roller ahead of the infeed table as I could support a long board by hand at that end whereas applying pressure on the outfeed table didn't allow me to use a hand for support.
Cadiddlehopper
I have an old Delta 6" jointer that I've had since I was a kid 15 years ago. I couldn't tell you the model number but it's not quite a table top jointer since it's on a base but the entire table is only 32" long. I've noticed in the past year or so my edge joints aren't quite true. Not sure how I've been getting away with arched edge joints all these years but maybe I'm just becoming a better craftsman.. ??? Nevertheless, I've been debating on getting a new jointer but the thought of carrying downstairs in my basement prevents me form spending the cash. I saw in ShopNotes the table extensions I talked about earlier. You do have to drill and tap a few holes in the side of the jointer and bolt angle iron to it to attach the tables. Not sure how that would work or how much load they would be able to handle. I do like the support table form the post above (forgot the username, sorry). I just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time.
Thanks Mike
Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember, but let me try and I will understand.
I had a Delta 6-incher back in the '60s. I liked the fence better than the new ones, but I remember the bed as much longer. I like the roller support idea myself. You could cantilever it from your stand (I assume it has one) & make it adjustable. The structure could be wood which means no metalwork other than drilling holes in sheet metal. You can get rollers & mounts from Woodworker's Supply. You could even use portable roller supports, but I have never trusted them to stay put. Maybe they could be fastened down with construction adhesive.Cadiddlehopper
I have an old 63" PM60. Didn't like the idea of drilling holes and bolting on since that would put all the weight on the edge.
Was thinking about drilling holes and epoxying in the longest threaded rods I could get to fit. Thought that would spread the weight further in, though I was still going add a support pole to be safe.
Rich
Edited 8/2/2006 11:31 am ET by richtes
A support pole sounds like a good idea.Cadid
Well, this is what I ended up with. A couple of sheets of plywood with laminate on top. Each extention is only about 12" long and wouldn't carry that much weight so I didn't think I needed a support from the bottom. I had to make sure each extention lined up perfectly with the bed to get a true cut. Works well and the drill and tapping of the holes on my jointer to attach the aluminum track wasn't that tough to do. The total length of my bed is now 58" long. Thanks for all the help.
Mike
Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember, but let me try and I will understand.
Edited 8/3/2006 8:27 pm ET by mvflaim
Edited 8/3/2006 8:29 pm ET by mvflaim
There's a guy near me who sells lumber (Hilton Hardwoods) and he has a jointer he inherited thats exactly yours; A 6" jointer that has wood bed extensions. He says he can easily joint an 8' board on it.
Hi Frank,
Glad to hear! I was playing around with it last night and I was amazed what a difference 2' of extra bed can do for my edge joints. I should have done this 15 years ago.
Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember, but let me try and I will understand.
My jointer has a 46" bed .... I may even do this at some point.
Hey, I have that same jointer. I have not had much luck with edge jointing. That aluminum fence is horible. I can set it square to the bed in one spot and check it somewhere else only have it slightly off. Have you had good luck with that lightweight fense?
After reading your post Iwent and checked my fence to see if it was off. If the front end of the fence is perfectly square, the back end is off about a 1/32". Not too bad for me to notice any unsquareness in my edge jointing. The middle of the fence by the blade is still square which is where I keep the pressure.
Thanks Mike
Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember, but let me try and I will understand.
That's about what I found. If I put up a good precision square against a flat face and it was about that off on one side (edge). It's not much, but when layed side by side there was a small gap. I have been running the LN #7 over it and getting dead on. A real pain though. I hope to upgrade to a Griz 8" some time in the near future. Cool extentions. I never thought of that. Take care.
Bones,
You and I think alike. The 8" Grizzly was the one I was considering upgrading to but the thought of dragging it down the basement steps burst my woodworking bubble. I wanted to get an 8" jointer so I could face plane my stock straight and I've heard good things about the Grizzly. Let me know how it works and maybe next summer I'll spend my hard earned cash on that.
Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember, but let me try and I will understand.
Edited 8/4/2006 7:16 pm ET by mvflaim
I will definitely do that. I am squirling away a few dollars here and there to save. I am torn between the regular HSS blades and the spiral cutterhead. I hate setting jointer knives. The thought of simply rotating the blades to a new sharp side is definitely appealing. When I get it, I will definitely post the results. Only problem is it may be the first if the year before I have the jingle. Take care.
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