Replies

1. 
   BigNat | Dec 30, 2006 08:23am | #1

   Your outfeed table is too low. The easiest way to get it set up right (in my experience) Is to run a straight piece of wood about 4" into the blade and shut the jointer off. At this point, you should see a gap between the wood and your outfeed table. Simply raise the outfeed table until it just contacts the wood and you're done. Some people out there will tell you that you need a micrometer and a machinist's straight edge, but in my experience, those tools are only needed for correcting a jointer that's way out of whack.

   One added step would be to change the knives (if they need it), being sure to use the bridge, thus ensuring the blades are set at the height they will be set at after subsequent blade changes. Do this before you set your outfeed table.

   Hope this helps.

   Nat

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/30/2006 12:24 am ET by BigNat

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Dec 31, 2006 03:23am | #5

   " being sure to use the bridge"My ignorance may be showing, but none of my jointers ever had an item called a bridge. Is this exclusive to the Ridgid?I use the steel straight edge method since it sets my blades correctly across the entire table. Will the "bridge" do that, too?Always looking for an easier way,Cadiddlehopper

1. 
   xmike | Dec 31, 2006 06:28am | #6

   Bridge?

1. 
   SgianDubh | Dec 31, 2006 07:43pm | #7

   He probably means the device supplied with most machines when new that (usually) bolts to, and sits lengthways, on the cylindrical cutter block. The device has stops the knives are raised up to during their installation.

   I may be all wet of course as I've never worked with a Ridgid machine and they may not use this system.

   Some of the cheaper surface planers (jointers) don't have adjustable outfeed tables to cure the problem described in the original post. If Ridgid machines are of this pattern, i.e., non adjustable outfeed tables, the correct setting has to be made by adjusting the knives up or down in the cutter block. Slainte. Richard Jones Furniture

1. 
   BigNat | Dec 31, 2006 10:34pm | #8

   Sgian,
   You are right on the money. The bridge is the jig that comes with many jointers for setting the knives. I've found it to be the quickest way to set the knives when it's available. There are of course other methods, but I have yet to use a jointer with a cutterhead that can be locked with the knives at TDC which seems to me to be a necessary feature for setting the knives with a magnetic jig or a straight-edge and feeler gauges in an expedient manner. I know they're out there, but it hardly seems to be a common feature (maybe we should put some pressure on the manufacturers). The bridge that comes with the Ridgid and most others I have worked with does not, in fact bolt to the cutterhead, but is rather held in contact with the cutterhead on either side of the blade slot. The springs behind the blade pushes it into machined lands on the bridge assembly (which consists of two indexing jigs held apart by a metal rod). The pressure bar bolts are then tightened and the cutterhead is rotated to set the next knife. At any rate, once your outfeed table is set, as long as you use your chosen blade-setting technique with consistent results, you shouldn't need to alter the outfeed table setting again. As a matter of fact, in the boatyard I removed and hid the outfeed table adjusting handle because so many people (other trades mostly) put the outfeed table out of adjustment trying to deepen the cut. Once the handle was gone, it remained properly adjusted until greener pastures called me away.

   Edited 12/31/2006 2:42 pm ET by BigNat

2. 
   philip | Dec 30, 2006 08:42am | #2

   A refinement of Nats method is to run in about four inches (on edge), withdraw, make adjustment on the out feed without switching off, then return with the same piece of timber-if the cut increases you have over adjusted. When the the cutters are just kissing the cut you can hear a smacking sound-then it's spot on.Philip Marcou

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/30/2006 12:46 am by philip

1. 
   evanover | Dec 30, 2006 04:50pm | #3

   Nat and Phillip,

   Thanks for your responses.  I will make adjustments today and advise results.

   Thanks again.

   Erik-

3. 
   Rooms | Dec 30, 2006 05:32pm | #4

   Evanover,

   There may be a few other major or minor issues on your joiner. See FWW May/June 2000 for a excellent Joiner Tune-up article.

   Rooms