Jointer/Planner combo -knife setting with self-setting blades
Don’t think this angle of question has been addressed in other posts.
I own a jointer/planner that allows me to switch back and forth. The jointer allows both in and outfeed tables to be adjusted. About a year ago I installed self-setting blades – drop them in and go (I think).
But today my new OneWay Multi guage arrived and I put it to the test. Here are the measurements shown by blade #, front end and back end from the outfeed surface:
#1 .012F .012B
#2 .013F .008B
#3 .009F .012B
First, I know that the outfeed table needs to raised up some. But the question has to do with the blades. It was my understanding that since they are self-setting I don’t need or perhaps worse, don’t have a way to adjust them. Is that the case?? What is the proper mindset for adjustment when using this type of blade?
Second, the above measurements might be considered OK by some or in need of attention by others. I have read enough posst on FW to know there is a range of opionions on most every topic. I also know from other posts and videos that most experts like to talk about ranges less than .003.
If this type of blade – self setting (the brand is Disposal or something like that; can’t put my finger on it now) – does allow some adjustment beyond the “self setting,” do I keep #1 as is and go for the others (after correcting outfeed elevation)? Or do the different elevation kind of even themselfs out?
Tim
Replies
I am just sitting here trying to be good but . . .
What the heck I might as well chime in on some thing I know very little about. Being a gear head and all . . .
> a year ago I installed<
any chance you used the heck out of them and they are worn down some of those differences ? Probably not that much. Does seem like a lot come to think of it.
Some other things came to mind :
Surfaces all very clean when installed ?
Grease on the bolts, washers so the tightening doesn't kick the inserts around ?
No play or roughness in the bearings ?
Do you get repeatable readings if you were to turn the machine on and off and re measure a couple more times ?
Is the new One Way gauge set up right; nothing to question there ? No play in the gauge at zero ?
Any yard gnomes lurking in the darkened corners of your shop ? They love to play tricks on the unsuspecting.
Conclusion/solution
A couple of things examined:
• I switched the blades any number of ways and it was obvious that the blade holder was the problem, not the blade.
• I took measurments right at that the location that the the blade holder registers to the cylinder; all six location were dead on
Spoke with Dave who is the head guy at the US distributor. He suggested that I attempt to file the little indexing ledge that registers this end of the holder that is giving me problems. Not real easy to do given its small size and perhaps my limited tool selection, but I was able to remove metal and thru several attempts was able to get a perfect reading. And more important, I could take it out and drop it in another slot and my readings were great.
I must say that had this one location on the holder not been a problem the changing of blades with the Dispoz-a-Blade system would have taken 5 minutes. And perhaps the next time it will.
Tim
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