I’m new to this site, I lurk here once in awhile, this is a great site thanks to everyone who contributes!
Now I have a problem I need help with-
I picked up an old craftsman jointer at a garage sale. The infeed table is out of parallel with the outfeed table by about 1/32 to 1/16″ over its length. I can’t seem to find any obvious way of making an adjustment. There is what appears to be a locking lever on the backside near the cutter head, but it doesn’t seem to do anything to help with the problem. Anybody have a clue as to how to adjust something like this back into parallel?
Edited 2/18/2007 10:59 pm ET by measure2wicecut1ns
Replies
Without actually seeing it in person I can't do better than speculate from previous jointer repairs, I actually repair machines for a living. I believe you mean coplanar. I believe the outfeed table is fixed and you could shim the outfeed table. It's certainly fixable. I assume you have something suitable for a straightedge. I get leery over such vague measurements as 1/32 to 1/16". Feeler gauges. No reason you can't be more specific over the actual measurement.
After unbolting the jointer from the table and turning it on its side to look underneath, I discovered that the outfeed table has three adjustment bolts located inside of the stand. It can be adjusted both in the fore-aft direction, and side-to -side. It is a rather odd way to make an adjustment, but it works. After spraying all the moving parts with WD-40 and moving the infeed table all the way down and back up, the tables were just over .012 out of plane over the length of the infeed table. I was using my best extruded aluminum 4' level as a straight edge. I think part of the problem was that the infeed table's mechanisms were slightly jammed. The outfeed adjusters on the inside of the case took care of the rest. RickL, Thanks for your help. Your comment about adjusting the outfeed table gave me a clue as to where to look to solve the problem.
Now I think I'll build a new opened-framed platform for the thing to rest on, so it can be adjusted without having to unbolt it from the table.
And what are your plans for that lovely patina, some call it rust. At least that's I tell my wife when I get tools similar to your joiner. Trouble is that it gets all over the workpieces when you use it! Then I tell her it's part of the finish process, adding patina to the pieces as they're jointed!
I don't think she's buying it, as I'm sure you aren't either.
Anyway, in another post someone suggested using EvapoRust, available from Auto parts stores to deal with the patina/rust. It got rave reviews from several others as well.
Just a suggestion. My 6" joiner didn't look a whole lot better than you Craftsman, but a lot of elbow grease fixed that. I will try the EvapoRust stuff on the next well aged toold I receive/buy.
Good luck and let us know how it works out,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I've gotten most of the rust off with steel wool since posting the picture. Kind of had to in order to fine tune the outfeed. I've been researching this site and others for rust removal suggestions. So far I've read about mineral spirits & paste wax along with the steel wool. I may try the evapo-rust. Any other suggestions would be welcome.
Have you been to the Old Woodworking Machines website yet? http://www.owwm.com/. I have the exact same jointer (although I can't help you with figuring out what the alignment problem is), and I'm pretty sure they have the owner's manual for that jointer posted somewhere on the owwm website.
Interesting website. They have an owner's manual very similar to ours. I like how they suggest sharpening the knives while they are on the head. 340 & 400 grit sandpaper, and then Mother's polish worked wonders on the rusty tables.
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