I didn’t realize that if I left my old Craftsman planer out in the rain, it would rust so I want to get the top reground so that I can start over with a perfect surface. I called a couple of automotive shops and they gave quotes of $60 to $100 depending on how fine a surface and how difficult it was to mount it up to grind the top.
Any hints on having this done? Ways to get the best and or good deal on the work?
I bought this old 6″ jointer for $40 and it has run pefectly for a couple of years. There was a bit of wear at the throat and so my leaving it out in the rain was a way of punishing it. I am going to tear it down and restore it.
Replies
Rain can't hurt that much! Well, acid rain maybe... I'd just take it apart and some 100 grit followed by 220 with a good wooden block should do OK! WET/DRY paper that is with a bit of oil...
You can make the surface look great with a block but you can't flatten the surface with any real precision with a block unless you have two other blocks the same size that the jointer table. For $60 or so, I am happy to have it ground flat.
I always thought that it cost a lot more than that. Make sure that these guys have the kind of machinery necessary to get good results.
Mike
please excuse my spelling.
Edited 6/29/2005 12:49 pm ET by mike
I thought you ment just rust....
For $60 or so, I am happy to have it ground flat... Good price.. go for it! If they do it like JW stated...
Edited 6/28/2005 9:55 pm ET by Will George
For the price they are quoting you, and guessing that their surface grinder is only large enough to surface the head of an engine, I suspect that they are planning to grind each table separately, which isn't a good plan.
Properly done the tables should be ground while they are both mounted on the base casting and the grinder takes full passes down the entire length of the machine. If they aren't ground this way, the tables probably will not lie in a single plane when separately ground tables are reattached to the base casting.
If the tables are ground mounted on the base casting, they must be carefully supported with jacks on the outboard ends to prevent them from flexing downward under the pressure of the grinder. In most machine shops, properly setting up and grinding a jointer will cost several hundred dollars and requires a very large grinder and a skilled operator.
I doubt if the tables could be so badly worn that they need regrinding. Unless careful measuring confirms the tables aren't flat, you would be better off just cleaning them up.
John W.
Edited 6/28/2005 1:06 pm ET by JohnW
I've had a fair number of jointers reground over the years as a repair tech. I think you would be best off just giving the tables a light sanding. You risk doing damage with the wrong procedure. On a small jointer like that it's typical to grind the tables in place on the jointer bed or you will never get them to line up again. I'd be surprised if it would fit on their grinders. I usually have a local grinding shop with blanchard grinders do the tables on the machines I'm working on.
FWIW - Many years ago I went to the Laguna Tools showroom. They had a set-up not unlike an old locomotive drive rod. They had a pair of jointer tables on the bench face to face. The bottom was staionary and the upper was hooked to the drive rod being driven by a low speed gear motor. In between they had lapping compound and just let the tables flatten each other out.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
From what you';re describing, you're probably going to get a job that will make the machine worse rather than better. Perfection in the surface of a jointer is not nearly as important as alignment.
See the FAQ on the Old Woodworking Machines site http://www.owwm.com for information about cleaning rust off tables. You could also get some good advise on the OWWM forum if you still want to get it ground.
Pete
Perfection in the surface of a jointer is not nearly as important as alignment. Ya bet!
Like a Hubbie and the wife... Ya have to be workin' on the same plane!
"Like a Hubbie and the wife... Ya have to be workin' on the same plane!"
Now that is a challenge! If you can give me a successful recipe, we can make a few million....
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