Replies

1. 
   RickL | Jun 14, 2007 04:43pm | #1

   You won't be able to get rid of the nicks in the blades. You could maybe hone them if there were no nicks.  Those are throway blades.  If you cut the cost in half you are paying $15 a set of blades considering the double edges.  You are also getting the benefit of quick set knives which is a big plus if you have ever set knives on a planer of the older style. Convenience is another thing you are paying for. 

    

    I pay $24 for each tongue and groove cutter for my moulder heads for flooring and it takes eight cutters per set up. Prices are actually really low for the hobby woodworker. Years ago most hobbyists wouldn't even be able to own a planer as the options were Foley Belsaw, Parks or PM for a 12" planer and the Foley was $500 and the average pay wsa $5 and hour. 

   
   

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   Edited 6/14/2007 11:30 am ET by RickL

1. 
   JonE | Jun 14, 2007 07:38pm | #4

   I guess I already realized I can't get rid of the nicks.  What I'd like to accomplish is to touch up the dull edges, without taking more than a thousandth off the blade width, such that I could reload them in the machine and plane rough lumber down.  What happens is the edges get noticeably duller and the cut quality decreases, while at the same time the planer has to work harder to hog off the wood.  It would be nice to get, for example, a thousand board feet on a set, and then hone them with a diamond stone and get another five hundred BF of rough 4/4 stuff down to 13/16" for a final pass with brand new blades.

   I have a Powermatic 180 that is out of service right now, so until that's repaired and adjusted, I have to make do with the little lunchbox. 

2. 
   GW52 | Jun 14, 2007 07:25pm | #2

   I am not real sure on how your blades are secured to the rotating drum, if they are indexed like the DW735 if you sharpen them it throws the geometry of the cut off. If when you replace them you have to measure, like a jointer, then you should be able to sharpen them. Another thought, again not being that familiar with your machine if the blades are nicked replace only one of them with a new one and you should have a good surface. If it were my machine I would replace all of them. Then again it might more expensive to sharpen them then it is to replace them.

   Greg

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 14, 2007 07:34pm | #3

   It's hard for me to throw mine away also, but no hope of sharpening (geometry problem as mentioned above).  What those nicks have taught me is to be sure my stock is clean before I put it through the planer, and to take lighter cuts than I used to.  Hard to avoid the nicks completely, though.  Shifting the knives works once.  If the blades are still sharp, I just put up with the ridge the nick leaves, and sand it out.

   $15 per edge isn't bad.  I'd think sharpening would cost at least that much.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   lwj2 | Jun 15, 2007 12:35am | #7

   $15 per edge isn't bad. I'd think sharpening would cost at least that much.

   Last time I had my jointer blades sharpened it ran me $18 for a set of three six-inch blades. Planer blades are likely in a similar range.

   OTOH, I can touch them up several times before they demand a trip back to Mr. Jamison's.

   Leon

4. 
   GHR | Jun 14, 2007 09:47pm | #5

   I have a Dewalt benchtop planer.

   I hone the blades with a diamond plate.

   I took a 2x4 cut a slot using a table saw, proper angle and depth.

   Sharpening is easy. Watch for cutting yourself.

5. 
   frenchy | Jun 14, 2007 10:38pm | #6

   JonE

    

    it will cost you more to have them sharpened than new ones cost..

     sharpen them yourself?

     Well that's a game of extremely diminishing returns.   I bought a Tormex sharpening system and sharpened my planner blades. They lasted 1/2 as long as professionally sharpened ones did and dramatically increased tearout and other issues..

    It's a real art to sharpen both blades the same, if you don't get them exactly correct you'll have ripples in your wood.. (I mean exactly the same) 

     

1. 
   GW52 | Jun 15, 2007 07:17pm | #8

   Gee, I guess that's why they are called throw away blades!!!

6. 
   Steve50 | Jun 17, 2007 03:21am | #9

   I have been pondering what to do with mine when the second edge is used.  I was thinking of recycling them by cutting them up into smaller sections and making detail chisels or perhaps some lathe chisels such as a thin parting tool.  Throwing HSS away just because they cannot be used as a planer blade seems a waste.

   Steve

7. 
   USANigel | Jun 17, 2007 03:40pm | #10

   If you can find someome with a surface grinder. I'm sure a small amount (.005) taken fron the flat front of the blade would work, but at what cost?

8. 
   KMac | Jun 18, 2007 12:41am | #11

   I don't resharpen them, however I do recycle them.  I use the old blades to make abrasive cutters, tape dispensers, etc.  Haven't tried to use them as scrapers, but that is next on my list. Ken

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 18, 2007 01:40am | #12

   I suppose you could use one for tearing sandpaper to the right sized sheet.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)