Dial Guage Setup for Setting Planer Knives

[alisfair]

Looks good, may try it. Thanks for your input!

[alisfair]

was wondering after looking at your setup. why not put magnets on the blade also. My doing so the magnets would draw the blade edges up to glass and hold them until you fastened them on each end?
Just a thought.

[mountainbreeze]

Nopic butmaybecan do a sketch.

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That looks like a set-up for a jointer. I thought we were talking about planners.

I do like the concept though. I may try it next time I set my jointer knives.

[billmayo]

was wondering after looking at your setup. why not put magnets on the blade also. My doing so the magnets would draw the blade edges up to glass and hold them until you fastened them on each end?
Just a thought.

The joiner knives need to be just above the outfeed table. I had used a machinest ruler and adjusted until the knife edge would move the ruler about 1/8". Then adjust the other end of the knife for the same movement. At one time for a bet, I installed and adjust all three joiner knives in less than 2 1/2 minutes with successful testing results. I seem to remember sometime like .002" or .003" proud. I would recommend using shim stock the thickness needed under the glass on the out feed table and add magnets to hold the knife.

This would be the simplest idea for setting joiner knives that I have seen or heard. I will try using 1/4" plexiglass, shim stock and small round magnets that I have for the next joiner. I have these super strong magnets left over from some project. Breaking them loose from metal and themselves is hard to do. I can recess the round magnets in the plexiglass with some plexiglass still between the magnets and the table and knife so I break it loose when done. Just have to play with the depth of the magnet. Now to see if the same type jig can be made to work for the planer. Thanks for the idea.

[JPG]

I am not sure how to adapt this for planer knife use. Everything would be upside down!

Any suggestions for a reference surface on top?:)

I like the magnet / glass plate.

[charlese]

Aw Geeze! I didn't read very good:mad: ! I thought the thread was about jointers. When I read about using a dial indicator and linking to Nick, my "old" mind went directly to his jig for setting jointer knives.

[JPG]

Aw Geeze! I didn't read very good:mad: ! I thought the thread was about jointers. When I read about using a dial indicator and linking to Nick, my "old" mind went directly to his jig for setting jointer knives.

I for one am glad you did so! Like I said above, I like the magnet/glass idea!!:)

[lightnin]

wonder if one could place a dial indicator at each end of the blade when setting blades would expedite the installation?

Seems like you would need a third dial indicator to align the other two the same.

[JPG]

Seems like you would need a third dial indicator to align the other two the same.

No, just calibrate them to a flat surface.

[bobgroh]

I also like the idea of the glass - the same idea was posted in Popular Woodworking a month or so ago. That posting did make a good point about using a piece of 'plate glass' - I believe true plate glass is pretty darned flat and that is the idea here.

Several thoughts have occurred to me while reading this thread:
#1: The idea of using a very thin something between the glass and the outfeed bed to build in a 0.001 or so offset is a good idea (idea: Bill Mayo)
#2: Good idea to use two magnets to hold the blade tight to the surface is a good idea
#3: Seems like you would need two holes to access the two wedge locking screws in the jointer head so you can lock everything down after alignment.
#4: You don't really need magnets to hold the plate glass flat on the output feed table - a heavy'ish weight would suffice. You will have to rock the plate to get the blades into their highest point.

Now to try it!!