Jointer - Blade Wedge Lock Washers

S Brian · Post by **S Brian** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 11:54 am

I recently read a post about replacing/adjusting the jointer knives (can't find it now) and one of the responders mentioned to be sure and use the lock washers for the the nine socket head cap screws. I have a 1978 Magna jointer and recently acquired a 1984 SS jointer and neither one has lockwashers under the screws. When I look in my jointer manual which I purchesed in 1984, it shows nine "special flat washers", but when I look at the jointer parts list on the SS web page, there are no washers. I'm

What are you guys using? Is the "special flat washer" a star washer or a split washer.

Another observation - After some cleaning and maintenance and knife setting on the "newer" jointer, I decided to do the same on my older jointer and I noticed a difference in the design of the blade wedges. On the Magna the wedges are crowned in the middle by .050 - .060, but the SS wedges are perfectly flat from end to end. Is this just a design difference between the two companies?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:48 pm

I have not had mine out recently, but as I recall, they are split lockwashers, that are 'smaller' in outer diameter than the 'standard' ones. This allows them to fit down into the wedge holes which barely provide clearance for the screw heads. I do not recall any 'humpedness' of the wedges. I assume you are referring to their 'height' when installed.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:19 pm

sbm wrote:What are you guys using? Is the "special flat washer" a star washer or a split washer.

Another observation - After some cleaning and maintenance and knife setting on the "newer" jointer, I decided to do the same on my older jointer and I noticed a difference in the design of the blade wedges. On the Magna the wedges are crowned in the middle by .050 - .060, but the SS wedges are perfectly flat from end to end. Is this just a design difference between the two companies?

I use a stainless steel #8 split washer under each screw. This allows me to just snug the center screw to hold the knife until I can set the width and height of the knife.

Yes, the blade wedges are different in height from older designs to the newer ones. They all work the same way.

S Brian · Post by **S Brian** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:59 pm

JPG

The "hump" is between the ends. If you lay the wedge on a flat surface, with the c'bored holes up, the .050 - .060 gap is in the center and I doubt that it is reduced much if any when screws are tightened.

Bill Mayo

Thanks for the info on the lock washers.

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:06 pm

Interesting, the newer jointers do not use any washer on the screws that hold the steel wedges into the cutter head. The older jointers used a non steel wedge .My recollection of these older jointers was that the washer was not a lock washer but simply a small steel washer that went against the non steel wedge. I always thought they were there to protect the softer wedge material on the older jointers.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:25 pm

SDSSmith wrote:Interesting, the newer jointers do not use any washer on the screws that hold the steel wedges into the cutter head. The older jointers used a non steel wedge .My recollection of these older jointers was that the washer was not a lock washer but simply a small steel washer that went against the non steel wedge. I always thought they were there to protect the softer wedge material on the older jointers.

You are just not satisfied until I go take one loose! I concur re 'softer material on older(1960) units. Will take screw loose later this pm.

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:53 pm

JPG40504 wrote:You are just not satisfied until I go take one loose! I concur re 'softer material on older(1960) units. Will take screw loose later this pm.

I have some old wedges and new wedges that I already checked with a magnet. But, I know that you will have to check for yourself.]

S Brian · Post by **S Brian** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:26 pm

SDSSmith wrote:Interesting, the newer jointers do not use any washer on the screws that hold the steel wedges into the cutter head. The older jointers used a non steel wedge .My recollection of these older jointers was that the washer was not a lock washer but simply a small steel washer that went against the non steel wedge. I always thought they were there to protect the softer wedge material on the older jointers.

Yes interesting. I did not realize that the wedges were not steel. I just went down stairs to my shop and checked with a magnet. The wedges on the older jointer are non-metalic and the newer ones are. This afternoon while putting lock washers on my older jointer, one of the screws did have a .015 thick flat washer under it.

After I bought my used older jointer several years ago, I found that it had some shims between the ways and when I took them out, the tables were no longer square to each other (side to side). Sometime later I talked to SS service and was told they could remachine the ways and top if needed, so on a trip to Cinn., I dropped the jointer off at SS and had them add the safety upgrades and install new blades, in addition to the required machining. Evidently they did not include any washers at that time, except for the one that must have been stuck in the hole.