Mark V Planer / feed control knob

mrhart · Post by **mrhart** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:07 pm

So over the weekend I unveiled the used planner out of its box and found a few issues.
1-only one clamp handle (can order that)
2-safety key broke (can order that)
3-feed control knob is broke. The black knob itself is ok, but the white plastic shaft that the knob mounts on is broke off. Called SS and they do not sell parts within the control box.
Q-is that box tricky to disassamble and where could I get the part?

(SS solution is to send the whole assembley in for s "possible" repair---labor--shipping--:eek: )
4-knives don't look even, they look worn in the middle and not towards the outside edges. Do I need to order the $110 new set or can they really be shrpened correctly ect??

I just wanted to plane 1 (one) board...........
The good news, I understand once these issues are correct, I clean the rollers and wax the table, Ive heard these are pretty "trouble-free":)

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:17 pm

mrhart wrote:So over the weekend I unveiled the used planner out of its box and found a few issues.
1-only one clamp handle (can order that)
2-safety key broke (can order that)
3-feed control knob is broke. The black knob itself is ok, but the white plastic shaft that the knob mounts on is broke off. Called SS and they do not sell parts within the control box.
Q-is that box tricky to disassamble and where could I get the part? (SS solution is to send the whole assembley in for s "possible" repair---labor--shipping--:eek: )
4-knives don't look even, they look worn in the middle and not towards the outside edges. Do I need to order the $110 new set or can they really be shrpened correctly ect??

I just wanted to plane 1 (one) board...........
The good news, I understand once these issues are correct, I clean the rollers and wax the table, Ive heard these are pretty "trouble-free":)

I'm sorry, but that really gets me. The control box is grossly over priced as is and is an integral part of the planer and they don't sell parts.

The box is simple to disassemble. No trick interlocks.

It is difficult to answer your question on the knives without being able to see them. They can be resharpened as long as they are greater than 11/16" wide after regrinding/honing.

Anyone out there got a knob to contribute. There have been a few bad control boxes discussed. I hope everyone keeps all their broken parts.

lv2wdwrk · Post by **lv2wdwrk** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:43 pm

mrhart wrote:So over the weekend I unveiled the used planner out of its box and found a few issues.
1-only one clamp handle (can order that)
2-safety key broke (can order that)
3-feed control knob is broke. The black knob itself is ok, but the white plastic shaft that the knob mounts on is broke off. Called SS and they do not sell parts within the control box.
Q-is that box tricky to disassamble and where could I get the part? (SS solution is to send the whole assembley in for s "possible" repair---labor--shipping--:eek: )
4-knives don't look even, they look worn in the middle and not towards the outside edges. Do I need to order the $110 new set or can they really be shrpened correctly ect??

I just wanted to plane 1 (one) board...........
The good news, I understand once these issues are correct, I clean the rollers and wax the table, Ive heard these are pretty "trouble-free":)

The blades are on sale this week. Here is the site:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/specials/7DU76.htm

Sale is only good until Thursday 4/21.

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:57 am

There is a long discussionwith pics on how I rebuilt my control box without spending $300 which I couldn't afford at the time. This was over two years ago and my planer is still going strong even after many hours of use. I usually only buy full rough lumber and this planer has handled it all.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:56 am

tdubnik wrote:There is a long discussionwith pics on how I rebuilt my control box without spending $300 which I couldn't afford at the time. This was over two years ago and my planer is still going strong even after many hours of use. I usually only buy full rough lumber and this planer has handled it all.

TD,
Thanks for the link to that old thread. I had never seen it before as I joined well after that fascinating journey of yours. All I can say is KUDOS to you and everyone who participated in that discussion to it's final happy ending. Made me really think back to my electronic training days in the military which was a longggg time ago and frankly most of which I have forgotten. I did find some of my old training manuals from the USAF and it was a serious blast from the past to flip through those manuals and remember how I struggled through that schooling coming in with no experience at all with electronics and being very poor with the math.

I love nothing more than a cheap easy long lasting fix for something that if purchased from the OEM would cost a ton of money. Kind of like flipping the proverbial bird at them and there is a certain amount of personal satisfaction you derive from figuring it out and fixing it yourself. Totally loved reading that whole thread and had to keep myself from skipping ahead to see the final outcome so I didn't miss anything good.

mrhart · Post by **mrhart** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:38 pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdubnik
There is a long discussion with pics on how I rebuilt my control box without spending $300 which I couldn't afford at the time. This was over two years ago and my planer is still going strong even after many hours of use. I usually only buy full rough lumber and this planer has handled it all.

In looking at the last 2 photos of the spped control, the nylon(plastic) piece that sticks out and is half round at the end for the knob to slide on, is whats broken on mine.
What are anyones thoughts on drilling small holes in each piece and "dowelling" them together?? maybe a metal rod that maybe isn't smooth so it'll grab better and stay tight?
What are you thoughts mighty forum masters:rolleyes:

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:17 pm

mrhart wrote:Quote:
Originally Posted by tdubnik
There is a long discussion with pics on how I rebuilt my control box without spending $300 which I couldn't afford at the time. This was over two years ago and my planer is still going strong even after many hours of use. I usually only buy full rough lumber and this planer has handled it all.

In looking at the last 2 photos of the spped control, the nylon(plastic) piece that sticks out and is half round at the end for the knob to slide on, is whats broken on mine.
What are anyones thoughts on drilling small holes in each piece and "dowelling" them together?? maybe a metal rod that maybe isn't smooth so it'll grab better and stay tight?
What are you thoughts mighty forum masters:rolleyes:

That half round shaft is the shaft on the potentiometer that regulates the speed. I would replace the potentiometer. You need to know it's total resistance, and it's taper.(taper being the ratio rotational change to resistance change). They may be lineal)1:1, logarithmic, or something else. Lastly the physical dimensions(including shaft shape/length etc.

Truth be known, tubnik's solution might be the easiest and least expensive(both time and $$$$).

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:08 pm

I don't change the speed control all that frequently so --- I would suggest that you get it set at a comfortable speed and leave it alone until you stumble on an appropriate, feasible fix.

A small flat blade screw driver is the first tool that I would try to use to adjust it to that comfortable speed. I long nose pliers would probably be the second tool. How long is the remaining shaft?

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:11 pm

dusty wrote:I don't change the speed control all that frequently so --- I would suggest that you get it set at a comfortable speed and leave it alone until you stumble on an appropriate, feasible fix.

A small flat blade screw driver is the first tool that I would try to use to adjust it to that comfortable speed. I long nose pliers would probably be the second tool. How long is the remaining shaft?

You could potentially use a Dremel tool to cut a slot in the remaining shaft and then the screwdriver should work just fine.

rpmilius · Post by **rpmilius** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:14 pm

mrhart wrote:knives don't look even, they look worn in the middle and not towards the outside edges. Do I need to order the $110 new set or can they really be shrpened correctly ect??

another possible source for knives is Freud C560 12-1/4-Inch x 3/4-Inch x 1/8-Inch Planer Knives - 3-Piece Set, currently priced at $43.20 with free shipping from Amazon.

I haven't used them, but there's a positive review on Amazon from someone who has.

-bob