Sharpening jointer knives?

tonybal · Post by **tonybal** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:29 am

What is the best way to sharpen the jointer knives? They had some rust on them, which I have removed, but the edges still have rust & some small nicks. I don't want to lose the angle & straight edge that I currently have. I have a grinder & several sharpening stones with oil. I was thinking of making so kind of jig to maintain the angle. Is there an easier way???

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:21 am

Tony
I have had some success in touching up the jointer knives using a flat plate and some silicon carbide wet/dry sand paper. That works OK for a touch up but if the knives have any deep knicks then I send them to a sharpening shop. Just make sure you tell the sharpening service that you need a straight edge. The knives edges can be adjusted flat to the table when you reinstall them.
Bill V

holsgo · Post by **holsgo** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:57 am

I remove my jointer knives and, using a diamond stone, sharpen just as I would a plane blade. However, my sharpening gauge will not hold the jointer blade. Typically, I hold the blade with my hand at the correct angle and work through a yellow and then finally the orange colored fine stone. Holding by hand takes some practice as it will want to come off the angle. do a few practice strokes to get the feel before you settle in for a session.
My blades came out razor sharp.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:56 pm

I had mine sharpened recently at a shop nearby and it cost $3 per blade. Not cheap but I needed them done. I now have the planer/jointer knife jig for my Tormek sharpener so i won't have to pay for that again. The Tormek gets them so sharp you can literally shave with them when done. I did a bunch of my chisels recently and they will shave the hair right off your arm. The nice thing about it is the time to sharpen them was minimal.

michaeltoc · Post by **michaeltoc** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:30 am

I use the jointer knife sharpening jig with the conical disc. Very easy to set up and use - and the knives get perfectly match ground.

garys · Post by **garys** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:23 am

wannabewoodworker wrote:I had mine sharpened recently at a shop nearby and it cost $3 per blade. Not cheap but I needed them done.l.

I did the same with mine. A local shop sharpened them for me. He does the work cheap. I couldn't afford to buy anything to do them myself for what he charges.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:23 pm

I normally used a Foley/Belsaw 1" belt grinder for jointer and planer blades. I used to sharpen them on it for others (small sharpening business) and I have always used it for the blades in my Foley/Belsaw planer. My jointer blades have yet to be ground. I just keep them lightly touched up with a fine diamond hone right in the jointer. Someday I may pull them and grind them but probably not soon.
If it ain't fixed don't broke it...

.