New to me SS M5990 planer - questions

[Lablover]

I just got this planer from the grandson of the original owner and some things have come up missing after several moves.

First does anyone know where I can get a lock key?

Second, I’ve cleaned and oiled everything I can and the table adjustment spins freely till the thickness gauge reads 13/16” and then stops. Should the table crank up farther and if so, what might be stopping it?

Thanks in advance

[br549]

I purchased one directly from Shopsmith when my used planer was missing one. Price has gone up since then. You might also try ebay.

https://www.shopsmith.com/product-page/ ... safety-key

If you don't have an Owner's Manual, you can download one from Everett Davis' Google Drive (link can be found inside sticky thread near top of this Maintenance and Repair Forum). That may give more insight as to why your table isn't adjusting properly. Seems like it should go up to within 3/16" (or mayber 3/32")

[chapmanruss]

Both the Mark Mount and the Pro Planer have the same capacity and will plane stock from 4" down to 3 /32" thick. The Mark Mount can remove up to 3/32" per pass and the Pro Planer can remove up to 1/8" per pass.

Lablover,

You said,

Second, I’ve cleaned and oiled everything I can and the table adjustment spins freely till the thickness gauge reads 13/16” and then stops. Should the table crank up farther and if so, what might be stopping it?

I would recommend checking the thickness it is cutting to at the stopping point. It could be as simple as the Thickness Gauge is out of adjustment. I don't recall how much adjustment room there is between the gauge and the pointer. If not, other things would have to be looked at.

[Lablover]

Thanks BR549, I just ordered a key from SS. The price wasn’t bad and shipping was free.

Russ, u make a good point. I will reinstall the sharpened knives once my alignment tool arrives any day now. Then I will check the clearance between the knife and table at its highest point. With any luck the gauge is just off. Thank u for that idea.

FYI, a nice clean owners manual came with the unit. Doesn’t look like it was ever opened which may explain the poor condition of the knives.

I’ll be back with the results.

[JPG]

I do not think the gauge is adjustable from 3/32 to 13/16.

Something else is restrid9cting the range.

It may be rusted jack screws.

[chapmanruss]

Although the Gauge itself is not adjustable the Pointer that is attached to the Table's side is. I checked yesterday afternoon, and the Pointer has about a 3/8" slot to adjust it when attaching it to the table's side. Once you get the knives set run a piece of stock through, measure the planed thickness and compare it to the gauge. If it is different set the pointer to the gauge accordingly. The stock can be planed at any thickness to check this.