Shopsmith Forums

I recently picked up a SS Pro Planer with a bunch of extra sets of blades. A couple of the sets are not Shopsmith brand and are wider in depth that the SS blades. I would think that the calibration for depth of the cut is in concert with the SS blades and any deviation from that would be a mistake. Is there any use for these blades? Thanks for the feedback - Alec

I am NOT prepared to say that blades other than those made by Shopsmith are usable in the Pro Planer. But I am willing to say, I would NOT use them unless their physical dimensions are exactly the same.

I saw an article somewhere about using old planer/jointer blades as scrapers. This person had made some sort of holder for the blade. If I can find the article, I'll post the details.

On pages 22 and 23 of the SS Planer manual a paragraph entitled "KNIFE MOUNTING SYSTEM" includes the followiing ". . . the knives themselves are wedge shaped. Each knife is slightly thicker at the bottom than it is on the top. . ."Shopsmith employs this special design as an extra precaution to keep the knives secured in the cutterhead."

A WARNING follows . . . "Using off brand knives is extremely dangerous."

This warning appears again later in the manual.

Dickg1

Yes indeed, the offbrand knives (Simonds) are parallel in profile and not wedge shaped like the SS brand. I think I'll keep them around for making trout knives! Thanks again - Alec

easterngray wrote:I recently picked up a SS Pro Planer with a bunch of extra sets of blades. A couple of the sets are not Shopsmith brand and are wider in depth that the SS blades. I would think that the calibration for depth of the cut is in concert with the SS blades and any deviation from that would be a mistake. Is there any use for these blades? Thanks for the feedback - Alec

Hi Alec,
Both of the above replies are good suggestions. dickg1's posted warning is right on!
However, it is my recommendation to put them away in a secure place in a tube (plastic pipe or other) and mark them NOT FOR USE WITH SHOPSMITH. Don't throw them in the trash right away, as you may find a use for them elsewhere.

They might scrape, but I think they will just make powder rather than fine shavings. It might be difficult to put a rolled burr edge on them. You might be able to use them as wedges to work apart pieces you have taped together, or something like that. There have been a couple of times I wished I had a "wider chisel" to start the prying to get taped pieces apart. I hate to throw away parts that might be useful someday. Maybe that's why my shop is so cluttered;) .

If they are not from Shopsmith and especially if they are not tapered - don't use them in the SS planer.

P.S. (EDIT) Just saw your last post and sounds like Ttout knives is an excellent use!

I talked to a wood turner who had found a use for old HSS planer blades.

He cut them up into teardrop scrapers to use with a hollowing rig when turning hollow forms. He bought a 4" grinder from HF to cut them with.

Since you guys have done such a good job of convincing poor Alec that using non-Shopsmith blades in his planer would be tantamount to setting off a stick of dynamite in his shop, I won't add my two cents. You're right. But I want to take this opportunity to pass on a tip to Alec, since he is probably on his way to a sharpening service with the old wedge-shaped blades that he can use: Have your sharpener regrind the blades at 37-1/2 degrees. The blades come to us here at Shopsmith at a standard 45 degrees. Jim Shupert, my sharpener, convinced me to try the 37-1/2-degree angle when I took a set of worn knives to him. He said I'd get a smoother cut with less tear-out -- and I did! Works for the jointer, too. The steeper angle won't stay sharp as long, but I think the increased quality of the cut is worth the hassel of changing blades every four months instead of every six.

With all good wishes,

Thanks for the tip Nick.

How does 37 1/2 degrees work for planer blades? Same thing? Better cut, but shorter life?

Does the 37 1/2 degrees work the same for jointer blades? Giving a smoother cut, but shorter life?