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Jointer Feather Guard Question

Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:09 pm
by ryansm7
I have a 4" jointer for which the Feather Guard spring is not good.

In fact... it's broken.

Question: Should I

(a) replace the spring

(b) purchase a new Feather Guard from Shopsmith http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... dretro.htm

(c) make something to take the place of the Feather Guard.

[ATTACH]12046[/ATTACH]

I'm guessing the answer is NOT c

Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:38 pm
by beeg
I think I'd go with A or B myself.

Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:56 pm
by cincinnati
I love my feather guard. Wish Shopsmith made a upgrade kit for other brand 6" and 8" jointers.

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:21 am
by dusty
Are you certain that a replacement spring cannot be located. What does it look like? Are the jointer guards all the same?

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:14 am
by wa2crk
I go with "B". The newer guard also serves as a feather board and I think is safer. However, DO NOT TRY TO RE-ENGINEER THE GUARD. Doing so could lead to a dangerous condition. Replacing just the spring is also OK but I like the new guard.
Bill V

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:04 am
by JPG
Appears to me to be a good time (excuse) to upgrade from a cutter guard to a feather guard!;)

Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:05 pm
by ryansm7
[quote="JPG40504"]Appears to me to be a good time (excuse) to upgrade from a cutter guard to a feather guard!]

As much as I'd like to keep the original guard in working order, I'm going to take the advice and go with "b".

The original spring never did have a lot of tension.
Also, looking at the upgrade which has a feather board; it's probably safer.
.

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:33 pm
by johnmccrossen
I am pretty sure the new feather board guard uses the same spring as the old guard (a call to SS would answer that). If you do get the upgrade, I would order an extra spring also. When I screwed up the spring on my feather-board guard by turning it backwards, I replaced it with the spring from my original guard and it worked fine. Then I got an extra spring since I will probably do it again. Item # 514196.

Good Luck, John McCrossen

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/part ... xpview.htm