jointer knives

[Jason White]

I hardly ever use my RIDGID jointer, but I'm trying to face joint some rough-sawn red oak and the blades are dull as hell.

I have a regular old Delta bench grinder. Is there a special jig I can use to sharpen the knives? Or is it easier to just replace them?

Jason

[David Winer]

I have a regular old Delta bench grinder. Is there a special jig I can use to sharpen the knives? Or is it easier to just replace them?

Jason
I would have them sharpened professionally because 1) it requires quite a lot of skill and the right equipment to do a good job, and 2) sharpening is not normally very expensive.

[Steve Clardy]

I suggest buying another new set, then send your old ones off for a sharpening.

[Myk Rian]

You won't get very good results with a grinder, unless you have a fine wheel, a very good feel for what you're doing, and luck.
A wide veritas holder and the scary sharp method is a great way to do it. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=33002&cat=1,43072,43078&ap=1
So is one of the water sharpening grinders.
Freud has great knives. I have 3 sets of them.
http://www.freudtools.com/p-295-high-speed-steel-industrial-planer-jointer-knives.aspx
Having them sharpened at $1 per inch cost as much as new ones. Shop at Amazon, buy 2 sets, and get free shipping.

[Jason White]

Should I find a local place to sharpen them? Or is there a place to mail them that you'd recommend?


I suggest buying another new set, then send your old ones off for a sharpening.

[Myk Rian]

Buy new ones.

[Dave Sweeney]

Check out the knives at Holbren's site. The last time I needed knives for my 6" jointer I think I only paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $13 for a set of 3 knives.

[Fred Hargis]

Should I find a local place to sharpen them? Or is there a place to mail them that you'd recommend?
There are a lot of mail order vendors, but I use Bull Sharpening (bullsharp.com) and they really do a good job. Last time I looked they got 50¢ an inch for planer/jointer knives.

[Bruce Page]

Don’t know about the Ridgid but many jointer blades are reversible. Check your owners manual.

[Steve Clardy]

Should I find a local place to sharpen them? Or is there a place to mail them that you'd recommend?

Lots of info here.

I would try local first.
On the new blades from Holbren, great prices and service.

[Jason White]

Mine are not. Unsure whether reversible ones would fit.



Don’t know about the Ridgid but many jointer blades are reversible. Check your owners manual.

[Rob Cooper]

I have the same jointer. Amazon sells a freud set that fits for about $18. Global tooling is another source. Buy a second pair and then have the originals sharpened, having a a fresh set around is convenient. I would not try to sharpen jointer blades myself. I think I paid $9 to sharpen the set last time.

[Dick Strauss]

Jason,
Assuming that the current blades will fit your machine as well, you can get a new set of reversible blades for $30 from HD.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100618241

Trying to grind them is not the way to go (jig or no jig). You may be able to hone them on a diamond stone or a fine sharpening stone to get you back in business until you can replace them.

Good luck,
Dick

[James White]

I do my own knives with a Sheppech Tigger and this jig from Grizzley. It does take some time though. I also did my 25" planer knives with it although, that really took a long time. http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2009/Main/191.

Tormek has one as well.

James

[Jason White]

Those are for a thickness planer, not a jointer.




Jason,
Assuming that the current blades will fit your machine as well, you can get a new set of reversible blades for $30 from HD.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100618241

Trying to grind them is not the way to go (jig or no jig). You may be able to hone them on a diamond stone or a fine sharpening stone to get you back in business until you can replace them.

Good luck,
Dick

[Jason White]

Somebody told me that my local Woodcraft store in Woburn, MA offers sharpening services.

I assume they just send them out someplace else, though.

Jason


I have the same jointer. Amazon sells a freud set that fits for about $18. Global tooling is another source. Buy a second pair and then have the originals sharpened, having a a fresh set around is convenient. I would not try to sharpen jointer blades myself. I think I paid $9 to sharpen the set last time.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Somebody told me that my local Woodcraft store in Woburn, MA offers sharpening services.

I assume they just send them out someplace else, though.

JasonYes, and at a considerable mark up. I use Dynamic Saw (dynamicsaw.com) in Buffalo NY for my sharpening, even though I live in central NC. Send blades to Dynamic in a 2-3 day, flat rate, Priority Mail box that is less than $10. Usually stuff it with several saw blades, and planer / jointer knives.

[Dick Strauss]

Jason,
You are right...my bad...I had planer knives on the brain for some reason! It seems strange that HD doesn't carry jointer knives:confused::confused:

You might want to try Infinity...I've heard good things about their knives. The price may be high but I've heard they are very good quality.
http://www.infinitytools.com/products.asp?dept=1110


Good luck,
Dick