Lewis Cobb
03-29-2009, 2:57 PM
This might be old news for some of you, but it's leading edge technology for me so I figured I would post it up in case there are others like me that could use it.
I came across this jointer knife setting jig in the wood mag site –
http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/jointing-and-planing/jointer-knife-adjustment-jig/ (http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/jointing-and-planing/jointer-knife-adjustment-jig/)
Having a scrap block of maple that’s been kicking around for about 15 years, I decided to craft one up. I had to modify the measurements based on my dial indicator as mine has less travel but it turned out great – here’s some pics of my results –
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/LHC_02/Jigs/146_46341.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/LHC_02/Jigs/146_46401.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/LHC_02/Jigs/146_46411.jpg
My base is not 100.00% flat and it can toss the micrometer needle a bit – less than .001 but maybe a quick pass over the jointer might help that. It could literally be dust though that’s causing that perturbation at these levels.
This thing really is handy – I have been using it to check the alignment of extension tables on my tablesaw and bandsaw as well as the outfeed table height relative to the apex of the carbide cutter head on my jointer. It can sort of be used to check for table co-planerness on the jointer as well but you can only really check the area of the tables close to the opening. A straightedge is needed for checking for table sag etc. over the full length.
A simple project and very useful if anyone’s interested. Make sure you check the dimensions of your dial indicator first though – I almost cut mine out before realizing the plunger would not reach the table beneath it with the published plans.
Bottom line - Two thumbs up !
I came across this jointer knife setting jig in the wood mag site –
http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/jointing-and-planing/jointer-knife-adjustment-jig/ (http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/jointing-and-planing/jointer-knife-adjustment-jig/)
Having a scrap block of maple that’s been kicking around for about 15 years, I decided to craft one up. I had to modify the measurements based on my dial indicator as mine has less travel but it turned out great – here’s some pics of my results –
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/LHC_02/Jigs/146_46341.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/LHC_02/Jigs/146_46401.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/LHC_02/Jigs/146_46411.jpg
My base is not 100.00% flat and it can toss the micrometer needle a bit – less than .001 but maybe a quick pass over the jointer might help that. It could literally be dust though that’s causing that perturbation at these levels.
This thing really is handy – I have been using it to check the alignment of extension tables on my tablesaw and bandsaw as well as the outfeed table height relative to the apex of the carbide cutter head on my jointer. It can sort of be used to check for table co-planerness on the jointer as well but you can only really check the area of the tables close to the opening. A straightedge is needed for checking for table sag etc. over the full length.
A simple project and very useful if anyone’s interested. Make sure you check the dimensions of your dial indicator first though – I almost cut mine out before realizing the plunger would not reach the table beneath it with the published plans.
Bottom line - Two thumbs up !