Help setting up planer

[Steve Milito]

I just bought a new planer. The instruction manual recommends using a "Rotacator" to set up the knifes. They are expensive and hard to find. To me it looks as if a dial indicator and magnetic stand will do the same with a little extra set-up time. Do I really need a rotacator?

[glenn bradley]

What model or format of planer? Lunchbox or floor standing?

[Steve Milito]

What model or format of planer? Lunchbox or floor standing?
Griz 454 floor standing.

[glenn bradley]

The rotocator seems a little pricey when you can get a dial indicator for about $6 on sale at HF or a 'real' one for about $20 that will be accurate enough for planer set up. You will have to build or buy a suitable base. Magnets on the bottom of a wood platform would be OK but obviously not as accurate as a $100 machined metal unit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=33675

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5646

[lou sansone]

the rotacator is handy if you are trying to set the infeed and outfeed rollers. Oneway also makes a tool that does a good job.
lou

[Ron Blaise]

Did you not get a setting gage with the planer Steve? If it's a new machine you should have gotten one. The one I have on my 15" Jet works great (to my surprise)

[Steve Milito]

It ends up that I can't easily reach the rollers with a dial gauge mounted on a magnetic base. I ended up using a straight edge and feeler gauge.