straight edge needed in Arkasnas

[Joe Meazle]

I need to level the tables on my jointer. I need a long and true straight edge. Anyone have one they are willing to loan or rent? I'd even pay shipping to and from. I am hoping that this is a one time job so I don't want to buy one but will if have to.
Thanks,
Joe

[Bill Edwards(2)]

I'm kinda new here...

I have an 8' straight edge I bought at a home center somewhere.

Is that not accurate enough for what you want to do?

(Just trying to learn)

[Joe Meazle]

Thanks Bill,
You may be new but you are very precetive. I am looking for something more precise than that. Somthing along these lines. In fact this is most likely the one I will buy if I have to.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=50074&cat=1,240,45313

[John Thompson]

I have a 24" steel LV machinist Joe.... you shouldn't need more than 48" at max as each table should be no more than that.. unless you have a 12" or 16" jointer.

My BIL is a shop foreman in the machine shop at Delta Air Lines. He took my Blue Max level down and went back to back with a Starrett. It was off .001 over the entire 48" lenght. I don't have a problem with that when setting up machines.

Before you rent one or have it shipped... I would just buy one now and you are done for life. But then again if you have a good level (Stabila.. Blue Max)... IMO you probably are going into over-kill on a WW machine.

Sarge..

[Joe Meazle]

The total table length is 92" so the longer the better.

[John Thompson]

So each table is 46".. My joiner is 84" total... but that is irrelevant when evaluating flat. Each side is 46" in your case and that is relevant.

Regards...

Sarge..

[Joe Chritz]

If the infeed is flat over 46" and the outfeed is flat over 46" and they are coplaner over 23" each so is the rest. 48" is plenty long for setting up a jointer.

A machined level is often plenty flat enough. But a dedicated 48" straight edge is nice to have. Build a box and set it aside.

Joe

[Joe Meazle]

I hear what you are say ing Joe. I think I could get by with less than 48. It just seems that the longer the SE the easier it is to see any error.

After doling alittle shopping the ones for Lee Valley are a bargin. I may just bite the bullet and buy one.

[glenn bradley]

I have the Veritas 36" steel SE but am in California so no help there. If I needed one any longer I would probably lean toward aluminum, trading the strength issue for the weight problem. Just my .02.

[Ray Scheller]

I have the Lee Valley staright edge and it works very well for what you want to do. My 10" Oliver jointer has 46" infeed and outfeed tables and the LV does just fine for checking level. In fact I used it on my planer and my tablesaw. Get the LV you won't be sorry. My $.02 worth.

[Joe Meazle]

Thanks Ray,
BTW I am woring on your Jointer's big brother the 12" Oliver.