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Thread: Sharpening planer knives??

  1. #1
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    Sharpening planer knives??

    So how do most of you guys go about this task? Do you just send them out, or do you do it yourselves?
    I just picked up a JET WP160s that came with a couple extra sets of knives so I need to tend to them. Grizzly has a machine for $299 but I'm not sure if I need to go that route. Then there are the Deulen jobs but it doesn't look like anyway to adjust the angle, or is that not that important?
    I'd really like to not have to spend $300.. so whats your recommendations, get something or send them out?

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    I sharpen the knives myself. I do this by using a thin blade in my table saw to slit (2) sets of slots 1/2" apart at the primary & secondary angles recommended by the planer or jointer manufacturer. The depth of these slots is just enough to have the cutting edges protrude about 1/8" and are spaced 1/2" apart to provide a steady base to slide my Arkansas stones on. works well & doesn't cost anything.
    Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
    As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!

    "We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
    “The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Al Launier View Post
    I sharpen the knives myself. I do this by using a thin blade in my table saw to slit (2) sets of slots 1/2" apart at the primary & secondary angles recommended by the planer or jointer manufacturer. The depth of these slots is just enough to have the cutting edges protrude about 1/8" and are spaced 1/2" apart to provide a steady base to slide my Arkansas stones on. works well & doesn't cost anything.
    I wonder if you have a pic of this set up you could share please?

  4. #4
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    Send them out. It’s nearly impossible to get a straight sharp edge. You want the edge to be very straight or setting them will be difficult and your machine will not perform as good as it should.
    The angle of the bevel is important but don’t worry the sharpening service will make it right. Usually 40 to 45 is fine for the hook angle of the head.
    If you have a protractor check them when they come back from a saw service. If they are at 40 you can experiment with adding a 3 or 4 degrees to the edge of a dull knife.
    Let us know if you need a place to send them. The place I send my knifes charges 65 cents a inch.
    Aj

  5. #5
    send them out. Ive once or twice had them come back not straight from sharpening service. 14" blades that were out .015. They went back. Seems to me in the old days 30 plus years ago my knives were hollow ground, I really cant remember now but sort of have that memory when honing them before they went it.

  6. #6
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    I have never done this, but here is a video of William Ng and his method.

    https://youtu.be/pUoEPgcqUFc

  7. #7
    I send them out BUT .... I'm looking hard at making a jig and doing them myself.

    The only thing about that is whether the blade will stay perfectly straight.

  8. #8
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    William Ng's method will keep them perfectly straight. It's a pretty exact process to build the jig though...

  9. #9
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    Make the jig in William Ng's video. It's not as exacting as it seems to be. It's quick and it works. You will need to buy some basic stones to do it if you don't already have them. William takes his to 8000grit, which is cool, but the OEM grind on your stock blades were probably 400 grit.
    It sounds as if Al has made some refinements to William's basic jig. Maybe Al could post a photo showing the dimensions, and spacing. to make it quicker to build.
    "The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Andrew Hughes View Post
    Send them out. It’s nearly impossible to get a straight sharp edge. You want the edge to be very straight or setting them will be difficult and your machine will not perform as good as it should.
    The angle of the bevel is important but don’t worry the sharpening service will make it right. Usually 40 to 45 is fine for the hook angle of the head.
    If you have a protractor check them when they come back from a saw service. If they are at 40 you can experiment with adding a 3 or 4 degrees to the edge of a dull knife.
    Let us know if you need a place to send them. The place I send my knifes charges 65 cents a inch.
    Where do you send them out to?

  11. #11
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    I send them out too. Look for an industrial sharpening service near you. They usually sharpen all sorts of things, and shipping is sometimes almost more expensive than sharpening.

  12. #12
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    I put a friable wheel in the table saw.

    Then clamp my incra positioning 90 degrees to this. The blades get held in a block of wood that I cut a slot in and tapped some screws to hold it in. Blade simply pushes to the back of the jig so depth is the same on all.

    Then this jig, with the blade, I just pass back and forth on the front edge of the grinding wheel with the back against the incra fence. I can increment the incra, or raise the arbor to adjust depth (and angle) of cut.

    It takes about 30 seconds to sharpen a blade. Mounting the wheel and clamping the incra is about 2 minutes. I have a spare set and do all 6 at once when I do this.

    This does make grinding dust, which many balk at but it works for me.

    (btw, this method I learned on this site. Another similar method used a cup grinding wheel on the drill press, this would be my second choice)

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Braun View Post
    I wonder if you have a pic of this set up you could share please?
    The video referenced above is the idea. If your saw blade is a bit wide for the planer or jointer blade, you can shim the blade against the side of the slot. Since the video shows a strip of wood on the block to get the angle of 40°, I use 45° instead. I like being able to do three blades at the same time. For the secondary angle I just back off a couple degrees if I'm so inclined.
    Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
    As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!

    "We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
    “The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."
    "
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill

  14. #14
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    So I'm liking some of the ideas on here, but my planer manual (JET JWP 160s) shows a dual angle grind on the blades.. Is this normal? and do you guys use the 2 angles when you sharpen?

  15. #15
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    Itapevi, SP - Brazil
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    Exclamation William Ng video on sharpening planer knife

    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Braun View Post
    So how do most of you guys go about this task? Do you just send them out, or do you do it yourselves?
    I just picked up a JET WP160s that came with a couple extra sets of knives so I need to tend to them. Grizzly has a machine for $299 but I'm not sure if I need to go that route. Then there are the Deulen jobs but it doesn't look like anyway to adjust the angle, or is that not that important?
    I'd really like to not have to spend $300.. so whats your recommendations, get something or send them out?

    Thanks
    I think you will like this reference: https://youtu.be/pUoEPgcqUFc
    All the best.

    Osvaldo.

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