Once again, thank you, in advance, for your patient indulgence as I prove (again) that I am a dunderhead.
I apologize that this is so long.
Recently, I started to buy some kiln dried lumber from a neighbor who has a saw mill.
This lumber is kiln- dried and because it's oversized and rough, it needs milled.
A while back I bought a second hand Craftsman jointer but hadn't felt a need to use it up until now.
Trying to be clever, I attempted to tune it up and adjust it.
(Here's where the dunderhead part starts)
I grabbed a test piece of wood to see how it performed.
I could barely get the board across the blades.
After trying a couple more times, I grabbed a different board.
It worked but the results were terrible.
Then I discovered that the first test piece was one I had previously tested a brad nailer on.
Ruined blades.
Well, that was bad enough.
Then I discovered my model jointer is obsolete and parts are scarce as hen's teeth.
I did find a source of blades but they weren't cheap.
$75 including shipping.
They finally arrived and I installed and tried to adjust.
I am sure I tightened the screws, but upon turning the machine on it banged.
Shutting down quickly, it didn't look like there was any damage.
Rechecked and tightened screws and turned on.
This time it banged hard, destroyed one blade and the clamp that holds it.
That clamp might be hard to find.
Finally, getting to my point.
Since a jointer won't be used everyday, how important is one?
The cheapest I saw new was a Craftsman for about $300.
I figured out how to get good edges with a table saw and a verified straight edge but having trouble figuring out the best way to flatten one face to run through my planer.
Cups, bows and twists.
I don't have hand planes but I do have a power planer.
I've seen other methods like a jig for a router.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Sorry for the length.