joiner blades

[cobob]

Just got used 6" jet joiner. (square flat boards!!! what a concept. building stuff got lots easier) Anyway, 1/3 of the blades are worn & I'm wearing out the rest quickly. Would one a) take them to a knife sharpener? b) try to sharpen them oneself [I've yet to try the 'scary sharp'] or c) buy new sets for $70 or d) whatever else I haven't thought of?

I just got an annoying slice rotating the blades on the planer ... those things are really something.

[jabe]

I'd buy a new set and send your present set to a blade sharpener. That way you'll have a spare set and minimal down time on your machine. Most jointer knives are the same, check with sears their knives aren't as costly and it works well. I have a 70yr. old 6" Rockwell jointer and the craftsman 6" knives fit. I would also buy a magna-set guage to set the kinves, it makes changing knives simple.

[cgallery]

They are pretty inexpensive to purchase and also sharpen.

You should be able to find a set for less than $70, BTW.

When finding someone to sharpen them, make sure they sharpen them STRAIGHT. I've read horror stories from people that get their knives back with peaks and dips of several thousandths. This can complicate reinstalling them.

[hermit]

I have an older Jet also. A while back there was a shortage of 6" jointer blades and I couldn't order them from anywhere. I too saw the Craftsman and gave them a try ( I think they are 6 1/8", but they work fine). Only around $25 too. I also saw that Lowes carries 6" Delta knives, and I bet they'll fit as well.

Todd

[Garasaki]

Jointer knives are basically jointer knifes.

You need to make sure you get some that are the same thickness as the ones you have...95% of which are 1/8" thick. That's the most important thing. Everything else is pretty standard.

As far as length goes, you can even buy bigger ones and cut them down if you want. I've had really good luck buying from an ebay guy who had pretty darn reasonable prices. 70 bucks is way too much for a set of 6" knives.

[LCHIEN]

Amazon has a Freud set of three 6.125" 1/8" thick jointer knives that reputedly is good and fits most 6" jointers.
Currently at $25 they have been sold for $18... just waiting for another price drop.

Anyone "self sharpening" their own jointer knives needs not only to put a fine edge on the knives but they also must be nearly perfectly straight along the edge when done. I have not heard of anyone doing their own sharpening on jointer (or planer for that matter) knives. May take special equipment or jigs to keep them straight over that distance.