Ridgid jointer -- must take apart!

[tkarlmann]

I have Ridgid's 6" jointer. It has been working OK, until I got critical of its always making tapering cuts to a board. It's usable, sort of, but I'd rather not deal with always tapering the workpiece.

So I check it. Sure enough the tables are not parallel. I've got John White's (FWW) video on re-doing a jointer. So I need to take the outfeed table off. In order to do this, you need to reach up through the chute where the shavings come out with an allen wrench! Well, my small arms barely fit up there, and I cannot loosen the bolts for the height adjuster mechanism. So, I figure I must take the motor off (its fastened to the chute, of course), to get to those screws! Darn! More work than I planned on.

Anyone else in this boat with theirs?

[tkarlmann]

Ridgid Jointer -- more thoughts, maybe I fixed it.

I tried again to loosen those bolts to remove the outfeed table. I just simply cannot get enough clearance or leverage to reach up the chute & loosen those bolts. The video I mentioned was for an 8" jointer. I looked again and there was a lot more clearance to get in there for an 8".

I'm going to try fooling with the outfeed table without removing it. When I first got it, I tried to move the outfeed table without loosening all the gib screws. For some reason, the locking screw and all the gib screws were very tight on the outfeed when I received the unit new.

I noticed that when all gibs are loose, the table has a few thou of play. So late last night I snugged the gib screws up. There is no play in the table, and it seems to be almost parallel with the infeed!!!!!!! (Which is what I wanted in the first place!) {Ala Short Circuit: No disassemble!}

I am going to check it again.

Now I noticed I also need to get those blades sharpened! Anyone know where I can get a spare blade set other than Ridgid? Would anyone reccommend the carbon-tipped blades, or should I stick with HSS?

[Cajunrotor]

I saw an item today on Amazon for Freud knives that are supposed to fit the Ridgid jointer. I'll see if I can find the model number. OH! The pricing is less than the replacements from HD, too.

No first-hand knowledge of them but this is what I saw today:

Freud C400 6-1/8-by-11/16-by-1/8-Inch Jointer Knives, 3-Pack at Amazon for $21.93

Earl in McKinney, TX

[tkarlmann]

Freud Blades

Freud C400 6-1/8-by-11/16-by-1/8-Inch Jointer Knives, 3-Pack at Amazon for $21.93

Earl in McKinney, TX

Thanks Earl. I got a set of the Freud blades a few weeks ago. They look great. Not as cut-your-finger sharp for new blades as I had hoped though.