Jointer Knives.....JJ-60S

[crybdr]

I have a JJ-60S jointer with the original knives that came installed. It's about 2-3 years old and is most likely due for a sharpening.

I've heard of a way to sharpen (maybe just redress) while the knives are still mounted to the cutting head. I've also heard of problems re-installing knives after they have been removed to be resharpened. There are also 'spiral cutter' assemblies that MIGHT fit this jointer. So I'm at a decision point.

1. Do I 'redress' the knives as they are mounted? If so, can someone point me to a reliable methodology to accomplish this?
2. Do I remove the knives and have them professionally ground? If so, can someone point me to a reliable methodology to reassemble?
3. Do I purchase a 'spiral cutter' assembly - if one exists? Has anyone here put a different cutting head in this jointer?

It currently cuts okay. The 6" wide cuts are starting to get loud and jumpy - but the surface finish is adequate.

Just looking to see what other owners of this jointer have experienced.....

Best,

Cory

[LCHIEN]

fourth choice is to buy replacement knives from infinity or freud. They sell a variety of sizes and one likely fits your jointer - is that a jet model?
Try Amazon.com or Holbren.com

I think a set is only $15 or so. Might be the best solution because its cheap and you don't have to sharpen anything.

I've seen and may actually have one of those devices for sharpenening or honing blades in place... can't locate them ont he web right now but i don't have much faith in them.

[Salty]

Grizzly G3631 Planer / Jointer Blade Hone

[LCHIEN]

yes, salty - that's it:

http://www.grizzlytools.com/products...ade-Hone/G3631

[SARGE..g-47]

At the price of 6" HSS knives I would simply replace them if they are loud and jumpy.. whatever jumpy means. ha.. ha...

[skillybob]

I have the same jointer that you have and I had to replace the blades due to a wayward nail taking them out. I used Holbren.com and I would recommend that you look into their current prices for your blades. I think I paid about 15 or 16 dollars plus shipping, that's really quite reasonable in my opinion. Also, I think that the Holbren blades have a better grade of steel that the others that I looked at. Now that's right up my alley, a better product at a lower price.
I seriously considered the spiral head units for sale by various outlets but I decided against them for a couple of reasons...
First, price. Some of the units will cost you as much as your jointer.
Second, performance. I have not see much in the way of praise for the spiral heads, that is , they don"t give that much better a finish than the standard blade .
The real advantage, is that if you run into an errant nail or screw, you can replace a few of the knives or just rotate them to get a new cutting surface. Pretty slick, but pretty expensive.
Check out the Fine Woodworking website and you will find a article on making a jig for blade replacement. I made one from scrap wood and magnets, works like a charm.

[SARGE..g-47]

Ditto Bob on Holbren's on HSS knives on both quality and price. I get my 20" planer blades there and a 10% discount comes in handy as 20" are not cheap but Holbrens is the cheapest before the discount.

Ditto Bob on the cost of a spiral head. I am in the shop 5 days a week and use my jointer and planer almost daily using HSS knives. The only advantage I see to the spiral is they do leave a bit better cut on maple and cherry and other species that ofen has grain running in various directions. But.. I would only consider purchasing them if I were a commercial shop where maple or cherry was the main species I use. And even then I would probably opt out for a drum sander to handle those.

Yes.. replacing a damaged cutterhead is easy on a spiral but.. unloosening the jack screw on an HSS blade and moving the blade slightly to one side is easy also. That will eliminate the ridge the nick causes and no need to replace the entire blade.