Changing Your Planer Blades

Many planers are designed especially for skilled woodworkers and professional cabinet makers. If you specialize in wood work, it will only benefit you to learn all about your planer machine, including switching out the blade, sharpening, and cleaning your planer. When setting a planer blade you must first start by giving your planer blades or knives a thorough cleaning. Many of the parts surrounding the blades will become dirty and will also need cleaning. Of course this will all depend on what type of wood you are using your planer for and how often you use it. Blades need to be sharpened and this will mean taking your planer machine apart.

Your best bet before taking your machine apart is to refer to its individual instructions as machines will vary. In most cases though, the same process can be taken. Start by removing the dust hood and pull the deflector out of the way. Remove all of the knives along with the spacers and wedges. To remove a wedge you will need to loosen the screws and tap the wedge out of it's place. Now that you have all parts removed, clean these well. Once they are clean they will fit more precisely into your machine.

Resharpen your blades and re-inspect all parts for cleanliness. Now you can begin to replace the blades one at a time. Use a thin coat of oil on all parts you will reinstall. This will help the parts slide into place and keep from rubbing against each other and causing friction. Grease on the bearings will also help. Remember to only use a light coat of oil to avoid contaminating your machine. Put your blade in place making sure it's a snug fit against the wedges. Carefully tighten the wedge screws for accurate placement of each blade. You can use one dial indicator to make sure your blades are perfectly lined up, but having two dial indicators is helpful when it comes to accuracy.

Blades are also reversible and can be used again and again. Some planers have a self-seating blade systern that allows easy replacement of planer blades. There are many types of planer blades available. Be sure to match your blade with your machine. If you use the wrong blade, this can cause damage to your planer. Some planers can use different styles and makes of blades, including blades made from different materials. Before trying a new blade in your machine, be sure to check at your local hardware store for compatibility.

About The Author:
Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on power tools at his website at http://www.improve-home.com

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Title:	Changing Your Planer Blades
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Changing Your Planer Blades