Planer blade honing

[stuartpaul]

I suppose 2 questions really. Is it worth doing or is it really just as well to get them properly sharpened? If it is worth doing is this one:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... -22400.htm

any good?

Thanks

Stuart

 

[Benchwayze]

Stuart,

I will be classed as a 'Ninny' but:

I have mine ground by specialists. Reason being the blades have to be ground so they are same weight and size, thus balanced. Otherwise they can ruin cutter-block bearings as well as not working so well.

I am lucky. I am friendly with the guy who looks after the machines at a local timber yard. For the price of a pint or two, he takes mine away, has them reground and brings them back to fit them for me.

But if you are confident in fitting your own, just have them ground by a specialist, for peace of mind. Obviously having a spare set is the ideal!

John
:wink:

 

[Steve Maskery]

I've got one and it does what it says on the tin. But you do have to be careful not to hone unevenly, which is all to easy to do as you can't go right off the end.

It's not in situ, but I use
this method.

Cheers
Steve

 

[wizer]

I have had mixed results with that thing. I'd rather use SteveM's jig. Which I've not got a round tuit for yet. :roll:

 

[wizer]

I have had mixed results with that thing. I'd rather use SteveM's jig. Which I've not got a round tuit for yet. :roll:

 

[Benchwayze]

Tom,

Procrstination is one thing;
The old back going ping, quite unexpectedly is another..
I know how you feel.

Right now, I am walking around like a 'ramrod', scared to even reach to turn on a tap.

So I have a few 'round tuits, to which I have to get!' :lol:

Good job it's easy to spend money online!!

John

 

[woodbloke]

I've used the Tormek planer jig for around 10 years. Works fine if it's carefully set up and I've never had any problems with an out of balance block on the p/t - Rob

 

[studders]

Another vote for the Axi sharpener, though, as has been said, you can't really do a proper job without removing the knives. That can get a bit of a pain as the best method to sharpen seems to be little and often; it's not really suitable for very worn blades.

 

[ondablade]

My (not very extensive) experience suggests that a light in situ honing is OK just to waken up a set of HSS blades that are still pretty good. As above you can lose the angles/clearance fairly quickly though.

Beyond that i have tended to go for professional regrinding as somehow my blades to now have gone west as a result of getting nicked. They are not too hard to fit.

I have a Tormek with the planer knife sharpening jig, but (a) find it needs care to keep the alignment right (consistent pressure and holding), and (b) find it's very slow for a blade with a nick in it. It does a good job on lighter sharpening...

That was on a Robland, the latest (Hammer A3 41) has disposable QD knives, that'll be a whole new ball game when it gets running...

 

[woodbloke]

I have a Tormek with the planer knife sharpening jig, but (a) find it needs care to keep the alignment right (consistent pressure and holding), and (b) find it's very slow for a blade with a nick in it. It does a good job on lighter sharpening...

I'd agree with that, definitely a 'black art' to set up and use accurately, but I've found mine pretty good over the years. It's also best to dress the stone with the diamond truing tool each time before the planer bladed jig is used - Rob

 

[head clansman]

hi

yep the axminster jig is fine no prob at all , use the same amount of strokes on each blade you won't have any problems at all , i use mine each time i use the planer just to put that edge on the tip , razor sharp , know what i mean . :wink: 8) . hc