Thread: Timbercon Surface Grinder YF-624

G'day conwood:

I do not have any experience with the Timbercon grinder, but as the manufacturer of the Lap-Sharp system I can tell you what we considered when designing our planer/jointer jig. All the planer and jointer knives that I have seen from manufacturers of the machines in which they are used have a flat grind. I believe this is for greater strength as these machines have horse power driving them. The length of the knife that can be held in the jig was our next concern. Since I use a 20" planer, I thought that would be fine. I immediately had requests for 24" and 25" knife jig capability, so that is what we designed. Consider what you have now and if you plan to "upgrade" to a larger maching any time soon. Next was tolerance. Many jigs I have seen are very sloppy and wiggle. Check the play in any machine you consider to see if it will hold the knife rigidly, as any play will mean variation in the edge of the knife. Consider sharpening multiple knives. Is there a way to repeat the setting on the next knife so you get matched knives? Last on our list is how fine an edge you can create with the abrasive. Most machines still show the original grind marks on the back of the knife. You can hone the back to get a sharper edge. Commercial sharpenning I have experienced does not provide a finely finished edge. Sharpening to something within the 5 to 35 micron range provides a smoother cut when planing (thicknessing) figured woods and not having (or at least significantly reducing) tear out. It is nice to be able to do this sharpening in house as you can determine when and how fine an edge you want and not have to be without the knives for a time. Obviously it is also nice to have a spare set of knives, so you can sharpen at a convenient time and not lose maching time. I hope these suggestions help you find the proper machine for your needs.

Hi Don,
Thank you for the effort with your informative reply.

I presume the Lap-Sharp can handle 13inch planer blades.
cheers,
conwood

conwood:

Yes, it can handle small knives as well. A number of our customers sharpen their 6 inch knives in multiples along the length of the jig. The picture shows a 20" knife installed.

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