Thread: Jointer problem, not the usual!

Jack, is the blades parallel to the table in the horizontal. So long as the cutterhead is flat is doesn't matter that much that it is skewed across the table. If the bearing are fied I don't think there is much you can do.

JACK, have you approached Timbecon with the problem they are reasonably good about sorting things out tho they may wonder about a years time lag?

Call Hague or Simon Gobby at Timbecon and mention your circumstances being in the far north of Q'ld..perhaps they'll come to the party on the problems with your machine.

You will need to prove that the machine has'nt been misused in that time ....but you should still be under a warranty and it could well be effective in your claims on them if the machine is found to be faulty...and this is where you're gonna need a lotta luck given the time that has lapsed.

Give 'em a call on the phone ...ya never know they may say gring the machine down to Brissy ..and we'll take ir from there.

Oh good luck by the way on the coming nuptials and for the ensuing wedded bliss to follow.

cheers

In the photos it's obviously not perpendicular to the fence, but I can't judge whether it's parallel to the table. Put a straight edge on the table and measure the gap between it and the top of both ends of the head. If both gaps are the same, it's parallel and could be considered usable. If it's not, you'd have to set the blades with reference to the table, not the head, before you could get any use out of it.

It's possible it's deliberately offset like that to force the wood hard against the fence while cutting and to introduce a degree of slicing action... but I can't say I've actually ever seen any others like that. Not that I'm an expert, mind.

Personally I'd either look for a replacement or, given the amount you've used it, a purchaser..

(Edit: Beaten to the punch agin! Gotta stop taking my time composing my crap. )

Originally Posted by Jack E

although I have never spent any time setting it up correctly.

That's the start of your problems.

Before you go any further, have a read of this thread,
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...=jointer+snipe
particularly the posts about magnets and setting the table exactly level with the blades. If done correctly, I don't think having the blades as pictured would make any difference. If they are exactly level with the table, it should work fine.

Woodbutcher,
The blades are set at top dead centre using 2 magnetic bars fixed to the table so they should be parrallel on the horizontal.

John,
I haven't approached Timbecon but have always had good dealings in the past.
The fault couldn't come from misuse.
The cutter head is pressed in to the cast body of the jointer and it would be impossible to cause it to skew like it is through user error.
Thanks for the well wishes.

Skew,
I haven't measured whether the cutter head is parrallel to the table but as mentioned above, I set the blades using magnets and the table as a reference so it shouldn't matter if it is skewed.

I will ring Timbecon and see what they say.
My view is that as long as the blades are set referencing the table, it should not be a problem. Still, I have never seen a jointer with a skewed cutter head and don't know whether I should be happy with it.

Cheers, Jack

Having the axis of the cutter head parallel in the horizontal plane with the ends of the table is not critical. You obviously need it to be parallel vertically. You can look at it like a skew cut with a hand plane. It decreases the effective cutting angle slightly but wont affect the flatness of the cut. However, it does smack of shoddy machining, so I'd be making sure it's only skewed in the horizontal plane, and if not, asking for a replacement.

Sorry I missed you Gumby, you must have posted while I was typing my long winded multi-purpose reply.
I have spent a fair bit of time on the thread you mentioned, it is what inspired me to pull my jointer out of storage and start again.
I agree that it shouldn't matter if the head is skewed, just don't know whether I should accept that level of quality control on a piece of machinery.

Cheers, Jack

Thanks Silent,

Skew cut on a jointer aye, maybe every body will want one

Cheers, Jack

I can come up with all sorts of brilliant ideas after 2 bottles of Shiraz

It seems to odd to believe for it to be set so far out...

Probably a stupid question. But if the cutterheads not adjustable, maybe the problems in the table setup, The tables arn't sitting right. Or the jointers had an accident while moving, with one of the tables taking a big blow. I'd dismantle it as much as possible, and put it back together again. You might see some kind of shim, or key thats just knocked out of place.

Just seems too odd for a machine with such an obvious problem to even be sold in the first place. ??? I don't really know of coarse.

I have had the tables off recently and all seems to be in order.
Actually I had the outfeed table off, it is only possible to get the infeed table half off as it can't clear the cutter head.
The head must be pressed in after the table is fitted.
It came with both tables fitted.
I cannot see a way that this can happen, it has to be made that way.

Cheers, Jack.

It looks as though the cutterhead and respective bearings are mounted in a square pillow block. Are you sure that this is not secured with bolts from below? (The paint job may be making it appear to be all one casting).

Did you ever notice this skew of the cutterhead before? What is the relationship of the drive and motor pulleys? Are they co-planar, or is there a slight twist to the drive belt?

Greg

It looks to me as though the cutter head is press fitted into a cast iron block.
I hope my photos show this.
I haven't noticed the skew before but can't see a way for it to just happen, given the way it is fitted to the body of the machine.
The motor mount is adjustable, I guess I would have made the belt align correctly when I assembled the machine.
Although if I did this, you would think I would have noticed the crooked cutter head at the time

Cheers, Jack

Originally Posted by gregoryq

It looks as though the cutterhead and respective bearings are mounted in a square pillow block. Are you sure that this is not secured with bolts from below?

Greg,

I have had another look and it seems that the bearing blocks are secured from below with a bolt.
I am not able to tell 100% without pulling the machine apart further which I am not willing to do at this time.
Even still, it seems that these bolts simply pull the bearing block in to the cast housing.
I can see no way to adjust them or room to move within the housing.
As far as I can tell, the housings have been cast crooked / offset with respect to each other and the cutter head is destined to remain skewed.

Cheers, Jack