Thread: GMC Thicknesser blades

How on earth do you WORK with old, well seasoned, ironbark. My only experiences with the stuff was fresh (still growing) and the chainsaw blade gave up just brushing the bark off.

Oh, I know now, you've got a metal lathe and a lot of time

Richard

sorry, can't help with your question

Richard,

With sharp tools and a bit of patience it is OK to work. You just can't do simple things like drive nails into it and the like. ie drill and screw/bolt if you have to.

The finished product is very hard with a beautiful finish

Cheers,
Ned

Make sure it's nice and dry. I made a small side table out of an iron bark slab once. It turned into a lovely bowl.
On the bright side, you could spill a whole glass of wine on it and not one drop would hit the floor.

Have you tried drilling and tapping ironbark works a treat across the grain.

cheers

Drilling seasoned ironbark in a drill press with new 1/2" bit.
Heaps of smoke ( no burning of timber evident)
Like drilling through a lump of steel.

Bob, you got to treat it with the respect/contempt it deserves. Drill pilot holes, cut very slowly with new sharp blades etc and still swear at it

Thanks for the interesting comments, chaps, but I really would like to know of any good/bad experiences with replacement thicknesser blades for the GMC thicknesser.

Out of interest I made a 10'x3' outdoor table recently - came up a treat (all ironbark) - only trouble is I can barely move it, let alone lift it.

Merry Xmas to all

Ned

Ironbark, I've got a Ryobi that I'm pretty sure is the same basic machine as the GMC. The blades are double sided and intended to be disposable. When they get blunt, take them out, flip them around and they've got a new cutting edge.

I got some replacements from Bunnings a few months ago for $40, as the old ones made fairly poor metal detectors .

If the blades are 82mm you buy the kit which has the two special blade mounting plates and two double sided blades. You just take the original blades out and store them to become an antique and insert the the new mounting plates along with blades.

Can't remember the brand but they came on a cardbord hanger with a plastic stick on cover and I got them at Bunnings. After you buy the kit you can then just buy the replacement blades separately.

Beats getting them sharpened and being TC would be much better on the Ironbark.

Thanks Bazza,
I already have the TC conversion for my planer (Makita 82mm), but am after info/experiences with thicknesser blades, ie.319mmx18.2mmx3.2mm are in the GMC as suplied. Advice from Carba-tec indicated their clone 12.5" thicknesser had wider blades than GMC. Can anybody with a Ryobi or Carba-tec chinese clones confirm those sizes??

Cheers,

Ned

Originally Posted by iron bark

Thanks Bazza,
I already have the TC conversion for my planer (Makita 82mm), but am after info/experiences with thicknesser blades, ie.319mmx18.2mmx3.2mm are in the GMC as suplied. Advice from Carba-tec indicated their clone 12.5" thicknesser had wider blades than GMC. Can anybody with a Ryobi or Carba-tec chinese clones confirm those sizes??

Cheers,

Ned

Sorry I misread the post.

Most Saw Services have or can get planer blades in various types of steel so give your yellow pages a try

Originally Posted by Dangermouse

Ironbark, I've got a Ryobi that I'm pretty sure is the same basic machine as the GMC. The blades are double sided and intended to be disposable. When they get blunt, take them out, flip them around and they've got a new cutting edge.

I got some replacements from Bunnings a few months ago for $40, as the old ones made fairly poor metal detectors .

Dangermouse,

I don't suppose you can give me the actual blade dimensions for the Ryobi without dismantling the machine by any chance.

Originally Posted by iron bark

I don't suppose you can give me the actual blade dimensions for the Ryobi without dismantling the machine by any chance.

No probs, the blades are 318mm long and 18mm wide. According to my spare pack, it's ryobi part # AP13/20, high speed steel blades. Are these the same dimensions as the GMC?