Thread: jet / charnwood planer thicknessr help

I think you will find that the bracket is for setting the cutter blade height. Usually there are two brackets joined by a rod that is the same length as the planer width. The rod fits in the round holes & is located by circlips.The assembly is held down on the cutter head with the centre protrusion over the cutter knife & the retaining bolts tightened to correct torque. Do the same for the remaining blades.
Hope this helps, pkerblade set gig.jpg

Thanks pker much appreciated.

As pker says, the bracket thing is a novelty joke blade setting device designed to be placed on the cutterhead - I wouldn't recommend using it.

'Tis better to set the blades up relative to the outfeed table (which is unlikely to be exactly level with the axis of the cutterhead). There are plenty of YouTube vids on how to do this - I use a Veritas straightedge placed on the outfeed side protruding over the cutterhead, then raise a blade until it just picks up and carries the straightedge forward 5mm or so; repeat for both sides of the blade. Some use a piece of timber to do the same. Search "planer blade setting" on YouTube.

I have the JPT-310. Since you need to rotate the cutterhead a lot by hand during this operation (machine UNPLUGGED before you start), it is easier to remove the cover at the top/back of the machine so you can use the drive belt to rotate the cutterhead rather than slice your fingers up on your nice sharp new blades.

The screws to adjust blade height only let you raise the blade up - if you go too far back the screw off and tap the blade back down onto it using a piece of scrap wood, then try again. You do get faster with practice; I can do all three blades in about 20 mins total now.

There are also dial gauge methods for setting the blades, but again these work best of the gauge is referenced to the outfeed table and NOT to the cylindrical part of the cutterhead.

Thanks for taking the time with the very detailed reply!

I bought this blade setting jig with it also:
http://www.charnwood.net/shop/product/p ... jig?cid=19

Don't suppose you can remember this one..... When fixing the top arm on for the planer, There is a small black plate of metal with 2 bolts where the arm connects to the machine. (top left if looking straight on) Do you remove the black metal plate then fit the arm or fit it over the plate?

Now i wonder where the 4 black screws go!

Thanks

Sorry - don't come here much these days....

The blade setting jig you have is a better option than the JET thing, but still relies on your cutterhead axis being exactly aligned with the outfeed table. As delivered, I can pretty much guarantee it won't be - in fact, I spent a day getting both tables coplanar when I received my machine. The methods shown on YouTube using a straightedge eliminate this sourceof error, as you are lining up the cutting blades to the surface of the outfeed table (which is ultimately what we are trying to achieve).

Just went to have a look at my machine - the plate stays against the cast table as a spacer, and fit the arm on the top of this.