Planer question?

[corset]

I have an oldish sedgwick pt planer thicknesser and I have a bt of a query. I have been planing a lot of sycamore and I have had a bit of a disaster. The plane blade came loose by 4mm yesterday taking a chunk out of the infeed bed. Which although not the end of the world was a bit of a shock. The questions is that I now having to really crank the gibb/set screws to hold the planer blade or else its slipping. Is this normal?
Is is normal to have to tighten the screws tightly. I thought the action was supposed to be self tightening? On my last jointer I don't remember having to tighten it this much. Or is it the fact that I have been putting too much through the thicknesser?
Just wondering if this is a warning sign for bigger problems to come or just typical?
I have replaced the gib screws just to be sure.
Any opinions gratefully received.
Owen

[engineerone]

don't have any direct knowledge, however might i also suggest you de contaminate the whole blade area?

it might be that for instance there is a build up of resin and sludge in the area of the blade holder, also that the screw holes have become rusted at the bottom, and or the screws are not holding propely.

it might be worth putting some clear nail varnish on after you have tightened the screws. i cannot see how the screw would self tighten since it rotates in a different way from the planer blades themselves.

is the blade holder safe and secure have you checked whether it is not cracked or damaged in anyway.

final question is how deep a cut were you making?

hth
paul

[mrgrimsdale]

AFAIK the screws should be tightened firmly but not desperately tight. You'd risk stripping threads that way. I wonder if the block itself is knackered by years of use. I know that spindle moulder blocks used to be sent off for remedial machining and re-balancing. Could your planer block need attention, or replacement?

cheers
Jacob

[corset]

I think it may be a combination of old age and dirt. I have cleaned everything out and reset it all and so far so good. I suspect the block may be on it last legs i wonder id it is possible to replace it with a tersa block. I hate faffing with blades.
Thanks for your advice
Owen

[cuttingsolutions]

Nov 11, 2008 13:02:50 GMT corset said:

Ii wonder id it is possible to replace it with a tersa block. I hate faffing with blades.

Owen

Hi Owen
did you send me an e-mail?
you could replace it with a Tersa head but the last time I priced one it was more than the price of an old machine.
what length is the cutterhead?
for example a 125 x 230 x 40 Z=4 Tersa head is about £400 list + vat.
There are possibly some other solutions which would mean not faffing with blades, but you need to get those heads checked for safety.

Dave

[corset]

Dave
Thanks for that info. I suspected that was the case. I have run quite a lot more wood through and I have come to two conclusions.
1. I think that I had not sat the clamping section against the screws correctly and I'd not tightened the screws on one side correctly. Both of which are slightly embarassing.
2. I am just finishing doing up my new house and at the end I think I may well treat myself to a more modern user friendly piece of cast Iron. I buy a lot of rough sawn and after changing three sets of planer blades in the last two days I can see some benefits of a modern machine. Plus I suspect the block may be dying so its better to safethan sorry.
Owen

[woodchucker]

Hi Corset,

Briefly, who grinds your blades?

Jack

[corset]

Have been taking them to protrade up the road.
Owen