Setting Planer knives

[grice]

I recently bought an old Boice Crane model 640 12" thickness planer that was in serious need of an overhaul.

The overhaul is now nearly complete. I've reached the step where I'm putting the blades back into the cutter head.

There is easy access to the head and cutters from the top of the unit but access to the business side of the blades is extremely limited due to a couple of cast iron blade guards.

I'm considering purchasing a planer gage but I haven't done it yet because I can't figure out how to use it.

Should I buy a planer gage or how would you go about setting the knives on this (or any) thickness planer?

Gary

[dpb]

The gages work ok, but you the old tried- and true method of using a gauge block on the table works too.

Take a piece of stable hardwood roughly 2x4 size and use good chop saw to cut to a convenient length w/ the grain (3" or so) at 90-deg angles so ends are parallel. Notch one end to leave two smaller "legs" on the sides so it stands readily upright on the table. Helps to chamfer the edges of the other end to the knives don't have a square corner to but against.

To use, lower the table and set the block under the cutterhead and then rotate and adjust the knives to just nick the top of the block at bottom dead center.

Use it w/ the Rockwell/Delta Model 13 of similar vintage/construction and works well.

--