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How to make a planer knife sharpening jig

20K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  Durt Ferguson  
#1 ·
I whipped up this planer knife sharpener jig to try to save a few $$$.

It works far better than I had hoped!

A 2" X 3" X 12" block of oak, a drill and an old table saw is all it took!

Note edge sharpened (yellow arrows) is slightly beveled away. Perfect.....

DM
 

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#4 ·
Okey Dokey then, let me rephrase the question. Can you explain how it works and how you built it, what angles etc, what are the wing nuts for? I am a little thick so please just overlook me. I really do want to know, my way of sharpening is slow as the dickens.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Do you micro bevel your edges?

Just in case some don't know how to micro-bevel.
A micro bevel is done just after sharpening your blades. A sharp blade with a long angle is really sharp but won't stay that way long because the edge is thin. A working edge is a little less of an angle. Look at a straight razor how thin the edge is, it is sharpened from point to top edge. A work knife will have a pretty good bevel on it so it won't dull quickly like the straight razor will.

Once you sharpen your planer blades raise the back of the blade up just a little and hit it maybe three or four times on the final finish, this will put a very slight edge with a lesser angle which won't dull as quickly but will be sharp.
 
#18 ·
I wouldn't bother trying to measure the angle. Take the knife and set it on the throat insert of the table saw, with the cutting edge against the blade, parallel with it. Tilt the blade until it is flush against the cutting edge. That's the angle your slots should be cut at to keep the bevel angle the same on the knife.