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Before learning how to use a jointer, it’s important to understand the safety precautions and setup procedures. You also need to learn how to adjust the fence, and get a square edge. Fortunately, this article has some tips for you. Continue reading for more information. Here are some of the most important safety precautions to remember when using a jointer. You’ll be glad you read it. After all, safety is always number one.
Set up
If you’re planning to use your jointer to make small pieces of furniture, you should first set it up correctly. Set the knives, outfeed table, and other features. Ensure the jointer is square and aligned. You may also want to check the knife alignment screws. Once everything is set up, you can start cutting wood. The next step is to align and square the jointer. Once this step is completed, you’re ready to run the machine.
To properly set up your jointer, make sure the infeed and outfeed tables are level and square to the outfeed table. You can adjust the height of the infeed table using the controls on the machine. Remember that the cutter head will make corrections to any defects before the board comes out. The fence will be used to square or bevel the edges of the board. It must be aligned with the cutter. If the fence is not level, it won’t be effective.
You must also make sure that the fence is perpendicular to the tables. If not, the jointer will cut the edge of the board wrong. To make this adjustment, simply loosen the knob or screw at the fence angle. Most woodworkers will begrudgingly complaining about this step, but it’s an essential part of the jointer’s operation. If you can’t manage it properly, you should hire someone to help you out.
Once the fence and knives are aligned, you can start trimming the wood. Make sure the infeed and outfeed tables are parallel to each other. You can also set the knives to the proper height. To set up your jointer, check your manual for specific instructions. While most jointers are built the same way, they may have slightly different features and procedures. However, they should all have similar basic assembly procedures. The following steps will help you get started and maximize the efficiency of your jointer.
Safety precautions
There are a few safety precautions that should be followed when using a jointer. Firstly, always wear eye protection while operating a jointer. Also, be sure to pay full attention while operating the jointer and never remove too much material on a single pass. Another safety precaution when using a jointer is to always work with the grain of the wood. Also, when working with the jointer, check for nails, screws, and staples before continuing.
Always follow all safety instructions and regulations for using the jointer. For example, you should never cut deeper than 1/16 of an inch. Cutting too deep can result in tears and damage to the board. Additionally, you should never cut smaller pieces than the width of the cutter head. Always follow the instructions to prevent slipping into the jointer’s blade. As well, make sure the fence and infeed table are properly set.
The outfeed table should be set to the same height as the blades, and the stock should be at a height that allows the cutterhead to reach its maximum speed. When cutting, you should make multiple passes to ensure that the surface is flat. Also, be sure to read all safety precautions when using a jointer, including eye and ear protection, as well as safety goggles. It’s also important to avoid wearing loose or revealing clothing.
Before using your jointer, you should always check that the fence is square and that the cutting heads are properly aligned. If you are unsure of where to set the fence, you can use a band saw to make the board “straight”. A severe crook or snipe can cause the outfeed table to stop your work abruptly. This could cause a safety concern and lower-quality work.
Adjusting fence
When you’re ready to adjust the fence on your jointer, you’ll need to loosen the screws on top of the wheels on the fence. Using an Allen wrench, turn the screws to rotate the fence. You should now be able to see a perfect 90-degree line between the fence and the cutting blade. In addition, you can adjust the depth of the cut with the infeed table. When you’re ready to make your first cut, be sure to follow the steps above.
Once you’ve set the fence, you’ll want to feed your board through the jointer. Make sure to place the board against the fence. Once you’ve done this, you’ll want to ensure that the edge of the board is flat and straight. Then, using the bubble level on the board will help you ensure that the board’s edges are perfectly jointted. And to make sure you’re not missing a single grain, you should be able to see each spline of wood.
Another important aspect of the jointer’s fence is alignment. A properly aligned fence will produce dead flat panel glue-ups and crisp edge joints. Even the slightest inaccuracy in the fence can transfer into the final project. To check the fence alignment, you can set a machinist square on the bed of the jointer and slide it up against the fence. Make sure that the fence is square before you start cutting.
To check the cut quality of a piece of wood, the outfeed side of the fence must be lined up with the edge of the bit. To check whether this is the case, position a flat steel ruler on the outfeed table and partially cross the bit’s edge. Rotate the cutterhead backward until it no longer touches the ruler. You should then mark it with a pencil. Make sure that the pencil mark is above the front edge of the ruler. Then, move the cutterhead to the centerline, which should be close to the top dead center.
Getting a square edge
Using a hand plane to check the edge of a board is a simple, but crucial, step in ensuring that the jointer produces a square edge. The plane must eject the shavings from the center of the board and produce a moderately thick shaving. You can use a small combination square to check the 90 degree angle on the edge of a board. The plan blade should not drag the small combination square and should cut down any high spots. Once the board is square, check it again with the edge square and mark the other faces.
Once you’ve gotten a square edge with a jointer, you’ll need to mark the newly machined surface. To do this, draw a curlicue on the jointed face. Then draw a caret on the adjacent, squared-up face. Then, repeat this procedure for the second face. As with the first, you’ll want to ensure that the grain direction is away from the cutterhead’s rotation, to avoid a cut-off edge.
Before you begin using the jointer, prepare the wood for your cut. It will be difficult to use the machine if the edge is too crooked. A straight edge will force the board to be square and safe for the jointer. If the edge has too much crook, it won’t join correctly, resulting in a crook. This is not only a safety issue, but also a quality concern. Getting a square edge with a jointer is simple once you know how to use it.
The jointer is an essential tool in any home shop. It makes wood cutting easier, but it has its limitations. It has four parts: an infeed table, an outfeed table, and a cutter head. Infeed tables support the board as it approaches the cutter head, while the outfeed table supports the milled portion. The height of the infeed table is set by the thickness of the board that you are cutting. The outfeed table is fixed according to the height of the cutter head. A fence runs perpendicularly across both tables.
Avoiding tearout
If you’re planning on using a jointer to make furniture, you’ll want to know how to avoid tearout. First, you’ll want to avoid cutting too deep. While it may seem counterproductive, removing too much material at once will cause tearout. Additionally, cutting too deep will damage your jointer’s cutter heads. To avoid tearout, limit the length of the wood you feed into the machine to twice the length of the table. Also, remember to follow the safety instructions to prevent injury.
If you don’t have a guide for avoiding tearout, consider the direction of the board’s grain. If you can see the grain running away from the jointer table, you’ve cut the wrong way. Secondly, if the board is straight, the end grain will run toward the jointer table. Finally, if it’s unevenly angled, you’ll likely experience tearout.
To avoid tearout, dress the wood before using a jointer. Even the cheapest lumber needs to be dressed. This means removing only a small portion of wood during each operation. However, some kinds of wood are difficult to machine without tearing it out. Make sure you use a guide that can help you determine what type of wood is most difficult to work with. A good rule of thumb is to cut a piece of wood only as much as you need for the project at hand.
Another way to avoid tearout is to cut the stock at a slower speed. This will reduce the amount of resistance generated during cutting. Also, remember that a slow cutting speed will not eliminate tearout completely. It will be much more effective to make several small cuts instead of one large one. If you have curved stock, flush trimming it close to the layout line will minimize tearout as well. And finally, use a saw blade that has a sharp teeth profile.
