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Model G0490W/G0490XW (Mfd. Since 5/16)
Inspecting Knives
(G0490W)
Setting/Replacing
Knives (G0490W)
The height of the knives can be inspected with
a straightedge to ensure that they are set even
with the outfeed table at their highest point in the
cutterhead rotation, or top dead center (TDC).
To inspect the knives:
1. DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER!
2. Remove cutterhead guard or block it open.
3. Using a straightedge on outfeed table, check
height of each knife at positions shown in
Figure 57 below.
Black Lines Represent
Straightedge Positions
From Overhead View
Straightedge
Outfeed
Infeed
Knife at TDC
Figure 57. Using a straightedge to inspect
knives.
— Knives are set correctly set when they just
touch bottom of straightedge at TDC in
each of straightedge positions.
— If knives do not touch straightedge or they
lift up at any position, then those knives
need to be adjusted.
Setting the knives correctly is crucial to the proper
operation of the jointer and it plays an important
role in keeping the knives sharp. If one knife is
higher than the others, it will do the majority of the
work, and thus, become dull much faster.
The knife-setting jig included with the jointer is
designed to set all the knives evenly and at the
correct height in the cutterhead.
The cutterhead in this jointer is equipped with
jack screws that allow for careful positioning of
the knives.
There are two options for setting the knives—the
straightedge method and the knife-setting jig
method. Each option has advantages and disad-
vantages; the correct one for you will become a
matter of personal preference. For best results,
the tables must be parallel with each other (refer
to
Checking/Adjusting Table Parallelism on
Page 42) and the outfeed table height must be
properly set (refer to
Setting Outfeed Table
Height on Page 46).
Straightedge Method: A high quality straight-
edge (or Jointer Pal) is held flat against the
outfeed table and the knife heights are set to the
bottom of the straightedge, as shown in
Figure
57. Because the knife projection height from the
cutterhead is dependent on the outfeed table
height, the outfeed table must be set as described
in
Setting Outfeed Table Height on Page 46 for
this method to work correctly.
When using the straightedge method to set the
knives, you will not need to move the outfeed
table once it is set and you will always be assured
that the knives are even with the outfeed table in
their highest point of rotation (TDC)—even if the
cutterhead is not parallel with the outfeed table.
Figure 58. Example of setting knife heights
using straightedge method.
Straightedge
Outfeed
Infeed
Summary of Contents for G0490W
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