Jointer repair advice sought

[Milo]

Hey gang,

I have an old Craftsman model 2288 jointer. It's weighs a ton, and works just fine, but there is one problem I have been trying to repair without success, so I though I would ask here.

Shouldn't I be able to raise both infeed and outfeed tables on a jointer to a point they are above the blades, then adjust backwards until I get the cut I want? Fortunatly the outfeed works just fine, so the jointer can be. Used, but I cannot raise the infeed above the blades.

1) I should be able to raise the infeed above the blades, correct? And if is 2) any ideas why mine WON'T and how do I fix it? Can I completely remove the infeed table to see what may be wrong?

Thanks folks,

Milo

[Jfitz]

Milo - I'm not sure why you would want to raise the infeed table above the knives.....if you did, they wouldn't take off any material and in fact I think this could be dangerous because then the trailing edge of a board would 'fall' off the infeed table and onto the spinning knives. You want to be able to get close to the same height as the knives (the actual closeness will determine the minimum amount you can take off).

[Milo]

John,

 

I know that I don't want to LEAVE the infeed table that high...  I guess I wasn't descriptive enough on my first post.  The infeed table is, in my opinion, stopping too low.  I think it's just past 1/16 of an inch.   I want to have the infeed table go a higher to level so I can inch it down to take off as little as I want, or conversly, as much as I want. 

 

I do actually know how to use a jointer.  This is a technical/mechanical issue rather than a useage issue.  Their is something wrong with the mechanics of my infeed table, and I', hoping someone will have an idea what may be wrong so I can get it to rise smoothly to flat level with the top of the knives, just as the outfeed table is.

 

Milo

[Jfitz]

ah, now I get it. That makes a lot more sense.  I thought you wanted to raise it above the blades.

 

The other option for adjustment is to lower the knives (and then adjust the outfeed table to the new knife height).  I'm not familiar with that jointer, so I'm not sure what knife adjustments there are.  On many jointers, there are small jack screws under each knif that allow you to adjust the height of the knife in relation to the outfeed table.  This is how you get them even.  You might want to look to see if your jointer has something similar, and if so perhaps "lowering" the knives will help.

[wdwerker]

John has the right idea. Raise your out feed table as high as it will go, raise your infeed table as high as it will go, lower whichever one is higher untill a straight edge tells you they are parrallel . Set your knives to that height.

[Milo]

Steve & John,

 

I THINK something is jamming the threads when I crank the infeed table up.  It stiffen up as I raise the table up to level with the blade tops.

 

I do not "think" I can lower the blades, unless you mean in the spindle?

 

CAN I take the infeed table off somehow without wrecking the jointer completely?  I'm thinking maybe the big screw that raises and lower the table needs cleaning?

 

Thanks,

 

Milo

[Jfitz]

I was referring to a way to raise/lower the knives in the cutter head itself. This is usually needed to adjust the knives to be even with the out feed table, especially as they get a little shorter after every sharpening. Have you ever replaced the knives? Do you have a manual describing how to do so?

It's entirely possible there is some sort of obstruction in the dovetail ways. You should look for a manual describing how remove the table - it should be possible. You might want to go to owwm.org and see if there is any info available.

[Milo]

Your absolutly right about OWWM.  I'll check it out.  Thanks!

[Milo]

Ugh. Unfortunatly the manual I found was lacking.  I think I'll have to take it apart and see what is happening with that screw.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Milo

[Jfitz]

I recall some posts on OWWM about others who had rebuilt that (or a similar) jointer....you might see if you can reach out to them for information.