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Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - Printable Version

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Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - overland - 01-23-2018

I'm rehabbing a wooden jointer and was thinking of installing an insert in the sole to close up the mouth a little. Then I thought, what's the point? Does a jointer really need a tight mouth?


RE: Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - Rob Young - 01-23-2018

Helpful but not required. I don't expect to get a finished surface from a jointer plane. You can always follow up with a light pass from a smoother if you need a finished surface.

All my jointers are iron bodies but I've made no effort to close up the mouth by shifting forward the frog. Plenty of room for a robust shaving if needed. Or back off the iron and re-set the cap iron and be happy with the results.


RE: Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - bandit571 - 01-23-2018

Jointer?  No, it doesn't need a tight mouth...too much trouble to get them thick shavings through.    Save the tight mouth for the smoothers.


RE: Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - Admiral - 01-23-2018

Not really, but I've seen some with a 3/4" mouth resulting from repeated truing of the sole over the years, and if it is that far gone or more, I've always thought of a re-sole, but never did that with a jointer, only with transitional smoothers.


RE: Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - Bibliophile 13 - 01-23-2018

Use it as-is with the chipbreaker set closely. If it performs to your satisfaction, then don't fix what's not broken. But if the chipbreaker alone doesn't prevent tearout as much as you'd like, then the situation calls for a mouth repair.


RE: Does a wooden jointer need a tight mouth? - blackhat - 01-26-2018

You asked the wrong question. The correct question would have been " Does my wooden jointer need a tighter mouth?"  You would learn the answer through use. 

Wink