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Other topics for members => General Woodworking => Topic started by: Osric on February 29, 2008, 06:16:42 PM

Title: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: Osric on February 29, 2008, 06:16:42 PM
I have a Jet 15" planer that is giving me some headaches.  I'm going to assume that planer blades are pretty much removed the same way...get to the blades, loosen a few bolts and the blade comes out.  If this doesn't make sense to you, let me know and I'll try to explain it better.

In any case, my planer has 3 blades secured by about a half dozen bolts each.  Two of the blades I've removed pretty much without problem.  But on the 3rd, one bolt refused to loosen...my using some cheap chinese wrench probably didn't help matters.  In any case, by the time I got done trying to remove it, I had pretty much stripped the bolt so it is too round for even a good wrench to get ahold of.  So I'm stuck with 2 blades removed and one pretty well stuck in there.

I've tried levering it up for the other corner (the bolt that is stuck is one of the last ones), but can't get anything underneath it that is strong enough to lever it up.  I've tried cutting the bolt off with a recipercating saw, but there isn't enough room for the blade to get to it without it bouncing all over the place.  I've tried cutting it out by hand, but I don't seem to be making any progress by doing that either.

Anyone else have any ideas?  I'm about out of them.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: LeeB on February 29, 2008, 06:26:30 PM
cut it with a cold chisel. It's most likely hardened steel and should snap fairly easy.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: metalspinner on February 29, 2008, 06:26:46 PM
Vise Grips.  If you have the ones that have the long nose you may be able to get to it a bit better.  A similar thing happened to me when changing the knives on my portable planer.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: metalspinner on February 29, 2008, 06:28:21 PM
Oh, if that does not work, use a cutting wheel in a Dremel tool to square up a couple sides to get a good bite.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: LeeB on February 29, 2008, 06:30:08 PM
dremel is a much better idea than mine.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: Osric on February 29, 2008, 07:00:57 PM
If only I had a dremel....guess it's time to buy a new tool  :D


Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: Larry on February 29, 2008, 08:34:24 PM
I second the Dremel...make sure you wear goggles as the cutting discs are easy to break if you even get them in a little bind.

Once you have one you will find all kind of additional uses to justify the purchase.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: Furby on February 29, 2008, 08:42:40 PM
Double up the discs, they last a bit longer.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: Gilman on February 29, 2008, 09:26:49 PM
You could also get a $10 pneumatic cut off form someone like harbor frieight.  Might be a little easier.
Title: Re: Ideas on removing planer blade
Post by: Osric on March 02, 2008, 01:04:33 PM
picked up a dremel at the big box store.  Nifty little tool.  Cut that bolt out in about 5 minutes.  I'm sure I'll find other uses for it as well.

thanks for the help