I recently inherited a rigid jointer from my dad after he passed away and have been using it for about six months. Unfortunately, I've noticed that the cuts aren't as flat as I'd like them to be. After some investigation today, I found out that the outfeed table has a noticeable dip in it. I can't measure it exactly, but I can see light beneath my straight edge, and it's probably less than the thickness of a nail. I'm thinking this might be the source of my problems, but I'm not sure how to fix it.
3 Answers
Before jumping to conclusions about the outfeed table, make sure all the blades are set to the same height. If you don't have a dial indicator, you might want to get one; it really helps in precision. For your outfeed table, set it about 1/64 or 1/128 of an inch lower than the knives. Just a heads up, jointers are pretty technique-dependent, so check out some YouTube videos to refine your skill. If after adjusting things you still face issues, check if the infeed and outfeed tables are coplanar!
That dip sounds pretty severe, especially if you can notice it with a straight edge. Unfortunately, you might not be able to fix something that large with regular tools. Is your jointer a cast iron, floor-standing model, or an aluminum benchtop unit?
You might need to consider getting the tables professionally re-ground or resurfaced to achieve that flatness you're after. The cost can vary, but it's usually worth it for better cutting results.