Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Changing Knives on Rockwell 37-220 Type 1

  1. #1

    Changing Knives on Rockwell 37-220 Type 1

    I just picked up an older Rockwell 37-220 Type 1 Jointer. Everything works, but the blades are in bad shape - multiple deep and wide nicks.

    The manual doesn't have any instructions for changing the knives (it says to get a second head and send the first out for repair!). There are for nuts/bolt head per knife. The gap to access the nuts is very narrow, even my smallest wrenches don't fit. Does any one have instructions or advice for how to remove these knives? Is a special wrench needed?

    Thanks.
    -Daniel

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Between No Where & No Place ,WA
    Posts
    1,339
    Suggest going to an automotive supply store and inquire about what wrench they might have to fit. Also you might try posting on Old Woodworking Machines: http://www.owwm.org/index.php?sid=43...ef9806f2294a70

    Believe that to loosen the knives, you turn the bolts counter-clockwise when viewed from the in-feed table. Would apply some penetrating oil to the bolts and let it set for a day or so. It is not unusual for these bolts to be frozen in place or turned in the wrong direction in an effort to remove them.
    Last edited by Ray Newman; 11-26-2015 at 8:53 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Sacramento, ca.
    Posts
    269
    Bicycle repair shops use thin wrenches. The shop near me also sells bicycle tools. You would need to know the size.
    Bill

    " You are a square peg in a square hole, and we need to twist you to make you fit. " My boss

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Norman, Ok
    Posts
    302
    There is an excellent video and article on changing jointer knives by Bob Vaughan. Here is the video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRnrWOwun68
    and the article is here:http://vintagemachinery.org/files/PD...nterKnives.pdf.
    I have a Rockwell 37-315 8" jointer, and I have used the info in the article and video when I changed my jointer knives.
    Concerning the wrench, Rockwell made a special wrench for their jointers, but you can use a regular wrench if it is CAREFULLY ground to the right thickness.I believe Mr. Vaughan covers that in his article or video.
    You have a good machine, and I know you'll be happy with it once you have properly adjusted , sharp knives in it!
    Rick

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Lake Gaston, Henrico, NC
    Posts
    8,973
    someone may have put thicker blades in it than what came in it. I have an old 8" that I bought at an auction that happened to. I ground down a regular wrench to fit in the slot just barely. You have to quench it often so as not to soften it too much.

  6. #6
    You might be able to use "ignition wrenches". Google it up.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Sterling, Virginia
    Posts
    644
    The Vintage Machinery site has a manual. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1943

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Between No Where & No Place ,WA
    Posts
    1,339
    Rickwhitehead: many thanks for that youtube link!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Hartland of Michigan
    Posts
    7,628
    You surely don't need to buy a new head. Re-read that part.
    Ignition wrenches as suggested will come in handy for many tasks. SAE, not metric for that machine.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Lake Gaston, Henrico, NC
    Posts
    8,973
    If that's the same vintage as my 8", stock knives were 3/32" thick, whereas most new ones these days are 1/8" thick. You can still find the 3/32 ones, but you have to look for them. The one I have came from a school auction, and someone had put 1/8" thick knives in it. Since I thinned down the wrench to work with it, I stuck with 8" knives, but even with the special wrench, there is little room left for it.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •