Planer & Jointer Blades are precision-ground knives (sometimes called cutter knives or planer knives) fitted into the cutterheads of thicknessers (planers) and jointers. They slice thin shavings off wood to flatten, smooth and dimension boards.
Key Characteristics:
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Material & Hardness: Typically made from high-speed steel (HSS) or tungsten-carbide tipped for superior edge life and wear resistance.
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Blade Geometry: Straight, square-edged knives with a bevel on one side; jointer knives are mounted flat in a long, straight cutterhead, while planer knives sit in a helical or straight-knife drum at a set angle.
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Dimensions & Thickness: Available in matched sets—commonly 1 600 mm long for jointers or 1 370 mm for portable planers, with thicknesses around 3 mm to 4 mm—to ensure uniform cut across the width of the table or drum.
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Mounting Style:
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Straight-Knife Cutterheads: Knives slide into slots and are secured by clamp bars and bolts.
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Helical or Spiral Cutterheads: Small carbide-tipped inserts seat individually in a rotating drum for quieter, tear-out-free cutting.
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Replaceable & Indexable: Many systems allow you to rotate or flip knives/inserts to expose fresh edges, maximising service life without re-sharpening.
Common Uses:
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Surface Jointing: Creating a perfectly flat reference face along the length of a board before planing.
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Thickness Planing: Reducing boards to uniform thickness with smooth, tear-out-free surfaces.
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Edge Jointing: Squaring and truing board edges for tight glueline face-joint glue-ups.
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Panel Flattening: Eliminating twist, cup or bow in rough lumber to prepare for cabinet or furniture assembly.
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Finish Preparation: Producing a level, consistent surface ready for sanding and finishing.
