What to do with old planer knives?

[MickCheese]

I have just bought some more planer knives for my small Kity PT, they are 200mm long and about 25mm wide.

They are not surplus yet but it seems a real shame to just bin them once they are no longer useful for their intended purpose so I am wondering.

What can I use them for?

Can I use then as some sort of scraper?
Can I regrind them as a blade for a marking knife?

I cannot be the only one who has thought about this.

Over to you.

Mick

 

[Jelly]

I've used them as scrapers for cleaning metal parts and as knives for cutting packaging... you can just wrap duct tape round them if you so desire and you have an instant tool.

 

[Limey Lurker]

Sell'em on "British Blades"

 

[Allubo]

I have a 250mm planer blade which has a 40x 20 piece of beech along the back edge with a groove in it holding the blade, I strike the back with a mallet when spanning veneer to rough chop it to length, it stops me tearing it along the grain when sizing

Alex

 

[Sawyer]

An old timer I used to work with once told me they were sometimes used to make chisels out of. I've no idea how feasible this is in reality, but an interesting idea. A question for the tool makers / metallurgists among you...

 

[MickCheese]

I just thought they must be useful for something?

I would have a go at reusing them but didn't know if they would be too brittle to make any sort of tool from.

Mick

 

[carlb40]

I just thought they must be useful for something?

I would have a go at reusing them but didn't know if they would be too brittle to make any sort of tool from.

Mick

Only one way to find out

Besides the blades cannot be that brittle if they cope being spun at xxxx rpm into some of the densest timbers

 

[Argus]

.

Unless they are disposable, can't you get them re-sharpened?

I bought a Kity PT about 20 years ago and got a couple of sets of spare 250mm knives from Axy, making three in total, shortly afterwards, giving one set on the machine and two spares.

For serious hobby usage it has intermittent use - I'm not a professional - but it runs continuously for a few days when I get a load of timber delivered.

They will thickness a lot of stock before becoming too dull and I usually get the lot sharpened in one hit about once every couple of years - they are still going strong.

Otherwise, they do make a decent wide scraper if you can embed the blade in a stock.

.

 

[Muswell]

I have the same machine. I bought a set of spare blades and the Tormek jig for sharpening them. The theory is that I sharpen after I take them off so the spare set is sharp and ready.

 

[chipmunk]

If they're HSS and about 3-5mm thick, then cut them up with a Dremel cut-off wheel, drill them with a 5mm spear-point tile drill and shape them on your grinder table into Sorby-style cutters.

They are much cheaper than the real cutters and just as good IMHO
HTH
Jon

PS: Sorry I replied as if you were a turner. Maybe give them or sell them to a turner who could do use them :wink:

Jon

 

[MickCheese]

I can and do get them sharpened.

I do have a lathe but not really a turner but this was as much for others as me. I am just interested in what others would do.

Mick

 

[MickCheese]

Sorry resurrect this buti found this. Using old planner blade for small hand planes.

http://www.aldel.co.uk/Mini_Planes.htm

Thought it may be of interest to someone else.

Mick