Craftsman planer, useable or display

[Nolatoolguy]

I have a craftsman planer I bought before winter. I got it doug out today. I was thinking to put some time in it clean it up , re wire, grease, belt, etc. The other thing is to have it as a cool piece sitting in the garage.

I would put the little work into it and buy a belt but I know when it was used the planer blades are completely trashed, and need to be replaced. Does anyone know if you can still get these planer knives somewere or modify new ones? With my limited tools I don't see me being able to make a set of knives for it.

I am sure I can find a handle somewhere for the knob but my big concern is blades.

If I can get a set or something I would love to put the work into it. It would also be nice to use. If not it is gonna just be a cool piece in the garage.

[RWalters]

That is a very cool machine. Sometimes referred to in some of the woodworking forums as the Alien Head planer - stand over it, look down at the head and think about that movie with Sigourney Weaver. If the knives are just dull, you can probably get them sharpened. If they're nicked, in the short term you can try an old trick and offset one of the knives a little bit. It's a 6 inch by 2 inch thickness planer, so knives for a Sears 6 inch (actually 6 1/8) jointer planer might fit and should be easy to find. Sears may even still stock them. In fact, I think I have a spare set of six inch jointer knives here somewhere. If you get a knife out, measure it up - length, width, thickness, and send me a pm. If the knives I have will fit, they're yours. Also, I see that American National Knife's website, www.americannationalknife.com shows them stocking Craftsman planer knives in 6 1/8 x 5/8 x 1/8 and 6 1/8 x5/8 x 3/32. I spent quite a bit of time trying to rationalize picking up one of these that was available near here, but for as little as I would use it (I already have a jointer) I just don't have the space for one.

[Bill Houghton]

...but for as little as I would use it (I already have a jointer) I just don't have the space for one.

Slightly different tools: jointers flatten the warp from wood (and edges); planers make the jointed wood a particular thickness.  I don't have room for either one; it's hand planes for me.

[JessEm]

Nice tool, Nolatoolguy. From my experience, those are considerably scarcer than your run of the mill drill press, table saw and the like. Thanks for keeping it alive.