How to Plane a Mill Table: Part 2

This time I turn the table over and plane the bottom 6 surfaces. 1943 Rockford Planer does a great job.

[@lauriepocock3066]

Many years ago BBC television ran a mock documentry about what the future would be like. THey showed a grinding machine being operated by three old men. The apprentice made the tea, the operators mate operated the machine and the operator jusr sat and watched. Bits of this video reminded me of that program

[@10swatkins]

I can't believe it! Someone is saying Don looks old! :)

[@donmadere4237]

@@10swatkins no what he said was the operator watched so that makes me the operator!!

[@10swatkins]

@@donmadere4237 Yeah,,, They do everything in England Backwards.... For example the Steering wheel is on the wrong side of the cars....

[@BentFrontWheel]

Thanks for the video enjoyed it greatly especially watching Don keeping the machine from flying up in the air.

[@10swatkins]

I have finally found a good use for Don :)

[@greglaroche1753]

What is the world going to do when us old farts are gone? Computers and lasers? I’m a retired bush pilot in Alaska and unfortunately the majority of new pilots are lost without GPS.

[@melgross]

Sorry Steve, but we could see the end to that “Joke”. Keep your day job, whatever that is these days. Your regular work here is great.

[@10swatkins]

Don never saw it coming!

[@melgross]

@@10swatkins well, that’s Don for you,

[@michaelrandle4128]

Good job, you take your time with it Steve, looks like hard work all that wrenching and concentrating, regards from across the pond.

[@10swatkins]

It is a lot of work when you get into the bigger machines... Just the difference between a 10 inch lathe and a 16 incher is tremendous.. The weight and size of everything increases dramatically.. And when I go from the 16 inch to the 20 inch it's even bigger still!

[@bernardwill7196]

The 1943 Rockford Planer does the job.

[@10swatkins]

That it does.. It's a wonderful machine, for some things....

[@campbellmorrison8540]

That is one hell of a machine. Needs serious knowledge to operate Im sure along with sharpening to cutters.

[@stonevalleyozark475]

I had to get diesel for my tractor last week. $57 to fill two 5 gallon fuel cans. Can you imagine a trucker filling up two 150 gallon tanks on their trucks?

[@10swatkins]

I can imagine.... My RV has 100 gallon tank... Damn credit cards only go to 150.00 at most stations :( Spent 30 minutes filling up at the last trip....

[@christopherleveck6835]

You got off easy. I paid 230 bucks to fill up my Excursion...... When the Blue Book value of your truck fluctuates substantially with the amount of fuel in the tank something has gone horribly wrong.

[@10swatkins]

This is almost worse than Covid was...

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@10swatkins Just another part of it.

[@andrewd.1113]

If you are Planning off thousands of an inch, how do you know when your depth is met? Oh, by the way, in my small town we have a thief who the police will not even touch. He is our local Heating oil dealer.

[@10swatkins]

In this case I am planning off just enough to make a flat surface. there is no specific depth I am shooting for. Taking as little as possible. I have a dro mounted on the clapper box that ells me how much the bit is moving.

[@andrewd.1113]

@@10swatkins Thank you!

[@billshiff2060]

Biden did that.

[@jdmccorful]

Funny, I got some stickers that say that.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

He helped. The whole gomm is in on it.

[@huibhoogendoorn503]

Hy Steve, planning the dovetail, was that naccery for the bow in the table? I think the bow has no influence on the dovetail at all, only wear is a resun to scrape or to plane them. Or think i'm wrong?

[@10swatkins]

The dovetail is affected by the bow also... When the table was made it was all straight.. We are talking thousands of an inch here and it needs to be straight over 48 inches for the gibs to work right when adjusted..

[@paulpipitone8357]

Happy Father’s Day guys love your videos all the best

[@donmadere4237]

Thanks same to you!

[@Throughthebulkhead]

Hi Steve, enjoying your mill series. I wondered if you needed to confirm whether the table T slots were parallel to the table edge? I often use them to align a part like a shaft by sitting them in the slot.

[@10swatkins]

They are... Most of the table was machined in place by the machine itself.... If I ever need to resurface the top it's ready to go :)

[@thebotformalityknownasdale2564]

Thinking about how are you gona deal with the dove tails I got to thinking *I know it's hard to beleave* it would be cool if you built a interchangle head and you could have a mill head allowing you to use a big dovetail cutter and the adaptations would be increditably almost endless ! What do you think Steve.

[@10swatkins]

I think a mill cutter on this machine would be asking for trouble... As it is powered by a hydraulic pump and piston the table movement is nothing like a screw driven motion and it is sometimes jerky starting off.. I can just see endmills snapping off all the time...

[@thebotformalityknownasdale2564]

Thanx Steve your reply seems logical and the speeds feeds would be a unattainable point.

[@roylucas4414]

Great video. I've never seen the planer in operation before or explained so well. Thank you.

[@10swatkins]

Thanks for watching!

[@KD0CAC]

I just bought my 1st Weldmonger kit last week , can't wait to play with it . This my 2nd time to your channel , saw the top get done - is the stoning latter ? Thanks

[@10swatkins]

The top will not need anything... The little ridges are very helpful when placing things on the table and allow heavier objects to not "stick" to the surface as if it were completely flat. Planer tables are all finished like this and if you look at the table of mine you will see the ridges... I do stone the planer table but as you can see from the years of use there are still lines showing... You just stone to knock off dings...

[@bcbloc02]

LOTS of setup time in this job to get it right.

[@10swatkins]

Yep :) This is pretty easy because it is so low.... A real challenge setting up a Bridgeport Knee because of the height and lack of good places for clamps... Sort of like the heads you do :)

[@scruffy6151]

Don trying to hide from your joke just made it even funnier. Nice job at explaining what you are doing. Waiting on the next video.

[@donmadere4237]

😂

[@scruffy6151]

@@donmadere4237 how is your shaper coming along.

[@donmadere4237]

@@scruffy6151 it’s all done as far as cleaning and painting. Just waiting for Steve to make the rail nut so I can finish putting it back together. Got the motor back works good and is installed. Thanks for asking

[@jdmccorful]

@@donmadere4237 glad to hear things are going well. You may have to cattle prod Steve to get your part done;);)!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

You still able to make a snow cone?

[@rogerm1cdq407]

we are paying £1.98 a litre for diesel here in uk. Thats about $9.81 a gallon

[@10swatkins]

I'm sitting in one of the biggest oil fields in the world down here in Texas... two years ago we were exporting oil.... It's all politics...

[@tigordie2916]

Blahaaaaa! It was pump 12!

[@glynnepritchard2526]

I notice on your planer bed that there are two 'missing holes'. Are they filled in?

[@10swatkins]

They had a 1" plastic cap in them.... I was experimenting on keeping the chips from going down the holes.. The holes are open and all the chips fall through onto a sub bed and then get flung out the sides by the table movement.

[@dirkbotha3733]

Can't wait for part 2. I enjoying your machining videos.

[@10swatkins]

Coming soon!

[@jimzivny1554]

This is interesting, I've never used a planer only shapers, similar but the planer is more versatile.

[@10swatkins]

Yes it is! I had a 36" shaper and it was a pain! Always to short or narrow, slow and took up a lot of room.... A planer is still useful where that 36" shaper was just a machine made obsolete by a bridgeport mill.

[@rainerpenner8202]

Counterweight... dynamic balancer! Thats how you reduce chatter

[@paulshouse524]

After seeing your shirts I can now tell you what I've been thinking since the first time I saw your channel: I'm very happy to see such a crusty old fart doing things the right way. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@10swatkins]

Thanks for watching Paul :)

[@Rangemaster26]

I wish I was going as strong as that planer, and it's a year older than I am. It's funny how in today's world of computer controlled everything, an 80+ year old machine and a couple of old guys can out do them all. Well done, guys... well done!!

[@BobOBob]

Don ought to watch the Fireball Tools videos where Jason goes Full Mythbusters on the so-called "file police"

[@markfoster6110]

Glad someone else has horizontal surface syndrome in there shop . As a fellow who also suffers the problem . I am glad we all come together here to share the problems .. one day there might be a cure . But then we would have to buy more tools . So we don't think we have lost things !!

[@donmadere4237]

Yes all of us have the same problem!

[@10swatkins]

Hello, My name is Steve and I have a problem.......

[@markfoster6110]

Yes we are a problem and we don't care !!

[@BROCKWOOD64]

I cannot argue with Roy Lucas's summary. When you explain something, you do a good job! However, I would really like to know what adjustments were being made along the way & why.

[@10swatkins]

I will keep that in mind... However I also get comments that I give too much detail... I can't win :)

[@Mr.redacted.]

I'm not hard of hearing... I'm just tired of hearing!

[@waynep343]

When indexing for the dovetail cuts.. do you move the table to the middle to check the cutter fit.

[@10swatkins]

No. Just the ends... Remember the table is bowed and I am trying to plane it straight again.

[@tacticalrabbit308]

Happy father's day

[@donmadere4237]

Thanks same to you!

[@johndutcher2446]

Nice job. Now I am now feeling planne envy LOL.

[@10swatkins]

You should!

[@ericsandberg3167]

That was fascinating to watch, I was always wondering how they performed this operation..........afterwards are you going to scrape/flake those surfaces...??

[@10swatkins]

4 of the surfaces yes.... The top two are just for clearance so it will never touch anything. The dovetails and large flats all will be scraped... That's why I really don't care much about the surface finish now as it will all disappear..

[@dermotkelly2289]

Great video. takes some time to get it right otherwise say goodbye to the milling table lol

[@10swatkins]

You got that right!

[@metriconejkt]

Good presentasi,and I often do this

[@johncrisman576]

That is a beautiful machine. Enjoyable watching you demonstrate proper technique.

[@10swatkins]

Thank you very much!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

The 'humble assistant' is very interesting and I was with you about the 25# head deal. I get the same thing all the time but I tell the one telling that his head looks like it wore out 4 or 5 good bodies. Jody is a FINE guy. Knows what he talks about and can back it up with a better than factory bead. Happy Daddy's Day to you and Don too. GBWYall!

[@donmadere4237]

Thanks Lewie same to you

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@donmadere4237 We're both too goofy for kids but yet, there they are!

[@matthewhelton1725]

Yes Steve, it was the same for me yesterday (regarding fuel prices). Funny thing, a police officer (Training Sgt. Mason) was filling up his cruiser on the pump island ahead of me. I jokingly said "I'd like to report a crime." And he inquired as to what the problem was; I said "You just walked past it". He started chuckling, too. He mentioned he fills his cruiser about once every other day, and he's been hearing that complaint more and more... and from Watch Commander who fills out the aggregate fuel consumption report!

[@10swatkins]

Some citys are having to run fewer fire trucks and cars :(

[@matthewhelton1725]

@@10swatkins Yessir. Fortunately, the area where I live isn't (yet) affected at the public service level, but to say that our area hasn't been affected at all would be a lie. My employer has offered to let office associates work from home as much as practical, AND provided a tax-free $30.00 allowance per week to help production staff with fuel prices and helping to organize carpooling to and from work. It's a small thing, but it is helping.

[@yogibarista2818]

Sorry, but compared to nearly every other country around the world, the USA has some of the cheapest fuel.

[@matthewhelton1725]

@@yogibarista2818 that is an incomplete answer. What we are really talking about is the not the price consumers are paying (though it certainly is high)... it's the price *difference*. The U.S. end-user's fuel costs are up over 110% from just a year ago, and that is hitting the entire US supply chain, which is why it is so devastating. We are paying more and getting far less. This is a cycle which will take some time to break.

[@oldschool1993]

Skip to 9:00 for the machine work.

[@jimzivny1554]

I've watched Jody for year and learned a lot from him also I've bought his Tig Fingers, love them. He's a good man.

[@10swatkins]

I am really happy with his products and tips and tricks also :)

[@timrudge8618]

I can't quite believe that you have a small through planer in your garage. Top man.

[@10swatkins]

Well it is a 40 by 60 garage :) And a little proof it is in there :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKXVkHpuarOHj5I

[@michaelmintoff8267]

Next time use a dial indicator to adjusting the machine compound to machining the dovetail angle.

[@10swatkins]

Not as accurate...

[@johnlee8231]

Enjoying seeing this. Thanks for sharing it

[@10swatkins]

Thanks for watching

[@metalmansam26]

Been getting into stickers myself lately. Thanks for the video Steve and Happy father's day.

[@donmadere4237]

Happy Fathers Day to you also

[@10swatkins]

Same to you!

[@tapplyfamily4020]

Thank You for all that you do for us on KZbin. Love your style. Keep giving Don Hell.

[@10swatkins]

I appreciate that

[@tapplyfamily4020]

@@10swatkins Hey Steve. After your videos on the rebuild of the Cincinnati Mill, I was able to make a trade for one here in Denver. It’s in great shape except for the brake pads. I seem to recall you saying these are available, can you tell me where? Thank You.

[@10swatkins]

@@tapplyfamily4020 this is place had them... store.fivesmsi.com/ You need to look up the old part number to find it..

[@jimlangerie]

I was wondering how you'd handle the kick under the angle. Simple & effective.

[@JoineryDetails]

I really enjoy your videos, thanks for putting them together. Where are you located? I'm looking for someone to plane a few things for me (woodworking machine tables).

[@10swatkins]

Navasota Tex

[@JoineryDetails]

@@10swatkins That would be quite a trip for me. I'm in southern Indiana. Do you have any friends/acquaintances with a planer in the midwest? Thanks again for the videos

[@jessecurtner7254]

The b is Washington

[@miguelfernandez2325]

Wow don't give up your day job to be a comedian. Lol

[@10swatkins]

Hey! :)

[@4GSR]

Steve, You are supposed to have Don your helper setting up the table and lining things up so all you have to do is make the cut. You are a union shop? Aren't you??? Hehe. I see you are using one of the dovetail tools I sent you there. As always Great content and thanks for sharing! Ken

[@donmadere4237]

Union!!! No we are all Confederates here! Lol

[@10swatkins]

Don is better off as a counter weight :) Yep I think of you every time I use the tools :)

[@jdmccorful]

@@donmadere4237 YEEHAAW!

[@ftownroe]

Good to see the dynamic duo back in action. Watching that planer work is almost hypnotic and that motion is what appeals to me as a lover of shapers and planers. I have to remember to go by Lowe’s and look for one of those flashlights.

[@10swatkins]

I don't think I would buy another one of the lights... They run through batteries like Amber runs through Johnny's money! There are tons of these types on Amazon and some of them are rechargeable...

[@ftownroe]

@@10swatkins Thanks Steve, I will look for something with similar features.

[@carltonlane8931]

I’ve been really wanting to see this.

[@10swatkins]

Great! You can watch it a 1000 times now ;)

[@carltonlane8931]

@@10swatkins thankyou Steve I will,over the pond,these Mashines are not about,so seeing them work,to such close tolerants,I’m fascinated,thanks again for sharing your time and skills.

[@sccolbert]

Have you ever tried planing turcite?

[@10swatkins]

NO.. scraping yes....

[@NeMoC53]

Amazing work! I know this may be a hard thing to estimate but what would a decent shop charge for this kind of service? (Large ballpark I’m assuming)

[@10swatkins]

7 years ago commerce grinding was charging 1100.00 for just the table... Who knows what it is now...

[@tacticalrabbit308]

What did you get for that amount of money?

[@10swatkins]

34 gallons....

[@mp6756]

The plane seems to be a difficult machine to video. Really enjoyed watching I had never seen a plane running. I recognize the finish it leaves but I have never seen one running old machine tools built modern machine tools. Very cool to see it in action. It a little embarrassing I have a planer gauge in my box and I never knew why it is called a planer gauge.

[@10swatkins]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@petemcpeterson6205]

What do you charge to do this ?

[@10swatkins]

Send me an email and we can talk. Address is in the about section of the channel page..

[@scottjones7279]

Your channel came up for me to watch and I am sure glad that it did. I certainly enjoying this project.

[@10swatkins]

Glad to have you Scott... Look around about 300 videos are in the back room ;)

[@shanepotter7722]

Great videos cant wait for part 3. Love the T shirts :)

[@10swatkins]

Coming soon!

[@johnlottes7440]

Steve, I think it's time for you to stop using "over the road" diesel in your tractor and get some "Agricultural Diesel" delivered. I have a 250gal IBC totem that I use for my tractor. Saves me ~$2.25/gallon. Gravity feed through a separator and filter. The steel stand cost more than the tote, filter and separator combined. The $$$ saved paid for the materials.

[@10swatkins]

I just don't use enough to justify having a tank.... I've though about it many times over the years and every time I run the numbers it just pays me to go to the pumps... :(

[@johnlottes7440]

@@10swatkins diesel doesn't go bad like gasoline so it can stay in my "tank" until I need it. I use 50-60gal/yr

[@benlund3905]

I hope i can buy a shirt

[@10swatkins]

We have been discussing that... Lots of problems but maybe....

[@benlund3905]

Dons gonna start a union. Better grease his wheels.

[@benlund3905]

Shapers local 162?

[@donmadere4237]

@@benlund3905 hey good idea 👍🏻

[@donmadere4237]

@@benlund3905 sounds good to me!!

[@fuckingpippaman]

the counter weight hahahahahahahaahha

[@jdmccorful]

Enjoy our time togeather! Keep up the good work, thanks.

[@10swatkins]

Thanks for watching John!