Photo Index - A. B. Manufacturing Co. - Quicksharp jointer knife grinder

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
A. B. Manufacturing Co.
Worcester, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Grinder, Bench
Machine Size:	24"
Submitted By:	William Thomas

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Quicksharp jointer knife grinder
Date of Manufacturer:	pat. June 24, 1930
Serial Number:
Last Updated	1/25/2016 8:27:25 PM

Comments:

I have a photo of one of these grinders in a tool maintenance book, and always thought it looked like a sensible rig, so when one popped up on ebay recently, I bought it. It is called a "Quicksharp Grinder" and was made by the A B Manufacturing Co. in Worcester, MA, patented June 24, 1930.

It appears that this rig can be set up for grinding jointers or planers. The mounting brackets have dovetail ways on both sides at two different heights, indicating the ability to reach down into a planer. With the bar on the jointer side it will grind 24 inches, which makes it ideal for my Oliver type "B".

To use the grinder, the bar is bolted to the outfeed table of the jointer and squared up to the cutterhead. The grinding arbor sets over the long threaded rod on the bar with a bronze half nut. The motor has its shaft milled flat on opposite sides and the motor sits on top of the arbor housing and the shaft engages in a long bronze sleeve. The depth of cut is adjusted by a hollow threaded rod which allows the wheel to descend. There is an internal spring which pushes the wheel down eliminating any slop from thread backlash. The wheel is a straight cup with a slightly bevelled lower edge. The arbor carrier pivots on a center bolt, and allows one side of the wheel to make contact with the knife. This results in a flat grind rather than a hollow, which leaves the knife edge slightly stronger, in my opinion.

The trick here, as with any knife grinder, is locating the knives correctly. This grinder came with an adjustable "finger" which is meant to but up against the gib just where it meets the face of the knife. For my jointer, I bolted a piece of flat stock to the bearing housing which then carries a block that the finger's bracket attaches to. I then adjust the knives until the bevel angle matches the bevel of the wheel face, and I am ready to sharpen the knives.

If anyone has more information on the Quicksharp grinder, I would like to hear from them.

Photo 1:

Comments: grinder set up on my Oliver jointer
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 2:

Comments: Grinder arbor showing cup wheel
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 3:

Comments: bracket holding locating finger
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 4:

Comments: Closeup of grinder in action showing down pressure adjustment screw.
Source: Bill Thomas

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Photo 5:

Comments: The tilt of the grinding wheel gives a hollow grind to the knives.
Source: Bill Thomas

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