The Framers Forum

I'm getting some new blades delivered tomorrow and will be changing my blades for the first time.
Having never done it before, is it straightforward? Are there any particular tips anyone can offer?
They are brand new blades, not sure how many times the old ones have been sharpened but they were newly sharpened when I bought the Morso second-hand.
Will it require much adjustment? Any particular tools I might need?
Thanks in advance...

Glimpse

I await any replies to your question with interest. I have changed blades probably once a month for the last 4 years but have no real idea if I am doing it correctly. I have become more picky about getting the front vertical edges of the blades to line up exactly as it is quite easy for one to be further forward then the other (just fractionally) and I think this effects the quality of the cut. It will be interesting to know if there is a technique that makes this quicker and easier.

I thought there would be more people with tips to share on this subject!

It's odd that it's about the only thing I can't find an instructional guide on youtube for...

Anyone? Anything? Even just some reassurance that everything is gonna be ok...

Hi, good morning.

Changing the blades sounds more daunting than it is & I'm saying that from experience. I first followed the guide on page 36 in the morso manual. The main thing you need is patience, it still takes me around 20mins to get them in a shape that I'm happy with. As someone else said, badly aligned blades can cause all sorts of bother. Just be careful too

Here's the manual.
Wear gloves.
As others have said make sure the front lines up properly. I just hand tighten all 3 bolts, check front alignment and then tighten the closest bolt properly, then the other two. Then slowly lower the pedal to check how they pass through the bottom blades.

The way I do it is to hold the blade at by the 'front' end and locate the middle bolt - holding the blade vertically. This allows you to get a better grip on the thing. Screw in the middle bolt to finger-tight. Do the other one the same and then simply rotate them into place. Place the end bolts and finger tighten. Then do the back ones. Then it's just a matter of jiggling until the blades meet at the 'front' and are at the same hight at the cutting edges. Tigten a tad more and try lowering the blades. Very gingerly and feeling for any binding against the fixed blades. If all is smooth, tighten the bolts fully in sequence - The two fronts, the two backs and finally the two middles. It's like changing a wheel on a car.

As blades get reground they will eventually become uneven widths. Only slightly and there is a little bits of play in the holes to allow for this. It's important to get the two cutting edges at exactly the same hight. The top edges may or may not be level with each other, but the sharp edges must be level so that they bite at precisely the same time.

When the blades are removed, check the faces on the cutter block for accumulated gunk and give them a clean. Also check the back of the blades. There must be no bits trapped.

Same thing when removing. Take out the end bolts and slacken the middle. The blade will swing around and you can hold the end while you take out the middle bolt. The dangerous thing when handling blades isn't so much cutting your fingers as dropping them on your foot.

Hope that helps.

Thanks very much everyone! I've got my gloves at the ready, I think I'll wait until after I've closed the shop so I'm uninterrupted!

Cheers

I'm always a bit iffy about gloves. Unless they are chain mail they aren't going to stop a sharp blade. Slight nicks maybe. But I think they tend to give you a false sense of security. Also reduce the feel which increases the chances of them slipping and stabbing your feet.

I've seen people don gloves when using power tools because they think it's safer. It's not. In fact they could increase the chances of serious injury.

It suggests putting tape on the blades, would that be a better option?

Glimpse wrote
"It suggests putting tape on the blades, would that be a better option?"

I wouldn't like to put it on or take it off the blades without wearing chain mail gloves

Glimpse wrote:It suggests putting tape on the blades, would that be a better option?

The thought occurs that you are more likely to cut yourself applying and removing the tape.

What Prosp said but emphasis on removing the centre bolts last and fitting them first - the blades won't suddenly swing down like they might if you leave yourself with only an end bolt in place!

I use a ratchet and socket from a very nice big socket set that I don't remember using for much else, ever! The socket that fits the Morso has magic tape wrapped around it with a big 'M' written on it. The nice long handle keeps your hands well away from danger.

Put the bolts in a jar or something, don't just plonk them on the measuring arm, you'll only knock them off - and clean all the wood shavings away before you start so if you drop a bolt or a socket/other tool of preference, you'll find it again more easily.

Do NOT get the new blades out of their box before the old ones are removed - but if you do/must .....do NOT put one or both of the old ones anywhere near them! But, to avoid confusion should it arise - number/code your blades with something hard and pointy!

Phew, all done and the Morso is cutting perfectly. Relatively straightforward with the advice given, so thanks very much for the reassurance!

And I can still count to 10 without having to drop my trousers

Cheers guys!

see? another mystery unravelled

I change my blades exactly as Prospero describes and I agree with him on using bare hands for a better feel. Perhaps it's our Lincolnshire mentality!

The only thing i can add is to be very careful not to catch the sharp edges on anything.