Machine blade technical guide
Practical notes from the shop floor: how to set a peeling knife, why guillotine blades chip, which high speed steel to choose, and how to measure a blade so a custom order fits the first time.
These articles are written for the people who run the machines, not for a catalogue. If a question here is not answered, send it to us — the ones we get asked most often become the next article.
Peeling knife setup: angle, bar gap and rough veneer
The three settings that decide surface quality, how to read torn grain and thickness drift, and when the blade is really at fault.
PAPER CUTTINGWhy paper guillotine blades chip
Six causes, from staples to grinding heat — and how the position of the chip tells you which one it is.
PAPER CUTTINGT1 or M2: choosing the steel
Wear resistance against toughness, and the one question that settles the choice: how did your last knives fail?
MATERIALSSteel grades: what each one is for
T1, M2, 6CrW2Si, 9CrSi, HSS inlay and food-grade stainless — hardness ranges, the failure each one suits, and the three problems steel cannot fix.
BLADE SELECTIONGuillotine knife vs shear blade
Both are long straight blades and they are not interchangeable. The five differences, and how to tell which one is in your hand.
CUSTOM BLADESHow to measure a blade for a custom order
The eight numbers we need, how to take them, and the five mistakes that cost the most time.
By machine brand
If you know your machine but not the blade, start here. Each page covers what to measure, the steel and bevel we recommend, and what to send for a quotation.
Slicer knives for Cremona slicers
Length, hole pattern and bevel — what decides the fit on a long slicer knife.
VENEER PEELINGPeeling knives for Raute lathes
Knife and pressure bar as a pair, plus consumable planning for continuous lines.
PAPER CUTTINGGuillotine knives for Ideal cutters
Machine model or measured blade, T1 or M2, bevel matched to the stock.
PAPER CUTTINGGuillotine knives for Challenge cutters
Older machines need measurement, not assumptions — the four figures that settle it.
FOOD PROCESSINGFish slicing blade: edge angle and steel
Why product state decides the geometry, stainless against carbon, and how to read a chipping or staining failure.
BUYING GUIDEWhat drives the price of a blade
Steel grade, edge work, tolerance and freight — how to compare quotes on equal terms.
Reference tables
- Paper guillotine knife size chart — Polar, Wohlenberg and Perfecta models
- Veneer slicer knife size and material chart
- Veneer peeling knife specifications
Still deciding?
If you are not sure which blade your machine takes, send the machine model or a photo of the old blade lying next to a ruler. We identify the fit, quote it, and issue a drawing for approval before any steel is cut.