Changing blades on Ryobi AP1300 Planer - Help Wanted

there a couple places on the web that sell ryobi replacement parts. even for older tools.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

go to ryobitools.com, they may have the wrench in their parts section. And while you’re there, price those replacement knives. I have the same planer. They are almost $40 apiece, not for a set of 2, apiece. I don’t know what to tell you about the allen screws, I was lucky. Mine just came out. you could probably try a set from a harware store or lowes or home depot. The 4mm wrench fits best. The 5/32 is just a little loose. I’d stick with the metric if you got one.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

Mine did the same thing a while back. Four out of six on one blade were too tight from the factory. Once you round out the allen head, you can’t get any other wrench to work in it. The screw is actually 6mm. I used a Black and Decker #3 screw extractor to remove the screws. I drilled down into each screw just slightly and tapped the screw extractor into the hole, then used a wrench to turn the screw extractor. Once I got them out, I found 6mm screws with an allen head at HD. The heads are about two sizes bigger than the stock screws, but they work fine. The heads are also a little taller, but clearance is also not a problem.

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com

when you take off the dust deflector a small lever engages a stop to hold the cutter head stationary. If you depress this small lever, it will let the cutter head rotate the slightly so that you can reach the allens with a sturdier “T handle” tool. I have stripped these screw heads in the past, I took a skinny wheel in a dremel tool and cut a slot in the screw for a flathead screw driver, which has worked to this day.

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

The screw size is 6mm but on mine the allen head is actually a 4mm, i’ve also had it for about 5 or 6 years so they may have changed them.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

The allen head on mine is also 4mm. The replacement screws I found at HD have a larger SAE size allen head. I don’t remember what size, but I remember having to use an SAE wrench to tighten them down and that they were about two sizes bigger than the 4mm.

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com

urgh, looks like this is a common problem, mine are seized too… going to see what I can do about it tonight, good tip using the dremel to cut a slot though.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Sorted :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

I used a Dremel tool and Cut the Screw Heads to have a slot then removed them with a flat blade screwdriver.. I also just put them back in this way…

After reading some of the nightmare comments about removing blades from the AP1300 and watching the video that showed a very desperate procedure, to say the least, I decided to remove and reinstall mine as a preliminary operation before they got so worn that I would be in serious straights in the middle of a project down the line.

Rather than use the supplied Ryobi wrench, or even a standard L-shaped allen wrench, I installed a premium 4 mm allen tip in my impact wrench and proceded to VERY easily remove each screw that way. An impact wrench basically jars the screws loose and does so before the head or tip can deform. I also pulled each blade and cleaned it and also cleaned the mounting bosses and clamps (acetone did the trick) and then reinstalled everything. The allen screws were absolutely pristine after this operation.

My only beef against the planer, which has worked very well so far, is the cost of replacement blades. The price is considerably more than replacement blades for the more expensive Ridgid TP1300 planer, which I find peculiar. Ryobi stuff is supposed to be reasonably priced. The Ridgid blades are also heftier and obviously cost more to make. However, the Ryobi blades still cost more.

Ryobi should be ashamed.

Howard Ferstler

Just a thought, have you tried WD40 to help loosen up the screws.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python