Abstract: A cutter head for wood planing machine comprises elongated slots, wedges and blade retainers of a cooperative configuration that allows the blade retainers to be positioned in the slots with the wedges overlying the blade retainers. The wedges may be shifted upwardly and away from a base portion of the associated blade retainer to urge the blade retainer toward a blade to clamp the blade in the slot. Magnets may be used to loosely hold the blade in place for adjustment of blade height or to tighten the blade retaining assembly comprising the associated wedge and blade retainer. In addition, the base of the blade retainer may be retained in the slot by one or more magnets.