shelix head

[Seamus]

I have an 8" JET jointer which I am happy with so far. However, I have been reading about Shelix replacement heads from Byrd Tool Corps. and wondered whether anyone here had experience of retro fitting a shelix head to a jointer or planer?

I understand the jointer head can be supplied factory fitted with the bearings in place (at extra cost) but planer heads need a bearing attached at installation. I have no access to bearing presses etc.

I like the principal behind the shelix head which makes a lot of sense, and would be interested to hear of anyone's experience in using them. I find jointing wider boards up to 8" particularly hard maple transfers a lot of vibration even at modest feed rates and with sharp blades, aggravating my carpel tunnel.

[Seamus]

Does anyone have any experience of using these cutter heads -v- flat blades, even if you haven't retro fitted one to an existing machine? Keen to find out if there is a real advantage before I order.

[dancam]

I have the Grizzley GO490 that I ordered with regular blades. The cut and operation was good to real good but it was noisy. The Byrd shelix head went on sale and I bit the bullet and ordered one.

The installation was pretty straight forward. I did have a neighbor (a gear-head) help as he had the bearing press and associated tools. We reused the existing bearings and overall it took about an hour and a half. The cut is absolutely perfect and it runs so much quieter...sorry I didn't get the Griz straight out with the Shelix head.

[thintz]

I have the Powermatic 15HH that came with the helical head but I have always had straight knife planers before and the difrerence in cut and sound is dramatic. When I ran the first board through it I thought I hade missed the setup and that it was not cutting at all. but then the board came out the other side very smooth rather than rough-cut as it went in. I am sold forever on the helical heads, the good ones. I have a couple friends that bought bargain helical heads and they do not work anywhere near as good as the true Byrd or other top line helicals do.

[Seamus]

Thank you gentleman, that is all I needed to hear! I am going to order shelix heads from Byrd tool corps. for my jointer and planer!