Can I open the Shelix can of worms again
I know I’m opening a can of worms, but the Sunhill offering of the Byrd cutterhead with the bearings already attached, combined with some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket and dull jointer knives has me wanting to take the plunge. So, I’d like to pose some questions to those who have installed the Shelix cutterhead.
Is installation on a Delta DJ-20 as easy as it seems?; take apart the pillow blocks; old cutter out; new cutter in; adjust outfeed table……?
I suspect that freshly sharpened steel knives are the cleanest cut, but that heightened state of sharpness doesn’t last long. Will the Shelix give a cleaner cut than steel knives after some use?
Is refreshing the cutters on the Shelix as simple as rotating the carbide inserts? If you rotate only a few inserts, do you get lines in the cut?
Thanks
Replies
Quick,
I have been talking to the service people at Byrd Tool about your same question and they assure me that it is as easy as you say. They gave me another good tech point about spiral cutterheads. If you nick one of the carbides in the middle exchange it with one on the very end as they are the same wear pattern. Use the same cutterface and you should not get lines on your cut, but you will one the very end because you rotated that cutter that was nicked. I guess the thinking is that you do not use the edge of the jointer too much. Good luck and Merry Christmas
Anybody?
Haven't put a shelix in yet but have removed and reinstalled many jointer heads. It's pretty easy.
Carbide typically lasts 8 times longer. With the right tools a knife change takes me a matter of minutes. I can do a 20" 4 knife head in a leisurely 20 minutes and get them within .0005"
Good sharp straight knives will work fine. The shelix would be better with highly figured wood or woods such as teak with mineral deposits.
It's a known fact that HSS is initially sharper than carbide.
I've used other insert heads and they do leave some fine lines but sanding will take them out. If you haven't seen the surface you should send Byrd some wood to run through the cutter head. At least then you will have a reference and know what to expect. I've heard a few folks had more pronounced lines than others.
I did see on another forum where a guy ran end grain from a slice from a log and it did a nice job. That was the most impressive evidence I've seen on the shelix.
Edited 12/27/2006 1:33 pm ET by RickL
Dear Quick,
I put a Shelix in my PM jointer a few years ago. Best move I could of made. I can't speak to the DJ in particular, but on the PM, installation is pretty straightforward, BUT... Make SURE that the bearings are pressed EXACTLY the same distance apart on the new cutterhead as the old. Do that and you will be fine. As to your questions:
"Is installation on a Delta DJ-20 as easy as it seems?; take apart the pillow blocks; old cutter out; new cutter in; adjust outfeed table......?" Yeah, pretty much, see above.
I suspect that freshly sharpened steel knives are the cleanest cut, but that heightened state of sharpness doesn't last long. Will the Shelix give a cleaner cut than steel knives after some use?"...... can't really say, but I can say that I always have sharp edges available.
"Is refreshing the cutters on the Shelix as simple as rotating the carbide inserts? If you rotate only a few inserts, do you get lines in the cut?" Yes & Yes... sort of. Rotating the cutters is easy, BUT they are SHARP and a half! Be careful. Lines: Sometimes I get them, sometimes I don't. Not a big deal, they are really more of a burnish than anything else. the cutter overlap so there are multiple blades re-cutting the same area. I only turn what is dull.
Best,
John
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