Greetings from Down Under,
I am just starting the research on upgrading from my Delta 13″ planer to a Generic (Taiwanese)15″ planer ie; Grizzly. In Australia they are exactly the same but branded differently.
Due to noise restrictions I will have to install a Shelix cutter head. Has anyone had experience with this type of set up. The Powermatic 15HH seems the logical choice but at $4500 AUD, we are being murdered by the exchage rate and its just too expensive. Even with the generic planer & the cutter head its going to be $3000 +.
So before putting down my hard earned I have to convince myself ,with some help from some of you , that it will be the solution.
Many thanks,
Former NH Yankee
Replies
First of all, if you need to comply with some restrictions you can surely get dB level stats from the manufacturer. This is probably what you need to prove compliance, and not anyone's "opinion".
On a more subjective note, I found the difference in noise levels to be absolutely staggering. I don't know the Grizzly machines specifically. I've used a 20" SCMI planer for years. Then I started working on a Taiwanese monster 20" double-sided planer with the helical carbide inserts. Planing wide oak boards, taking 5mm off simultaneously from each side, the new planer is much quieter than our old one. In fact, the noisiest part is now the chip collecting system.
So yes, IMHO it's a huge improvement in noise levels.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1
Sjay,
I have the griz 15" with the shelix type head. I have no issues, it is quiet. I agree with David Ring, the noisey part is the DC system. Solid machine and I would rebuy it in a heartbeat.
AZMO
-----------_o
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-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
Yep, I just got a 15" Shelix. It is an amazing difference from my old lunchbox planer. My Jet 1.5 DC is louder.
I think you are confusing terms about your cutter heads. The Shelix is a Byrd product made in Kentucky. It is the best of all the spiral cutter heads but it is only OEM on the Powermatic. Grizzly will not install it OEM on their machines ,but they sell the Byrd cutter heads as a retrofit. We installed a Byrd Shelix in a Delta DJ-20 and it is the best, but all spiral cutter heads are superior to straight knives and much quieter. I have a spiral head planer and a 12" spiral head jointer and they are much quieter then the machines they replaced. There has to be an Aussie machine company that imports the same Taiwanese machines as Grizzly, General International,Sunhill and Extrema. Their machines appear to all come from the same factory with a different color of paint. My Bridgewood planer and jointer are the same machines as the Grizzly and the others mentioned. Get the spiral cutter head that comes with the machine, it is not a Byrd but it is very good.
The knife longevity,about 20 times, is worth it alone without the noise reduction.
My Griz 15" planer, that Griz just discontinued, has a Shelix head. I don't know if it is a Byrd... if not, it is a perfect clone. It is NOT the Griz spiral cutterhead. I have one of those too; on my 10" jointer.
Griz, model "G1021X2 - Extreme Series 15" Planer w/ Spiral Cutterhead" The cutterhead is black, the cutters are mounted on an angle and they have a slight radius on the knives.
My guess it is a clone. If it was a real Byrd Shelix, Grizzly would be advertising it as such. The Powermatic 15HH has an OEM Byrd Shelix cutter head and they advertise it as such and it is $2,599 and the Grizzly G1021X2 is $1,195 so I don't think it has a Byrd head. It is the same planer from the same Taiwanese factory by all appearances.
A year ago, the planer was 1500.00 but Griz is discontinuing the model and has their remaining stock priced-to-move. Clone or not, it is the exact same head as the Byrd.
for what it's worth I saw a Byrd Shelix pop up in Popular Woodworking stating they are now offering the Shelix for the Dewalt and other similar lunch box planers. About $400. If this is old news -sorry.
If the grey cells go any faster, it will be new tomorrow :)Boiler
Tobogan
The Griz had a spiral cutter seveal years ago, which they replaced with a clone of the shelix and their own spiral set of carbide cutters. For sure it works well, but it is not a Byrd Shelix, any more than a kit car Cobra is a Shelby....
One small difference I notice in the Shelix is the cutters look ( I am have not measured) like they are slightly skewed. Maybe someone who has the real McCoy can comment on that. That could be an improvement, just as skewing a plane can work better as well.
AZMO <!----><!----><!---->
-----------_o
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-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
The Byrd shelix cutters (15mm x 15mm x 2.5mm) do have a convex radius. The Grizzly heads that have the cutters mounted parallel to the tables use square cutters (14mm x 14mm x 2mm) with no radius.
http://globaltooling.bizhosting.com/journal-head-knives.html
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
Edited 2/26/2009 10:59 am ET by JerryPacMan
This is a pic of the Powermatic 15 HH, from http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/pm15hhrvu.html
View Image
For the record, this is exactly what the Griz clone looks like (above). This cutter is not to be confused with the cutter that I have on my 10" jointer (below).
View Image
Don't make me go get my camera :0)
Grizzly does not make a Shelix clone, probably because Shelix is a registered trademark. The BT on the inserts indicate Byrd Tool.
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2009/Main/46
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
ARG, read the entire posts before responding!
OK leave your camera in the house...
In summary, if I have this correct, shelix heads have a radius edge to each carbide cutter. In addition they are turned out of parallel to the head axis slightly. This should provide a marginally better cut, less tear out, and perhaps a quieter head.
Both my Griz jointer, and planer have heads like you showed, square edges, and parallel to the head. It works great for my needs, and the 1.5hp Delta DC is far louder!!
AZMO <!----><!----><!---->
-----------_o
---------_'-,>
-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
Camera ~ check
Grizzly cutterhead with square edges that are parallel to the cutterhead ~ check
Grizzly cutterhead with a radius edge to each carbide cutter. In addition they are turned out of parallel to the head axis slightly (cough) ~ check
I purchased the 15" Grizzly model "G1021X2 - Extreme Series 15" Planer w/ Spiral Cutterhead with the carbide inserts about 6 months ago. It has been an excellent tool for the money. It is accurate, quiet and a workhorse. I have run all types of wood through it and the finish is smooth with virtually no snipe at the ends.
Edited 2/25/2009 4:33 pm ET by gblitle
Edited 2/25/2009 4:35 pm ET by gblitle
Helo, say does the blood rush to your head down under <grin>
Anyway let me chip in .. I have a 20 Inch Grizzly planner I bought before the spiral cutter head was available.. 7 years ago)
Wow what a work horse!
It thus far has planned nearly 50,000 bd.ft. of hardwood and other than reshrapening the only maintinance has been one of the three drive belts failed after 3 years .. It cost $5.00 for a replacement locally and took me maybe 5 minutes to replace.. it's held up well since and even though it's not a matched set It's not given me another minutes of trouble..
I've heard the spiral cutter head and wow is it ever quiet compared to my old straight 4 blade cutter!
Plus the ease of dealing with nicks and turning the cutter head to a sharp side has me lusting after it..
Such has been the history of all of my Grizlley equipment..
I have a 16" Ty plainer from HF I bought in the late 70s It looks just like a 15" Powermatic Other than color. I had a Shelex custom made for it . The noise level was cut by a substantual amount. Cost wise the powermatic would have been about the same .
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