Replies

1. 
   AZMO | May 11, 2008 04:37pm | #1

   David,

   I went through a similar process 2 months ago. Check out the posts here http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=40665.1

   I bought an 8" jointer and 15" thickness planer from Griz. Both have their version of the carbide sprial cutter head. Great tools and the cutters are quiet and produce very smooth cuts. I only need a scraper blade on them to take the cutter head marks out. These are heavy pieces of equipment, and if you work alone you will need some lifting equip to set them up.

   As a side note, Shelix heads have their carbide tips set at a slight angle which makes a skewed cut. Probably a better design but not worth the additional cost.

   AZMO

                     

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   -------(*)/ (*)   http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com

2. 
   terrylee86 | May 11, 2008 04:57pm | #2

   David,

   Check out the previous posts on this subject.  I think it will answer most of your questions   http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=41332.1

   
   

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   Edited 5/11/2008 10:03 am ET by terrylee86

1. 
   Daviddevine | May 11, 2008 05:36pm | #3

   Thanks.........

3. 
   RW | May 11, 2008 07:10pm | #4

   Just a side note, I too caught the review and was a little dismayed at the impression I got that straight cutters, in their view, were better than the spirals. Just didnt jive with my experiences in the least. On the machines I've used, difference is night and day.

   Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

4. 
   Quickstep | May 11, 2008 08:29pm | #5

   I think the answer is somewhat subjective. I converted to the Shelix a couple of years ago. It never took long for my old cutters to get a nick or get dull, so from that perspective, since the Shelix stays sharp longer by virtue of being carbide, I get better cuts. A freshly sharp regular cutter will probably out perform the Shelix from a smoothness perspective, but at least in my case, that freshly sharp edge doesn't last long.

   I switched to the Shelix because of the frustration with setting knives. I know that there are folks who change blades easily, but I'm not one of them. I love that I don't have to do that any more.

5. 
   sleepydad | May 12, 2008 10:07pm | #6

   I put Shelix heads on both my 16" jet 4 post planer and my 6" jointer last fall.

   A straight knife when freshly sharpened do give a glass like finish on most wood.  But still can tear out on figured stuff.  In reality you can't always surface with the grain.  There are times when 1/4 of the board has grain in a different direction.  Your flat knife can completely ruin these boards.

   with the shelix heads you really don't have to worry in the least about grain direction.  It does help to pay attention and still plane or joint with the grain but it does virtually eliminate tear out where you can’t do that.

   If you surface or joint a lot of wood I think it’s worth the cost.  If you only do 100 bf a year it might not be worth the extra cost? 

   But for what it’s worth I would never buy a straight knife again.  I tend to do a lot of mill work type’s of things that require a lot of jointing and planning of rough wood.  So for me it was worth the extra cost.

    

    

    

1. 
   Y1RET | May 16, 2008 01:57am | #10

   Where did you get the Shelix head for your 16 inch Jet. I have the same planer and it looks like the Shelix for the 16 inch from Byrd was about twice what Grizzly sells the 20 inch one for. I would like to upgrade but it seemed pricey,Thanks,
   Bob T.

6. 
   DGHammonds | May 13, 2008 06:47am | #7

   If you have the money get a 12" J/P combo. On my new Hammer I can set all knives without jigs in 5 minutes. Also since the jointer bed is 12" all you need to do is put the board over the cutter at an angle and WAALAA you have the equivalent of a spiral cutter. The knives are double sided just in case you nick them, can be re-sharpened, and are about $50 for a set of three. I loved my eight inch Grizzly jointer and 15 inch planner but having the jointer and planer the same width is awesome!

   Darryl

7. 
   philip_r | May 14, 2008 12:37am | #8

   First, let me say that I have a Griz 10" jointer with a SC - and I love it. 

   To me, the advantages of the SC are:

   (1) Durability - OMG, these things can go forever 

   (2) The high cutting angle with results in almost no tearout, even in the most figured woods

   With that said, if your only problem is setting the blades, I'd like to suggest taking a look at the following link.  This simple setup tool is accurate to .001" and makes setting the height, of virtually anything, pretty much fool-proof.  Best of all, it is way cheaper than a SC. 

   I read a review of on of these and I rushed out to buy one for my dad's birthday...  However, once I received it, I couldn't let it go... so I got him something else :0) 

   http://www.oneway.ca/workshop/multi-gauge.htm

   
   

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   Edited 5/13/2008 5:38 pm ET by Tbagn

8. 
   mauritius | May 15, 2008 09:12pm | #9

   I use Tersa cutter block and you can change the blades in minutes and don't need to adjust them. Tersa have a range of blades from HSS to Carbide.