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WOODTEK BYRD TOOLS SHEUX Cutters are parallel to the axis of the drum t Each insert has four cutting edges and an indexing mark Cutters are in line with the __ angle of the spiral for a shearing cut ■ Carbide inserts are held into place with a single screw in a countersunk hole The inserts overlap each other between rows to provide a continuous cut. You can see what I'm talking about in the photos above. One big advantage to this type of design is each insert has four cutting edges. So if you nick a cutter you only need to rotate the damaged edge a quarter turn to expose a fresh edge. A second benefit is the inserts are made from carbide, giving you a longer-lasting cutting edge. Plus, it's also suitable for working with MDF or plywood. "V" Pattern. The first example, from Woodtek, positions six rows of cutters in a "V" shape on the cylinder. Wliile this arrangement produces a smoother cut than a Replacement: Installation There's no reason to be intimidated by the thought of upgrading the cutterhead of your jointer. The upgrade isn't hard and it doesn't take too long. The instructions that came with the different cutterheads were all very detailed and easy to understand. But it's still a good idea to have the manual for your jointer handy, in case you need a little more information. The drawing at right gives you an idea of what's involved. First, you'll need to remove the blade and pulley guards, and the fence assembly. Then you'll have to lower the infeed and outfeed tables to remove the pulley and bolts, and finally the cutterhead itself. Again, your manual will have the best information. All that remains is to replace the head and put it all back together. After you've reset the height of the infeed and outfeed tables, you'll be up and running. conventional cutterhead (there is a shearing effect due to the spiral pattern) it still positions the cutting edge square to the board. Shelix. The third option incorporates the best of both worlds. The Shelix head from Biird Tools has six rows of insert blades, also slightly offset for a continuous cutting action. But unlike the Woodtek, the cutting edges follow a spiral pattern around the axis of the cutterhead. The difference is noticeable. It produces the smooth, shearing cut of a true spiral blade and has the durability that only carbide cutters can provide. Cost. Of course, all these benefits come at a price. The Sunhill spiral head is a great value at $149 for a 6" jointer. Replacement knives cost $18.95 for a set of three. The Woodtek and Byrd heads each sell for more than twice that ($320), but the carbide inserts mean you'll get longer life from the blades. Replacement inserts for either of these heads run about $27 for a box of 10. But remember you'll need four boxes to replace the entire set. Refer to page 51 for sources. If you feel like you could be getting better results from your jointer, one of these replacements may be the answer. And don't worry about changing out a cutterhead. As you can see in the box below, the process isn't all that difficult. FIRST: REMOVE BLADE AND PULLEY GUARDS AND FENCE ASSEMBLY |
