On 6 Nov 2004 05:33:40 -0800, [email protected] (Todd S) wrote:
>a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
>$$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
>worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
First I'll express my ignorance and say I didn't know they were
available. But then, I'm wondering at any advantage, and think that
if they don't have increased cutter head speed there is none that I
can see.
A spiral blade, if a single blade, still contacts at only one point
per revolution, while a 3-blader contacts 3 times per revolution in
the same area of wood, if you get my drift. As the wood moves
forward, the spiral turns, and effectively planes a strip at an angle
to the movement, a bit longer strip, but still a single strip per
single revolution of the cutter head. So, what's the advantage? It
depends on the ratio of forward speed to cutter head speed. You might
have only one blade to sharpen ...but how would you do that easily
yourself? Being a spiral, it might have one advantage in that it is
contacting the wood in a small area, not across the entire blade at
the same moment, so this might cut down on stress and fatigue of the
jointer, if that's a factor. I'm game to hear more possible
advantages though to warrant the cost. Any options on a three-blade
spiral cutter? Reminds me of the old lawnmower.
>a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
> $$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
> worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
If you're talking the Grizzly style spiral cutters, I can see a few
advantages.
- if you get a nick in one of the cutters, you can rotate just the one
cutter in a minute or so.
- shearing action gives better quality of cut, especially with difficult
grain
- carbide cutters are much harder than steel blades, which means you won't
need to sharpen nearly as often
I feel like the best benefit to a spiral head cutter along with its smoother
cut is the fact that there is no blade height adjustments or special setting
gauges etc to fool with, just replace a tooth/teeth and go. Every
planer/jointer should be like this unless you are one of those types who
love to fiddle around with gauges and stuff just to says I was able to get
it within a gnats ass of perfect adjustment.
"Todd S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
> $$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
> worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
On 6 Nov 2004 05:33:40 -0800, [email protected] (Todd S) wrote:
>a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
>$$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
>worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
There is another consideration. The "spiral" indexable inserts on
Grizzly jointers, and I assume on others, are carbide. I suspect they
are going to last a while.
"mel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I meant this http://www.olivermachinery.net/machines.asp?machine=4240
>
>
> as opposed to this
> http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?ItemNumber=G0543
>
>
I know you did. The Oliver link is the one I quoted from. It says it has 3
blades, not one.
Bob
Remember the Uniplane? Incredible machine. Still have one at the school,
because they won't sell it. Even offered a hold-harmless agreement, but no
dice.
"Steve Knight" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> now this is a real spiral cuter head. the knives cut at a angle and they
cut at
> a lower angle too.
> http://www.byrdtool.com/
>
>
> --
> Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
> Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
> See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 10:49:01 -0700, Jim Weisgram wrote
(in article <[email protected]>):
> On 6 Nov 2004 05:33:40 -0800, [email protected] (Todd S) wrote:
>
>> a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
>> $$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
>> worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
>
> There is another consideration. The "spiral" indexable inserts on
> Grizzly jointers, and I assume on others, are carbide. I suspect they
> are going to last a while.
I'd love it if some manufacturer made a jointer/planer that could use the
inserts designed for metal lathes. You can get them in a bazillion styles and
materials.
-Bruce
Yes, but carbide is never as sharp as HSS or Carbon steel. I suspect that
the cut will not be as good with carbide. Carbide is also more brittle that
steel and could chip if it hit a pebble or nail.
max
> On 6 Nov 2004 05:33:40 -0800, [email protected] (Todd S) wrote:
>
>> a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
>> $$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
>> worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
>
> There is another consideration. The "spiral" indexable inserts on
> Grizzly jointers, and I assume on others, are carbide. I suspect they
> are going to last a while.
"mel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> so what's your point?
>
I thought your post was saying the Oliver had a single spiral blade. Maybe
I misinterpreted. sorry about that. Somehow I read into the thread that
some people were saying that a spiral head jointer has one single blade.
Every spec I've seen says they have multiple blades but they are helical,
not straight.
Bob
Guess who wrote:
> On 6 Nov 2004 05:33:40 -0800, [email protected] (Todd S) wrote:
>
>> a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few hundred
>> $$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if they are
>> worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
>
> First I'll express my ignorance and say I didn't know they were
> available. But then, I'm wondering at any advantage, and think that
> if they don't have increased cutter head speed there is none that I
> can see.
The reason there are drool stains on the spiral head jointers pages of my
Grizzly catalog is they appear to be easier to align. Screw them in and
you're done, according to the copy.
I like woodworking but for some reason I *hate* aligning knives, shimming
tabletops, busting knuckles on trunions, etc. I have just a few hours a
week in the shop (work is 37 miles away around the Washington DC beltway
with its noteworthy traffic) and I'd MUCH rather spend time making sawdust
than adjusting tools.
The spiral head's alleged ease of setup if the key reason its of interest to
me. The alleged better finish is secondary.
-- Mark
On 6 Nov 2004 05:33:40 -0800, [email protected] (Todd S) wrote:
>I'm wondering if they are worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head.
A spiral cutter produces a constant force between wood and head as it
rotates. A straight three blade pulses this force, three times per
revolution. This may be enough to give a better finish.
I know I would spend $100+ to get a better surface finish from my
jointer. I'd want to see it in action first though.
--
Smert' spamionam
"Guess who" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A spiral blade, if a single blade, still contacts at only one point
> per revolution, while a 3-blader contacts 3 times per revolution in
> the same area of wood, if you get my drift.
Spiral head jointers have multiple blades.
I believe a spiral head cutter equates roughly to the same thing you see in
hand planing by turning the plane at an angle to the planing direction. It
cuts smoother with reduced tearout and handles difficult grain better.
Bob
"mel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >Spiral head jointers have multiple blades
>
> some actually have a true spiral blade as opposed to several straight
blades
> in a spiral pattern
>
> http://www.olivermachinery.net/machines.asp?machine=4240
The link you posted clearly says in the specs:
"flexible bladeS allow quick and easy blade change".
"number of knives (helical) 3 "
Bob
a true spiral design has more of a shearing action to the wood fibers as
opposed to a chopping action for one. Although not a true spiral knife
design, since each individual knife edge is still contacting the wood at the
same angle as a straight knife would, one of the advantages to a spiral
cutterhead like Grizzly offers is the individual knifes can be moved around
when they become knicked thus offering a little bit more life to the setup.
[email protected] (Todd S) writes:
> a few spiral head jointers are on the market. They are a few
> hundred $$ more than the conventional jointers. I'm wondering if
> they are worth the cost versus a 3 or 4 blade cutter head. thanks
I have one. Yes, they're worth it.