Replies

1. 
   JMartinsky | Oct 21, 2008 05:36am | #1

   Dear Dan,
   In a word, Yes.

   The indexed heads are outstanding in this capacity. I swapped out the original head on my jointer as soon as the straight blades went South. I replaced with a Byrd and haven't looked back. I knew that I was going to do this when I bought the machine, as I have little interest in fiddling with the machines. I want them to run with the least amount of attention. OK, The list:

   Good points:

   1) No blade setting. None.

   2) The Carbide indexes do seem to last forever. I have only rotated a few of mine on the head. None more than once.

   3) Quieter operation.

   4) Less tearout.

   Low points:

   1) On my machine, the cutterhead sort of whines as opposed to the stock cutterhead which did have a rather pleasing "whir".

   2) Cost.... sort of.

   Best,

   John

1. 
   dantt | Oct 21, 2008 10:27pm | #4

   Thanks, I was leaning toward them. Also, the cutting force will be reduced with inserts. Many small points of contact opposed to one straight perpendicular blade.

   Dan

2. 
   lwilliams | Oct 21, 2008 06:02am | #2

   You know, I really don't know the answer to your question. Let me tell you why I haven't considered them.

   I use indexed insert tooling in metal working. That's where the technology was developed. One of our milling heads uses six inserts but most use only three. Even when using three, the inserts need to be indicated in or set with a test indicator. If you don't do this, you won't be getting the finish you should and you won't be cutting with all the inserts. The indexing just isn't that accurate and it takes some time and skill to indicate the inserts in. I have no interest in indicating in the number of inserts used on a jointer, let alone a planer. I know I can set knives in a planer or jointer a lot faster than I can indicate in the number of inserts those machines require.

   My planer is designed such that changing blades is incredibly easy but the design of my jointer is pretty poor. It takes a few minutes to get the knives set on the jointer. Even as bad as the design of the jointer is, I can change knives in it quicker than I can indicate in the inserts on the six insert milling head.

   Maybe you can be pretty sloppy on a planer or jointer. I'm not sure. I know I don't indicate in the knives but I do get them set pretty accurately. I just don't know how accurate. Maybe someday I check and see.

1. 
   dantt | Oct 21, 2008 11:16pm | #5

   I also have a tool and die background. That causes a problem for me when I am doing wood working. How flat is flat and how square is square. I was always trying to compare these two features to what I do in my tool and die shop. it frustrated me. We can not get the precision in a wood shop that we can get in a machine shop.

   The carbide inserts have tolerance rating of .001" to .005" in regards to their ability to index.  The closer toleranced ones are more expensive. I think an insert that indexes within .005" on a jointer will produce a flat surface and an acceptable finish.  In metal working, the flatness would be okey but the finish would be poor.

   Also, I believe (I will know when I get the one I ordered) that the inserts are an SPC type (square, 11 degree rake angle, with a counter sunk hole to locate it). Locating off of the counter sunk hole eliminates the problem of locating off of the pocket in the holder or in this case the cutter head.

   As far as cost goes, If I am correct on the style, I can purchase these for with a .005" tolerance for $1.00 each.  

   Dan

3. 
   ring | Oct 21, 2008 07:46am | #3

   Yes, the inserts eliminate blade adjustments. John's answer sums it up pretty well. Let me just add something to the advantages of using inserts: If you run something through that nicks the cutterhead you only need to rotate/replace a handful of inserts, not resharpen all the knives.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e