Folks, this is my first time so bear with me!
I am a semiprofessional furniture carftsman. I’m in the market for a 12″
jointer. I have looked at the Delta, Powermatic, and Northtech.
Northtech offers a helical carbide cutterhead. Since I do most of my work
with cherry, maple, etc., woods that can tend to tear out, I am very
interested in the helical cutterhead. However, on Sunday, 10/20/03, I
read a review (website ???)
discussing the pros and cons of helical cutter- heads and staight, high
speed steel blades. One individual commented that his shop had trouble
sanding out a peculiar type of “marking”, or lines, left by their helical
carbide bladed jointer. Do you have first hand knowledge of
perculiarities or any drawbacks from using a helical carbide cutterhead?
Between these three machines, do you have a favorite? For under $3,500.00
do you have a recommendation? I’ll welcome any comments you have.
Thanks
Replies
I've never had any real problems with straight blades and curly woods. Sharp blades and a slow feed work fine. Haven't tried the new helical but the poster maybe talking about the older spiral heads which do leave marks. People do mix up the spiral heads with the helical heads often. Oliver made a spiral insert head that had to be sharpened on the machine. Very difficult to get perfect and would often leave little lines.
I maintain a Delta 12" and an older Bridgewood for a couple of shops that are pretty nice machines. I'd certainly look at older machines like Crescents, Northfields, etc. The new 10" Oliver has helix carbide or a spiral HSS type of knife as two options. There's a blurb on them in the new Woodshop News.
Go to dealers and try them out to see for yourself. I know I have to see it for myself to believe it.
http://www.byrdtool.com makes retrofit shelix heads for older machines.
Rich, thanks for the feedback. I'm in Lexington, KY. This weekend I plan to go to
Columbus, OH to see the new 12" Powermatic. Currently, I'm using an older
8" Delta. I agree, straight blades and a slow feed rate should work OK for jointing.
Just curious about the helical jointers. I just sold an old Fay & Egan 10"
Woodworker, two-blade with babit bearings. Toooooo--- much trouble keeping the
tables aligned. I do want a big jointer for the outfeed table length and ability to true
up wide material. Again, thanks for the feedback. My e-mail address is
[email protected]
Edited 10/21/2003 6:40:36 PM ET by Ken's Shop
From what I've heard with the "new" helical heads it doesn't matter which way the grain is going on the board. As I said before I'd have to see it myself to be convinced but I wouldn't be surprised if it worked as mentioned. What kind of tables were on that F & E? The new paralellogram type found on most European machines and the DJ-30 are super. Also the older style with four inclines per table like on the Crescent, Oliver are very good as well. I wouldn't hesitate to put a new head on an older jointer either but I've been fortunate enough to spend many years rebuilding machines so there isn't much that can't be fixed or improved one way or another.
Rick, that old Fay & Egan was worn out by the L&N Railroad long before I got it. I think it was built around 1910. I had the tables reground and the bearing repoured, but, the machine was so worn out it was too much trouble. I did use it some for trueing up wide boards. The gap between the tables and cutter head was very wide, there was no guard, and with a two blade head it didn't make a good enough cut for any finish work, though it did make a very straight cut when aligned properly. I do very well with the current 8" Delta. I will probably continue using it after purchasing a new 12". I'd like to check out some other machines but my searches on the internet aren't bringing up much. Who has a web site that deals in a lot of different brands? Thanks, Ken's Shop
You didn't answer my question on how the tables moved? Dovetailed ways?
Anyway the web isn't the only way to find stuff. Do you get any of the trade journals like Custom Woodworking Business, Cabinetmaker, Wood and Wood Products, Woodshop News? The web is helpful but the best search engine only gets 15% of what's out there. I still use other means such as trade journals, other professional woodworkers and talking to dealers for other information. There is no website that deals many different brands. Get a copy of Woodshop News to get other brand listings. FWW is too hobby oriented to have many of the other dealers that have what you are looking for.
These 2 sites are for pros and have lists of dealers websites. Not all by any means...if you rely on the web for everything you will still miss a lot of information.
http://www.woodweb.com/ProductDirectory/PDIndex.html
http://www.woodweb.com/ProductDirectory/PDIndex.html
Rick, they were incline ways whereby the "legs" from the tables fit into grooves cut into the four point frame supports. This was a very crudely designed machine.
I'll check out the sites you mention. By the way, I'm not in business and therefore don't get trade mags. Thanks, Ken's Shop
Then you should subscribe to Woodshop News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The 4 inclined ways for each table work good. The key I found was to have a 6' machinists straight edge to maje sure all is coplanar.
Rich, I gave this machine away just to get it out of my shop. If I'd known you sooner I would have shipped the old guy to ya'!! The COD shipping bill might have been a tough one to swallow. I sold the motor off it for $200.00. I'm not looking back.
Sometimes you have to walk away from it. A lot of things are fixable but if it costs more than a new one...
Ken,
Helical blades will reduce the noise, but I don't think you can count on a better cut with them in problem woods. The helical path dosen't change the fact that you are using a rotary cutter head. And that's what causes tear out.
Certain woods will tear out no matter what you do, but a straight blade machine, very sharp with a light cut and just the right feed rate (too slow is as bad as too fast) will give as good a surface as can be obtained with a machine.
Helical blade machines are harder to maintain but set up correctly do a great job. The problem you referred to must have been due to blade setting being a hair off.
VL
I'd closely consider the helical from Byrd. http://www.byrdtool.com/journals.html
They look great to me. With that, and used, older heavy cast iron jointerr, you should be at about your $3500, with a lot more machine than a new one. I'll get one as soon as my next ship arrives.
Alan
s4s, Cool, checked out their site immediately, posted it to favorites for future ref.
Thanks, Ken's Shop
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