Replies

1. 
   mudman | Apr 26, 2005 06:42pm | #1

   Sounds like it. Though, I wonder about the arguement that it is easier to rotate the indexed cutters than install new knifes. Seems to me it would take a really long time to rotate a hundered or more little cutters. But then that is something that my helper could do while I am doing something else. I wouldn't trust him to set up new knives.

   Mike

   please excuse my spelling.
1. 
   BarryO | Apr 26, 2005 07:38pm | #2

   But if you get a nick in one, you only need to rotate one.

1. 
   jayp | Apr 26, 2005 09:03pm | #3

   I've wondered though if you wear the other cutter heads just slightly and then rotate only one, will the edge be true with the rest of the other cutterheads or are you going to have a sharper, slightly more extended cutting edge on the one cutterhead that will leave a slick line right down the middle of your board?  How do you ensure that all of your cutterheads are true, especially after they've just been sharpened?

1. 
   BarryO | Apr 26, 2005 09:38pm | #4

   You don't sharpen them:  once all 4 sides are used, you throw them away.  Since they are carbide, this will take awhile.

   I guess if it was near the time to rotate the heads due to general wear, and you only rotated on due to a nick, then yea, maybe this would cause an uneven cut.  This will require judgement on the part of the operator.

   I've got a jointer with one of these heads sitting out in the shop, still in its shipping crate.  As soon as I get to spend more time at home, I'll set it up and see in real life how they perform.

2. 
   mudman | Apr 27, 2005 08:14pm | #8

   Yea that sounds nice, I guess you would have to mark the used edge somehow.

   MIkeplease excuse my spelling.

1. 
   JerryPacMan | Apr 28, 2005 04:09pm | #9

   The carbide inserts on my Grizzly G0543 have an index mark.  This allows you to keep track of insert rotation.

     

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .

1. 
   mudman | Apr 28, 2005 08:07pm | #10

   that makes sense.

   How is the finish from your Griz?

   Mike

    please excuse my spelling.

2. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 29, 2005 08:56pm | #11

   But then that is something that my helper could do while I am doing something else..

   Hell, I started out being a GRUNT and LOVED MY JOB.. Then I got to be 'THE BOSS' I hated it!  Really... Pay better but not anywhere as happy doing it...

2. 
   Jellyrug | Apr 26, 2005 09:49pm | #5

   In a high volume production shop, yes.

   For me, no, as I finish and joint boards directly from the jointer, needing no further sanding, or preparation. With the index blades, you can sometimes see, the lines and it is not possible to get a 0.000" tolerance in size and fit.

1. 
   BarryO | Apr 27, 2005 12:03am | #6

   For me, no, as I finish and joint boards directly from the jointer, needing no further sanding, or preparation

   You don't sand, don't hand plane, and you don't get any knife marks?  Which model of jointer are you using?

   Note that, with cutterheads that have the cutters turned and cutting with a shearing action, such as the Shelix, some lines are inevitable.  This is a simple consequence of geometry:  you can't construct a true spiral out of a bunch of (straight) line segments.  That's a big reason the Shelix heads have so many more cutters than the non-shear cutterheads: to minimze this effect.  However, the lines should be small, no more than the scalloping from conventional knives, and should be easy to sand or plane out.

   it is not possible to get a 0.000" tolerance in size and fit

   Indeed, this is true about everything.  Heisenberg even said so. ;)

1. 
   Jellyrug | Apr 27, 2005 04:56am | #7

   "You don't sand, don't hand plane, and you don't get any knife marks?  Which model of jointer are you using?"

   Nothing special, a Grizzly 8" jointer with four knives. I'm meticulous about set up and have a small back bevel ground on the blades, which have to stay sharp.

   I'm currently doing a big project with Cherry, some curly parts and the finish is perfect, directly from the jointer, taking small cuts, with a slow even feed rate.

   My planer gets close, but not good enough for a final finish. A bit of tear out on the curly parts, but I have not really spent time to tune in here.