Replies

1. 
   bd | Jan 25, 2010 07:33am | #1

   Which ever one you decide to purchase, I suggest that you order it with the bearings already installed. It may save you a lot of aggravation.

   I recently installed a Byrd head in my Delta 15" planer. Followed Byrd's instructions on removing bearings from the old head. Destroyed one bearing trying to get them off, then destroyed another trying to get them on the new head.

   They suggested "tapping" the bearings on & off with a hammer. Even heavy pounding with a hammer never removed one bearing & there's no way tapping would have gotten them on. Had to borrow a press & jury rig a couple of jigs just to get the new bearings on without destroying them. Besides, no machinist would recommend hammering bearings on & off. It's just plain wrong.

   As far as the Shelix head itself, I guess I'm satisfied with it. Have no experience with others at all. It's a heck of a lot better than the straight knives.

2. 
   terrylee86 | Jan 25, 2010 08:52am | #2

   I agree with the previous post. Have the supplier install the bearings. I have installed a Byrd Shelix 8" in a Delta DJ-20 jointer and it was pretty easy because of the way Delta houses the bearings, just a cup and one bolt through the bottom and you are finished. I have a 12" Bridgewood spiral head jointer and it produces a flawless finish. I think the Byrd is a little better ,but you better check to see if Byrd makes one for your jointer. Grizzly sells the sames head that is in my Bridgewood and it is fine. The ease of installation is determined by the design of your jointer. Byrd has their own website, Grizzly, Sunhill and Extrema probably sell the same Taiwanese head. Check their sites.

3. 
   1cmoore | Jul 16, 2010 03:42pm | #3

   Hell yes, just had the same problem with the bearing.  I got it off, barely.  I scared I would destroy it in the process

4. 
   Pete99353 | Jul 16, 2010 06:31pm | #4

   I have a Byrd Tools 12"

   I have a Byrd Tools 12" Shelix cutter on my Laguna XSD Jointer/Planer. I ordered it directly from Byrd and it came without bearings. If I had taken the existing cutter off before ordering the Byrd I might have thought of ordering bearings, but alas I ordered first. I too used a hammer to tap the existing bearings off and subsequently realized it is not a wise thing to do. It would have been scarier still to hammer the old bearing onto the Byrd. I took it to a machine shop and they ordered new bearings and installed them for me with their press. It was under $30, which is a good thing since the cutter head from Byrd was over $1,000.

   I'm very happy with the Byrd and recommend it to all who have a few extra bucks to get the best.  Here's a link to their site:

   http://www.byrdtool.com/Shelix.html