DW735 Planer and Byrd Shelix Head Cutter

[Cheese]

Cheese, you mentioned a 10db reduction in sound with the Shelix cutter. I think that is what was advertised for the  " silent power " upgrade on my Hammer A3-31.  Wow, what a difference it makes. [eek]

I don't recall what the upcharge was, but it was well worth it.

Hey Rob I’m with you...
You can jack your jaw all day long about how quiet the helical cutter head is but once you fire it up and hear it... it’s in one word...UNBELIEVABLE. I think it’s all a function of the design of the helical cutter head.

 

[Michael Kellough]

The valley of snipe, how far from the end of the board on that machine?

 

[Cheese]

The valley of snipe, how far from the end of the board on that machine?

It’s always 2.5” from either end.

 

[Rob Z]

Cheese, it's so "quiet " that I can even run material through it without HP.  I don't do it, of course, but it really is that "unloud".  Is that a word?  [blink] LOL

My goal is to get my current equipment sold so I can buy a Hammer combination machine  for my new, much smaller shop space.  One thing that must be spec'd on the new equipment is the silent power.  I'll do without the mobility kit, the dado unit, etc etc before I'll skip the upgrade to silent power.

 

[blaszcsj]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] [member=37411]ear3[/member] do you think this has to do with the undersized head and increased downforce of the rollers since the “zero” plane has shifted? I.e. you have to make up the .006” radius difference.

I am trying to evaluate this before I buy.

You’ve got a good point, but I think it actually snipes less than the original 3 blade version. The snipe is in the .002”-.008” range. It’s not consistent which really drives me crazy.  Before the Shelix conversion it would snipe in the .015” range all day long. It got so bad that I’d just go to a local wood vendor and pay to have him run the boards through his timesaver.

Interesting. I agree with the inconsistency in snipe, but mine is no where near .015" mine is usually small enough to sand out. I just have the metal outfeed tables. My issues are with the feed rollers slipping every once and a while.

 

[Cheese]

Interesting. I agree with the inconsistency in snipe, but mine is no where near .015" mine is usually small enough to sand out. I just have the metal outfeed tables. My issues are with the feed rollers slipping every once and a while.

I also have feed roller issues from time to time.  [mad]

 

[grbmds]

You may already do this, but the rollers perform much better and more consistently if cleaned periodically(especially when they start to slip). I clean mine with denatured alcohol but mineral spirits work. Over time deposits from the wood build up on the rollers and this can cause them to slip. As I said, this may be something you already do.

 

[Cheese]

You may already do this, but the rollers perform much better and more consistently if cleaned periodically(especially when they start to slip). I clean mine with denatured alcohol but mineral spirits work. Over time deposits from the wood build up on the rollers and this can cause them to slip. As I said, this may be something you already do.

Thanks for the info    I'll try some alcohol on the rollers tomorrow. [big grin]

 

[ear3]

Huh, I didn't think of that, but perhaps that's a contributing factor?  The weird thing is that there are still times when I run a board through and get NO snipe (this tends to be softwood, however).  I initially thought it might just be a function of the in/outfeed tables, but then i notice it happening on small pieces where those tables didn't come into play.

The snipe is never that bad.  I leave excess where possible that I waste off when I trim to length, but I have left the boards as is as well, and when doing things like dominoing the ends I just have to plan for a bit more sanding.

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] [member=37411]ear3[/member] do you think this has to do with the undersized head and increased downforce of the rollers since the “zero” plane has shifted? I.e. you have to make up the .006” radius difference.

I am trying to evaluate this before I buy.

 

[dlu]

Does the Byrd head reduce "idle" noise, or only cutting noise. I'm quite impressed by how noisy the machine is just running before it starts to cut.

 

[Cheese]

Yes...the stock Dewalt just screams at you. Hard to describe but it’s just a nasty, edgy, sound.

It’s very loud while also emanating a high pitched nasty scream...the Shelix is a welcome change.

As an aside, I’ve never worn hearing protection when shooting guns or operating machine tools. That’s probably the reason I’m half deaf.  [eek]  Well, that was just part of living life 50-60 years ago. So consequently, nothing has really been a motivating force for me to use hearing protection because I’m just used to loud equipment (think fuel dragsters) until I purchased the DW 735. That forced me to purchase muffs because it was actually painful to listen to.

So bottom line is...purchase the Shelix for better machine performance and purchase the Shelix for reduced machine noise.

 

[dlu]

Yes...the stock Dewalt just screams at you. Hard to describe but it’s just a nasty, edgy, sound.

It’s very loud while also emanating a high pitched nasty scream...the Shelix is a welcome change.

As an aside, I’ve never worn hearing protection when shooting guns or operating machine tools. That’s probably the reason I’m half deaf.  [eek]  Well, that was just part of living life 50-60 years ago. So consequently, nothing has really been a motivating force for me to use hearing protection because I’m just used to loud equipment (think fuel dragsters) until I purchased the DW 735. That forced me to purchase muffs because it was actually painful to listen to.

So bottom line is...purchase the Shelix for better machine performance and purchase the Shelix for reduced machine noise.

Wow! That's a compelling argument, I haven't running any wood through it yet (no dust collection yet) but I did switch it on – and right back off. It's an awful noise, hate it even with a pair of earmuffs on. Nothing at all like the sound of a big old Powermatic, really wish I had the space for one of those.

Thanks for sharing your experience and insights.

 

[Cheese]

Wow! That's a compelling argument, I haven't running any wood through it yet (no dust collection yet) but I did switch it on – and right back off. It's an awful noise, hate it even with a pair of earmuffs on. Nothing at all like the sound of a big old Powermatic, really wish I had the space for one of those.

Ya it’s a noise that even permeates ear muffs. Hard to describe but very easy to hate. [smile]
Maybe it’s the harmonics that are generated by it that are annoying?  Think Powermatic, lots of steel & cast iron vs Dewalt and lots of plastic & sheet metal. Just glad I’ve put that annoyance behind me.  [big grin]

I’m actually looking forward to thicknessing some 10” wide walnut tomorrow with the Shelix.

 

[kevinculle]

A significant contributor to the DW735 noise signature is the integrated blower for chip exhaust, it howls like a shop vac.  So even when running at idle where there is no noise from cutting action it is fairly loud.  I have confirmed the noise reduction when I did the switch on my DeWalt...it averaged 12 dBA quieter while taking a 1/64" (0.4mm) cut from a 12" wide maple board.

 

[Cheese]

A significant contributor to the DW735 noise signature is the integrated blower for chip exhaust, it howls like a shop vac.  So even when running at idle where there is no noise from cutting action it is fairly loud.  I have confirmed the noise reduction when I did the switch on my DeWalt...it averaged dBA quieter while taking a 1/64" (0.4mm) cut from a 12" wide maple board.

The blower noise makes sense, never thought of that signature.  [smile]

Ya, I did the same measurement with an inexpensive dB app I have on my phone. There was an approximate 9-10 dB reduction in noise level after the Shelix conversion while planing lumber.  [big grin]

 

[dicktill]

A significant contributor to the DW735 noise signature is the integrated blower for chip exhaust, it howls like a shop vac.  So even when running at idle where there is no noise from cutting action it is fairly loud.  ....

I have my DW735 hooked up to a 5hp Clear Vue cyclone dust collection system, and that seems to make the internal blower redundant. So is it possible to disconnect the blower, or is it integral with the motor or planer shaft? Or is it still necessary?

Thanks, Dick

 

[Cheese]

So is it possible to disconnect the blower, or is it integral with the motor or planer shaft? Or is it still necessary?

I just run my 735 into a Jet Vortex WITHOUT turning the Jet on. The Dewalt will inflate the Jet bag and deposits the chips inside. Try it once.  [smile]

 

[rvieceli]

Wear good quality hearing protection. Really!!! It makes a big difference and it is a BIG deal.

You will appreciate it later in life. The tinnitus is real.

 

[kevinculle]

I have my DW735 hooked up to a 5hp Clear Vue cyclone dust collection system, and that seems to make the internal blower redundant. So is it possible to disconnect the blower, or is it integral with the motor or planer shaft? Or is it still necessary?

Thanks, Dick

I think the blower drive may be a cogged belt that can be removed without affecting other planer functions...not positive but that's what I recall when I did the head swap.

 

[dicktill]

I have my DW735 hooked up to a 5hp Clear Vue cyclone dust collection system, and that seems to make the internal blower redundant. So is it possible to disconnect the blower, or is it integral with the motor or planer shaft? Or is it still necessary?

Thanks, Dick

I think the blower drive may be a cogged belt that can be removed without affecting other planer functions...not positive but that's what I recall when I did the head swap.

Thanks Kevin, I'll have to try that.