Helical Head Cutter V Straight Blade Cutter on Jet combo machines

[MichaelW2014]

Hello all. I am looking at the 260 and 310 models by Jet. Recently, I believe, Jet started to offer a "helical head" option instead of the straight cutter.

Here are my thoughts on this:

It seems like the helical shape allows for finer cuts. mtmwood (as his business is called on youtube) says he can cut end grain with the HH but not with the straight blades.

I try to imagine slicing a piece of fruit. if  you try to cut it with the entire blade at once, then the blade has to be incredibly sharp in order to achieve this. If you slice it from an angle then the blade enters more easily. i think it is the same principle involved in the HH versus straight blade. but, does this mean it generates a better cut? i would guess that the HH does not necessarily generate a better cut, but it does allow for cuts that might not be achievable on the straight blades (such as end-grain). correct me if i am wrong.

but will i ever plane endgrain? not sure. maybe i will.

do I plan to purchase a drum sander? if yes, then wouldn't the drum sander take care of fine surface treatment, and end-grain, perhaps instead of the HH cutter?

 

[Kev]

For me, a helical head with the array of small blade pieces gives a quieter cut and gives you the out if you chip a little blade to just rotate it and ultimately just replace it.  Keeping knives sharp for a straight cutter is a very different process.

It can be a personal thing .. either way, it'd be sad to get a finish that required a lot of sanding [sad]

 

[MichaelW2014]

haha, i like that you say it would be sad to have to sand a lot for a finish. your argument is encouraging.

 

[jbasen]

While the example of using a helical head on end grain is an extreme case, it will allow you to plane figured wood with much lower risk of tear-out.  I work mostly with QSWO and get great results with a helical head in a Dewalt 735 planer. 

 

[Cheese]

[member=27363]MichaelW2014[/member]
Here's a previous thread you may be interested in. The discussion was the good & the bad between straight blades, helical head inserts and Shelix head inserts, along with sanding issues and surface finish.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/planer-upgrade-suggestions/msg407892/#msg407892

 

[MichaelW2014]

thanks guys. going to check this old thread.

 

[Tayler_mann]

Buy a Hammer  [big grin]. My friend bought a join/plane and it is....AMAZING! We had a fool conversation while throwing a 12" piece of maple through taking a 1/16" off. Their helical head is so quite it is unreal. Also his entire experience with them was awesome. His sales man calls weekly for the first few months to ensure he is happy. On top of that their 12" is only $1,200 more than powermatics 8" jointer.

I have decided any stationary machinery I buy is Felders/Hammer.

 

[MichaelW2014]

thanks for your reply and your experience with the hammer. this machine is swimming around in my head quite a lot, and been for a while now. hmmmms

 

[Tayler_mann]

thanks for your reply and your experience with the hammer. this machine is swimming around in my head quite a lot, and been for a while now. hmmmms

Do it I gurantee you won't be disappointed. I have come to the conclusion that their machines are a step above the jet/Powermatic/general line ups. You pay a premium but you get that much better of a machine.

 

[MichaelW2014]

hopefully i will have a nice jointer planer soon.

 

[Tayler_mann]

hopefully i will have a nice jointer planer soon.

That's a good choice. When I get the capital to build a real sized shop I have my Hanmer order already done, 79" sliding table saw, 14" jointer planer, dust collection, and one of their power fed shapers. Also, I will include to this I plan on buying a 14" Laguna band saw and a seiko (I think that's how you spell it) wide belt sander.

I have a few 100 more jobs before that  [big grin].

 

[MichaelW2014]

dream studio where's santa when you need him