Byrd head questions

[Dave Gallaher]

I have a Powermatic 180, I thinking about making the leap to a Byrd Shelix Cutter. Any input would help.

[Glen Butler]

I have used both straight knives and helical knives so I can say I like the helical knives better: less chip out, quieter, and they last longer. But if I had straight instead of helical there are many other tools I be more inclined to get before I put out the money for helical head.

[gary Zimmel]

Hi Dave.

A while back I upgraded to a 15" PM planer with the Byrd head.
For me it's a great machine with that head in it.
Nice and quiet and cuts like a dream.
To me they are well worth the money.
My 8" General jointer also was upgrade to a Byrd head.
Best news is I don't have to change knives anymore.

[Myk Rian]

I put one in my DW735 planer. Like already said, noise level is WAY down.
No chipout on figured wood. Still have to use a scraper or sander to finish, but it beats having to fix the marks from a chipped stock knife.

[Gary Herrmann]

I've got them in my General jointer and planer.

Pros:
Quieter.
Less tearout on figured woods.
No brainer knife changes.

Cons:
There seems to be a variety of responses in the resulting surface from perfect to scalloped. I'm in the middle. I get lines, but no scallops.
They're not cheap
It's a little work to swap the head out

I'd consider a PM180 to be a lifetime machine. If you have the $ and like the pros, I'd say go for it.

[Dave Gallaher]

I'm in the process of a rebuild, the swap out is half done if I decide to go that direction.