Stew Hagerty
05-10-2013, 7:23 PM
Like many of you, I have a DW735 planer. I don't use it enough to justify a Byrd upgrade. However, I would like something a little better than the knives that came with it. The OEM knives sell for about $70 on Amazon for 2 full sets. Infinity sells a single set of HSS knives for $80 plus shipping. Infinity also sells a set of carbide tipped knives for $225 plus shipping (which is about half the price of the Byrd upgrade).
Now as a hobbiest, I don't use my planer every day. But, when I want to use it, I want it to be sharp and machine my stock with as little tear-out as possible. Therefore I am more than willing to pay a premium for an upgrade. But within reason.
The OEM Blades do work. They just need to be replaced more often, and when they start to dull they also start to cause more tear-out on figured woods. What I'm unsure about is the value in the other choices. Are Infinity's HSS knives worth the 4X premium? Are the carbide knives worth it? Or, is if I were to opt for the carbide blades should I just go ahead with the Byrd at point (something I am definitely NOT going to do).
I was just wondering what the thoughts out there were. If you've made the switch to Infinity, what did you think?
Now as a hobbiest, I don't use my planer every day. But, when I want to use it, I want it to be sharp and machine my stock with as little tear-out as possible. Therefore I am more than willing to pay a premium for an upgrade. But within reason.
The OEM Blades do work. They just need to be replaced more often, and when they start to dull they also start to cause more tear-out on figured woods. What I'm unsure about is the value in the other choices. Are Infinity's HSS knives worth the 4X premium? Are the carbide knives worth it? Or, is if I were to opt for the carbide blades should I just go ahead with the Byrd at point (something I am definitely NOT going to do).
I was just wondering what the thoughts out there were. If you've made the switch to Infinity, what did you think?