Adam Merritt
04-11-2017, 9:28 AM
I could use some advice on using Byrd inserts with a Grizzly G1021X2 cutter-head. There have been a few delays in receiving parts, but I finally received all the inserts and 30 of the screws last night. I have them installed on the head for test fit while I await the other 40 screws, and it looks like they will work. They index just fine and seat flush, but I haven't had a chance to run anything through it yet. This is my first spiral head cutter, so admittedly I'm no expert. Here are a few pictures of the installed inserts; if you see anything amiss, I would appreciate a heads up now before it causes me any damage.
Next, the backstory if you're interested. Two few weeks ago, I bought a Grizzly G0453 planer that came with a "Byrd" cutter-head, minus the screws and inserts. The gentleman was moving across the country to pastor a new church and didn't have space for any of his equipment. I had to pickup a U-Haul trailer (there is no way in heck we were going to get that 600 LB planer into the back of my lifted pickup), and then drove nearly 2 hours after an already long Friday workday before I arrived at his house. The planer turned on, everything seemed functional, and I saw the spiral cutter-head in the box. I had called Byrd before heading out there to determine what my actual cost would be to restore that cutter-head and they mentioned if it was manufactured within the last 6 or so years, it would have 75 cutters, or if older, it would have 100. I guess I will blame being tired, but I didn't really look at things closely. As it would turn out, I didn't purchase a Byrd head, but ended up with something unknown. The seller bought it on eBay two years previous, but had never gotten around to installing it. I don't think he intentionally misled me; I do believe he thought it was a Byrd head, so all fault lies on me. I talked to the guys at Grizzly for 45 minutes and they couldn't come to a conclusion about what model it may/may not have been (if it was even theirs). Finally, we noticed on the "Grizzly Carbide Insert Reference Chart" (found as a manual on their cutter-heads product page) that the Grizzly G1021X2 had 68 cutters. It is the one and only Grizzly head listed as 68 cutters, however, Jet and Baileigh also have models with 68 cutters. I talked to both of those manufactures, but they weren't conclusive. (Jet said they had no way to help determine if the cutter-head was theirs, but thought the Byrd inserts should work just fine. Baileigh didn't have any info at all on the cutterhead or inserts; they didn't even offer a replacement. The next day, they called back with their version of the 15x15x2.5 insert at $130/ten pack.) Finally, I was able to use the shipping label on the cutter-head box to locate the original eBay seller and contact him over Facebook. There was literally one guy with that name returned in the search. He confirmed the head was from a G1021X2 that he had purchased used. He said the cutters were damaged, and upon trying to remove them, found out most of the screws were seized, requiring him to use screw extractors to strip it down. Once ready to replace the inserts, he found the cost was much more than anticipated (those dang H9893 cutters are expensive!), so he bought a new head and sold this one to cut his losses. This left me with the decision to either purchase 7 packs of H9893 cutters at $82.95/box or try to use Byrd inserts at $28/box. If I was unable to use the Byrd inserts on this head, I figured it would be better to buy a new Byrd head with 75 cutters (plus the 5 extra) instead of spending $600 on Grizzly inserts. I ordered 70 Byrd inserts and 70 Byrd TP 25 screws for <$220. I'm hoping this doesn't turn out to be a wasted investment.
Next, the backstory if you're interested. Two few weeks ago, I bought a Grizzly G0453 planer that came with a "Byrd" cutter-head, minus the screws and inserts. The gentleman was moving across the country to pastor a new church and didn't have space for any of his equipment. I had to pickup a U-Haul trailer (there is no way in heck we were going to get that 600 LB planer into the back of my lifted pickup), and then drove nearly 2 hours after an already long Friday workday before I arrived at his house. The planer turned on, everything seemed functional, and I saw the spiral cutter-head in the box. I had called Byrd before heading out there to determine what my actual cost would be to restore that cutter-head and they mentioned if it was manufactured within the last 6 or so years, it would have 75 cutters, or if older, it would have 100. I guess I will blame being tired, but I didn't really look at things closely. As it would turn out, I didn't purchase a Byrd head, but ended up with something unknown. The seller bought it on eBay two years previous, but had never gotten around to installing it. I don't think he intentionally misled me; I do believe he thought it was a Byrd head, so all fault lies on me. I talked to the guys at Grizzly for 45 minutes and they couldn't come to a conclusion about what model it may/may not have been (if it was even theirs). Finally, we noticed on the "Grizzly Carbide Insert Reference Chart" (found as a manual on their cutter-heads product page) that the Grizzly G1021X2 had 68 cutters. It is the one and only Grizzly head listed as 68 cutters, however, Jet and Baileigh also have models with 68 cutters. I talked to both of those manufactures, but they weren't conclusive. (Jet said they had no way to help determine if the cutter-head was theirs, but thought the Byrd inserts should work just fine. Baileigh didn't have any info at all on the cutterhead or inserts; they didn't even offer a replacement. The next day, they called back with their version of the 15x15x2.5 insert at $130/ten pack.) Finally, I was able to use the shipping label on the cutter-head box to locate the original eBay seller and contact him over Facebook. There was literally one guy with that name returned in the search. He confirmed the head was from a G1021X2 that he had purchased used. He said the cutters were damaged, and upon trying to remove them, found out most of the screws were seized, requiring him to use screw extractors to strip it down. Once ready to replace the inserts, he found the cost was much more than anticipated (those dang H9893 cutters are expensive!), so he bought a new head and sold this one to cut his losses. This left me with the decision to either purchase 7 packs of H9893 cutters at $82.95/box or try to use Byrd inserts at $28/box. If I was unable to use the Byrd inserts on this head, I figured it would be better to buy a new Byrd head with 75 cutters (plus the 5 extra) instead of spending $600 on Grizzly inserts. I ordered 70 Byrd inserts and 70 Byrd TP 25 screws for <$220. I'm hoping this doesn't turn out to be a wasted investment.