Spiral Cutterhead Question

[Tim M Tuttle]

Evening all,

I recently got a Steelex ST1011 jointer with a spiral cutterhead. To clean all of the grease from the head and I went ahead and removed all of the cutters. Looking at the manual it says to use machine grease on the threads when installing the cutters. I assume wheel bearing grease will suffice?

It also says to torque them to to 45-50 ft pounds. I dont have torque screwdrivers. I assume just putting some umph with a regular screwdriver will work?

Thanks

[Ken Fitzgerald]

My Grizzly manual says to use lightweight machine oil on the screws

Carbide can be pretty brittle. My Grizzly G0490X manual says to use 48-50 INCH POUNDS.....not FT. LBs. I bought a cheap torque wrench just for this purpose.

The carbide inserts can be expensive!

[Robert LaPlaca]

Ken beat me to it, inch/pounds would be the proper torque spec, not ft/lbs. I would also agree that machine oil on the threads.

[Bill Graham]

I would use a light machine oil and one of these: Wheeler Firearms Accurizing Torque Wrench
(https://www.amazon.com/Wheeler-Firearms-Accurizing-Torque-Wrench/dp/B0012AXR4S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510276250&sr=8-3&keywords=Torque+screwdriver&dpID=41TwBhkGghL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch)
45-50 ft/lb would break the fastener that holds the insert anyway, in/lb is what you should be using. Overtorque one of those cutters and you could find pieces of carbide coming at you at high speed anytime you start or use the tool. My Powermatic jointer and planer specify 45-50 in/lb torque in the manuals.

(https://www.amazon.com/Wheeler-Firearms-Accurizing-Torque-Wrench/dp/B0012AXR4S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510276250&sr=8-3&keywords=Torque+screwdriver&dpID=41TwBhkGghL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch)

[Tim M Tuttle]

Whoops, misread both parts! Thanks, everyone. Always another tool to buy.

[Bill Graham]

Whoops, misread both parts! Thanks, everyone. Always another tool to buy.

Always glad to help you spend your money, ask anytime! ;)

[Cary Falk]

I have this one and it works perfectly fine.
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-61277.html

[Tim M Tuttle]

I have this one and it works perfectly fine.
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-61277.html Good to know. Was just looking at that online.