View Poll Results: Jointer Cutter Head: Straight Blades or Helical Segmented ?

Voters
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  • Straight HSS

    11 28.21%
  • Straight Carbide

    1 2.56%
  • Helical Segmented such as Byrd Shelix

    27 69.23%
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Thread: Poll: Jointer Cutter Head: Straight Blades or Helical Segmented ?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Port Hope, Ontario
    Posts
    97

    Poll: Jointer Cutter Head: Straight Blades or Helical Segmented ?

    What type of cutter head do you prefer in a jointer ?

    When voting, consider including the following to help other readers:
    - reasons for my preference
    - model of jointer
    - head manufacturer if known (example Byrd Shelix)
    - is preference based on personal experience or is it based on research

  2. #2
    I have a helical cutter head and like it. It's nice to be able to replace - or just turn - a cutter if you hit something.

    The head came with the jointer - and I purchased the jointer used - so I don't know who made it.

    Mike
    Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    3,739
    Straight knifes for me I use t1 and m2. I had a nice set of opti steel with a black nitride coating but they got short and warped. Sharp beats carbide for the woods i face on my jointer.
    Aj

  4. #4
    I prefer either of the carbide options but I would probably give a small edge to the straight carbide knives. Carbide is definitely preferable to HSS as it lasts so much longer it's not even funny. My jointer is Grizzly's DJ20 clone with the factory installed helical segmented head as that's what they had in stock, the straight-knifed version was backordered for months. The only difference between the segmented and the straight knife machines I have used that I can discern is that the segmented cutter is a lot quieter. Surface finish is no different that I can tell. However, changing straight knives is a lot easier and quicker than changing inserts. You only have to change 3-4 straight knives which is an easy task, particularly with an elevation-setting jig. It takes a lot more time to rotate or replace segmented carbide cutters. My jointer has about 40 inserts so it's 40 cutters that need to be changed, not 3 or 4. Also, straight carbide knives are generally a commodity item with standardized sizes while carbide inserts are often specific to that manufacturer/head and pricey as a result.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Newtown, ct
    Posts
    52
    Helical on my Hammer a3-31. The small chips really help with dust collection.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,696
    Tersa on my SCM/Minimax J/P combo...and I'm extremely pleased. If I had North American traditional "separate" machines, I'd have straight knives on a jointer most likely and something spiralish on a thicknesser. I like Tersa because I can replace them in about three minutes or even move one just a hair if there's a nick and they are also reversible.
    Last edited by Jim Becker; 08-23-2020 at 7:19 PM.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  7. #7
    ive asked this before with no answer for those running Tersa how straight are they. I can set up high speed steel to .0005 with no issues. If something is off just tap under slight tight and you have adjusted. If I run the dial across the machine outside and middle it is accurate. Time to put the straight edge again at 90 degrees to the table just to check the flatness.

    Jointer tables on older machines have wear on the lead in edge of the infeed, its just the weight of the board and many passes.

    If you have a martin or a decent SCM or other and run a dial from side to side parrallel to the knife tip and take measures across what type of tolerances do you see. We know it changes as the knives are used as the tips are wearing, if you are using one area of the infeed over time it will be a bit lower both on infeed leading edge and also across the table from side to side.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Western PA
    Posts
    1,243
    Warren, I will measure my machine in the next couple days. Off the top of my head, I remember the Tersa knives being very very straight. Previously, I remember my 12” straight knife machine having knives with .003-.005” dips/bows. Most sharpeners only guarantee that over 12”. That’s the problem with straight knives, you are dependent on the precision of your sharpener.

    At the end of the day, does .005” here or there matter? Probably not too much, but insert heads will be be almost perfect.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    West Lafayette, IN
    Posts
    6,529
    What does this have to do with the RC-33 type planers?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,696
    ive asked this before with no answer for those running Tersa how straight are they.


    If the contoured slots in the cutter head are milled straight, the Tersa knives are going to follow suit when you slip them into those slots from the side. I don't think any minor variations are going to have an impact.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    SE Mass.
    Posts
    229
    HSS in my Delta 37-315, but I'm tired of adjusting and readjusting blades, and the bolts are getting pretty rounded, too. I've been thinking the next spare $500 goes to a Byrd head, but somehow it never materializes.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Posts
    3,895
    Helical in my Felder A941. I also had helical in my Laguna jointer/planer.

    Highly recommended, especially when it comes time to rotate the blades.
    - After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
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  13. #13
    I now have a Powermatic 6 inch with helical head. It replaced a 40 year old Sears Craftman 6 inch jointer. I sharpened the Sears knives on a Makita 9820 wet sharpener. I used the Sears height measuring tool to adjust. The results were good but it was time consuming. The Powermatic is just a better tool. It is not just the head. The tables are about twice as long. The helical head gives a smoother surface. The main difference is the rippled surface from the straight knives versus lightly scalloped surface from the helical. You have to have good eyes and perfect lighting the see the scallops.

    I bought the Powermatic about 6 years ago and chose the helical head based on reviews. I had never seen a demonstration or used a helical head before I bought it. I bought a Powermatic 15 inch planer with helical head at the same time. I have been happy with both.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    SoCal
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    Where did my post go? I was the first to respond and I don't see it. Is it possible I walked away without hitting "Post"??? Nah . . . ;-) Here is about what I wrote:

    When voting, consider including the following to help other readers:
    - reasons for my preference
    Cost savings over time.
    Better results (less waste) on figured woods.

    - model of jointer
    Grizzly G0453Z and G0490X

    - head manufacturer if known (example Byrd Shelix)
    Grizzly's German manufacturer at the time.
    - is preference based on personal experience or is it based on research

    I had lost too much time and material to tearout and spent too much money on re-sharpenings/replacements to try to avoid this tearout. Knives are great for a lot of things when fresh. HSS starts sharper than carbide but, rapidly loses this initial advantage and wears very quickly in comparison. My segmented heads have paid for themselves at least twice in a very few years and give better results in tearout prone material. This makes them a good fit for me. YMMV.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    3,739
    Glen there is two of these poll threads.
    Yours is still on the other one.
    Aj

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