I just picked up a 15" planner with a spiral head. The blades are still continuous blades instead of the carbide inserts. I haven't had a chance to check with powermatic to see if I can replace the continuous blades with carbide inserts yet. Anyone here know if I can do that? Thank you!
I assume it would take a different head. about 6 to 800 bucks I think.
I'm sure you could, but as said, it would require changing heads.
I was afraid of that, I had never seen a spiral head that had a continuous blade like this. The mounting bolt spacing appears to be to much for the inserts. It came with 2 extra sets of blades, so I guess I can decide what to do after they're used up. Thank you
If that is non stock head Byrd can make one. They have accumulated engineering drawings over the years for about every machine out there. I helped a friend retrofit an Oliver jointer last year and the lead time on a new head seemed like it was 9 months or so.
Larry,
Did that Oliver jointer have a direct drive head right out of the motor?
It did.
About 8 years ago I converted a 12" Northfield direct drive jointer and I think the head for it was about $2,000. Don't know what the price was for the Oliver head.
That's good to know a new head is available for this.
Was it tough to remove the old one?
I have a line on a 16" Oliver with the direct drive. Wasn't sure it could be replaced.
Not sure if it's true or not but I've read that a spiral head takes more HP. I've had the overload trip out a couple of times on the 12' jointer I converted to a Byrd but I was using a power feeder cutting fairly wide boards. The slowest speed on the feeder is faster than I'd like.
Quote from: metalspinner on September 13, 2021, 04:09:34 PM
That's good to know a new head is available for this.
Was it tough to remove the old one?
I have a line on a 16" Oliver with the direct drive. Wasn't sure it could be replaced.
Both jointers were difficult. The Northfield was by far the worst. A little corrosion in a 50 year old or older machine can make disassembly tough.
I called my friend and he thought the price on the Byrd head for his 12" Oliver was around $1,800.
A picture of my 12" Northfield....somebody really wanted it bad and I sold it. Poor decision on my part as it was in better condition than the day it was born and was a great machine.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10125/DSCF8193.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1631586161)
D6C you bet it does!
Upgraded my 20" spiral from 5 to 10 hp and still stalls on a fairly deep cut with wide stuff.
Yes they draw more power. There's a Tube video of a guy doing a side by side comparison and the spiral head was drawing quite a bit more amps. Hopefully my generator will pull it and the dust collector. We might be another 6 months before we get connected to the grid.
Yes, generally, spirals do absorb more power, certainly Byrd styles do, in my experience.
However, some such as the SCMI Xylent styles are designed not to.