Thread: Please school me on cutter heads

It's hard to define as different companies call them different things. Shelix and CTS cutterheads for example are Spiral cutterheads with a helical design and pattern. They have several rows of cutters that are angled slightly to the rotational direction of the cutterhead and the cutters are usually 4 sided with a slight curve to stop any marks on your timber.

Compare this to the Carbatec 'Spiral' Benchtop thicknesser. Can't see how it can use that term. As it has 26 cutters with flat bottoms in straight rows. Very prone to producing lines on your timber when you plane it and I've found it to be very noisy.

If I run my 3HP 12" CTS Spiral head jointer next to my 2.4HP Carbatec 13" 'Spiral" Benchtop thicknesser, the Carbatec model is far far louder. And can leave timber with lines on it. Whereas the CTS Jointer is glass smooth and quieter.

Carbatec benchtop thicknesser uses 26 cutters. A 10 pack of cutters from Carbatec for their Benchtop thicknesser is $108 and you need 26 of them. Logical right? And they have two sides. The CTS / Shelix cutters have 4 cutting sides so they last twice as long. And i've found them to be cheaper.

Carbatec's larger models all run more correct 'Spiral' cutterheads.

Originally Posted by hurcorh

It's hard to define as different companies call them different things.

No. There is a precise definition for both, but the terms are often incorrectly used.
See here: Think I am in the market for a new thicknesser

Shelix is just the Byrd trademark for their helical head. Helical is better than spiral

Originally Posted by hurcorh

It's hard to define as different companies call them different things. Shelix and CTS cutterheads for example are Spiral cutterheads with a helical design and pattern. They have several rows of cutters that are angled slightly to the rotational direction of the cutterhead and the cutters are usually 4 sided with a slight curve to stop any marks on your timber.

Compare this to the Carbatec 'Spiral' Benchtop thicknesser. Can't see how it can use that term. As it has 26 cutters with flat bottoms in straight rows. Very prone to producing lines on your timber when you plane it and I've found it to be very noisy.

If I run my 3HP 12" CTS Spiral head jointer next to my 2.4HP Carbatec 13" 'Spiral" Benchtop thicknesser, the Carbatec model is far far louder. And can leave timber with lines on it. Whereas the CTS Jointer is glass smooth and quieter.

Carbatec benchtop thicknesser uses 26 cutters. A 10 pack of cutters from Carbatec for their Benchtop thicknesser is $108 and you need 26 of them. Logical right? And they have two sides. The CTS / Shelix cutters have 4 cutting sides so they last twice as long. And i've found them to be cheaper.

Carbatec's larger models all run more correct 'Spiral' cutterheads.

Sounds like you need to find another insert providers . . . $108 for 10 . . .

As I no longer a forum sponsor I won't go breaking forum rules posting links . . . just google my username and save money (CTS inserts included!)

I can certainly vouch for the inserts Steve.
I recently fitted the ones you sent me and they work perfectly.
$ 265 including postage is a bargain for the 66 carbide inserts,Carba-tec would have charged me over $600.

Hey mate I did purchase from you about a week back (Rhys in SA)

Cheers the cutters are excellent.

Originally Posted by hurcorh

Hey mate I did purchase from you about a week back (Rhys in SA)

Cheers the cutters are excellent.

Oh hey Rhys - darn it thought I'd missed a possible convertee!