Thread: Carbatec 15" TH-X381C or Hafco 15" T380S ???

Read post from 2013, good points, wondering if opinions are still the same as upgrades have come into place.

There’s an excellent durden three phase machine on Facebook marketplace at present, solid as a rock and will outlast you.

Hey, yeah I saw that, though I'm now hooked on spiral cutter heads.. and very accurate, consistent output. Had an old Durden Junior, was impressed with the build. Thanks anyway.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

There’s an excellent durden three phase machine on Facebook marketplace at present, solid as a rock and will outlast you.

Originally Posted by dantimb

Hey, yeah I saw that, though I'm now hooked on spiral cutter heads.. and very accurate, consistent output. Had an old Durden Junior, was impressed with the build. Thanks anyway.

Even if you bought it for , say,$700, and then spent $1000 on a spiral head, it’s still going to be 5 times the machine you’ll buy from Carbatec or wherever for $4000, far, far better.

$1000 on a spiral head? Not in this lifetime
https://shelixheads.com/SHELIX-heads...ners_by_DURDEN $1500 with the exchange rate, plus you gotta get it here...

Just upgraded both jointer and thicknesser with Chinese spiral cutter heads and am suitably impressed with the result, it cost $1700 but given that I had to sharpen the jointer blades every 2 weeks and thicknesser 3 months, the saving in time as I sharpened them myself and the cost of replacement ever couple of years and also the saving in time sanding as my wood work has now become a business is substantial. If you have the money I would recommend it.

The only thing I would have you bear in mind is that the cost of replacement cutters is substantial if you are to break any, a metal detector would be a sound investment, one that I haven't yet made...

I bought mine through Wood Craft Supplies, Rob is very good to deal with.

Originally Posted by specialist

The only thing I would have you bear in mind is that the cost of replacement cutters is substantial if you are to break any

You're buying them in the wrong place then.

This guy is a forum member here and has excellent quality helical inserts; they're really not expensive and I found they lasted even longer then genuine Byrd inserts from the US SJE-Tool

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

You're buying them in the wrong place then.

This guy is a forum member here and has excellent quality helical inserts; they're really not expensive and I found they lasted even longer then genuine Byrd inserts from the US SJE-Tool

Thanks for that, I have only had the cutter heads for a week and I didn't really know how much the inserts were, However I was working on the premise that carbide inserts for metal lathes and the like are expensive and lumped them all in together.

Inserts for metal have fancy carbide grades, fancy geometry and fancy coatings, inserts for wood have none of that.

Also, to extend the life even further, only rotate every second row; you get 90% of the surface finish with double the life on a set.

Hi, Yeah I'm well aware of the improvements. I'm about to fit the spiral head from Rob to my 8" jointer, and currently run a Rikon thicknesser with 26 blades, though they are not in a spiral configuration, but thats another discussion, even salesmen struggle to understand..

I have been through a few smaller thicknessers, and looking forward to the next step up.

Have been using a detector for a while now. Essential. Oh and blade costs seem to be reasonable at around $10 each for good quality Tungsten, for what they do, In my opinion, though always looking for a better deal..

Originally Posted by specialist

Just upgraded both jointer and thicknesser with Chinese spiral cutter heads and am suitably impressed with the result, it cost $1700 but given that I had to sharpen the jointer blades every 2 weeks and thicknesser 3 months, the saving in time as I sharpened them myself and the cost of replacement ever couple of years and also the saving in time sanding as my wood work has now become a business is substantial. If you have the money I would recommend it.

The only thing I would have you bear in mind is that the cost of replacement cutters is substantial if you are to break any, a metal detector would be a sound investment, one that I haven't yet made...

I bought mine through Wood Craft Supplies, Rob is very good to deal with.

Originally Posted by dantimb

26 blades, though they are not in a spiral configuration, but thats another discussion, even salesmen struggle to understand..

Ah yes, the classic spiral vs. helical thing...most of them haven't got a clue what's what

Originally Posted by dantimb

Oh and blade costs seem to be reasonable at around $10 each for good quality Tungsten

SJE is under $4 a piece in carbide

Re; the Detector. I bought the $21 ebay version of the Garrett wand which my mate has, works the same.

Originally Posted by specialist

Just upgraded both jointer and thicknesser with Chinese spiral cutter heads and am suitably impressed with the result, it cost $1700 but given that I had to sharpen the jointer blades every 2 weeks and thicknesser 3 months, the saving in time as I sharpened them myself and the cost of replacement ever couple of years and also the saving in time sanding as my wood work has now become a business is substantial. If you have the money I would recommend it.

The only thing I would have you bear in mind is that the cost of replacement cutters is substantial if you are to break any, a metal detector would be a sound investment, one that I haven't yet made...

I bought mine through Wood Craft Supplies, Rob is very good to deal with.

Well they look pretty good.. can't argue with 3 for 1.