Thread: Carbatec Vs Jet Vs Hafco Benchtop Thicknessers. Which one?

Get the spiral carbatec best choice of the 3.

If used properly you can get a finish of the cutters equal to 240g so little finishing required.

Will cut knarley grain easier and better than traditional blades.

Cant comment on the Jet or Carbatec but having owned the Hafco T-330 for quite a few years, i wouldnt buy another one.

Admittedly i got mine not long after release (mine has serial no.0000027 or there-about's) so it may have some early build niggles.
The spindle bearings failed (which cracked the motor housing at the same time), the spindle lock mechanism has never been the best and dust extraction is below par. And as with most bench-top units, it makes a hell of a racket. Having said that, It has planed quite a bit of redgum.
I might have got a dodgy example though, they may be improved now.

I stepped up not long ago to a Carbatec CTJ-381 and couldnt believe how quiet it is in comparison. But i wish i could have stretched to a spiral head (i've already started saving).

Steven.

Thanks for the replies guys. You have confirmed my suspicion and what I have heard about the Hafco. It seems the traditional blade thicknessers are rapidly becoming 'old hat' and spiral cutters are the go. Out of interest how do traditional bench style blade thicknessers perform? Can I expect a nice surface from something like the Jet or others like a Dewalt, or are they fairly inefficient and rough and therefore require a fair bit of sanding/hand planing etc., to get a flat surface?

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

Get the spiral carbatec best choice of the 3.

If used properly you can get a finish of the cutters equal to 240g so little finishing required.

Will cut knarley grain easier and better than traditional blades.

I'll second that recommendation, I've got the Carabatec and have recently done a heap of Acacia with very good results.

I am interested in these thicknessers as well....


Looking at pictures of the two, the JET looks more sturdy..... and yet the CarbaTec has the spiral cutter.....


Are you getting a weaker machine with the better cutting head in the Carbatec? Or am I better off getting the JET if it is indeed built sturdier?



Cheers

Originally Posted by Spelunx

Looking at pictures of the two, the JET looks more sturdy..... and yet the CarbaTec has the spiral cutter.....

Trust me, the pictures are deceiving, there's nothing flimsy about the Carabtec unit.

Head instore if you can and compare the two units in the flesh, the Carabatec actually is probably the better built of the two.

Originally Posted by Nevyn72

Trust me, the pictures are deceiving, there's nothing flimsy about the Carabtec unit.

Head instore if you can and compare the two units in the flesh, the Carabatec actually is probably the better built of the two.

Cheers!

Definately planned to head up to Perth soon and check it out.


If it is both sturdy AND a spiral cutter, sounds like the one for me!

Originally Posted by Spelunx

Cheers!

Definately planned to head up to Perth soon and check it out.


If it is both sturdy AND a spiral cutter, sounds like the one for me!

Im not sure about the jet but i have the spiral cutter one from carbatec and it is well built.
the cut is really good, nice and smooth but youll still need to sand.
Ive put through some old jarrah railway sleepers and it didnt lag or sound like it was struggling at all and they were some thick cuts.

Originally Posted by spankingpigeon

Im not sure about the jet but i have the spiral cutter one from carbatec and it is well built.
the cut is really good, nice and smooth but youll still need to sand.
Ive put through some old jarrah railway sleepers and it didnt lag or sound like it was struggling at all and they were some thick cuts.

Railway Sleepers!!!

I didnt think it was capable of that.... I have no intention of putting something so heavy duty through, but I do have a fair bit of old Jarrah I like to work with, so that is nice to know....

Thanks for the feedback, heading up to Perth in a couple of weeks time, hopefully have the ute full on the way back!

Originally Posted by metester

T It seems the traditional blade thicknessers are rapidly becoming 'old hat' and spiral cutters are the go.

I very much doubt that you'll be able to buy anything but spiral heads within 5 years.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I very much doubt that you'll be able to buy anything but spiral heads within 5 years.

Well any decent Thicknesser that is

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I very much doubt that you'll be able to buy anything but spiral heads within 5 years.

I come... FROM THE FUTURE!!!! Woooooooo!

Nope, single blade thicknessers are still the majority. I think the spirals just cost too much to make, and have a smaller profit margin, so they're not pushed as much. In the market for one atm, which is what brings me here. Oh well!

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I very much doubt that you'll be able to buy anything but spiral heads within 5 years.

You mean in hobby grade machines? Or big ones too?

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

You mean in hobby grade machines? Or big ones too?

Both. Just had a look at SCM, Felder, and Robland, and spirals are just an option from entry level all the way to flagship.

There's many hours of machine time to make a helical head and that costs money, I don't think straight knife heads are going away any time soon.