Thread: Helical head for thicknesser

Try here for the Australian distributor of the Shelix Spiral Cutter head.

Originally Posted by Pat

Try here for the Australian distributor of the Shelix Spiral Cutter head.

Have spoken to these guys. Just wondering if there are any other options

Originally Posted by Damienol

Have spoken to these guys. Just wondering if there are any other options

Early this year I bought a Shelix style Cutter Head for my Jet Planner/Thicknesser combo. After a lot of searching, I only found one company in Australia that was able to supply and that was R.D.G. International Agencies T/a Woodcraft Supplies (a.k.a. Wizard Products) at Howard in Queensland. Robert Gregory is the guy to talk to. He can supply suitable cutter heads for a wide variety of machines, and sells both the US made Shelix brand, and the Chinese manufactured CTS brand. Give him a call, or send an email. They're good people to deal with.

I bought the Chinese manufactured CTS brand unit from RDG. Due to the current US$ exchange rate, the Shelix cutter heads from the USA are getting pretty expensive in Australian dollars, which makes the CTS brand look very attractive price wise. My CTS Helical Cutter Head works great.

Caution - there are some scum on Ebay who say they can sell you a spiral cutter head to fit your "xyz" machine, but they have a record of selling junk.

Hope that info helps,

RoyG

I am in the process of upgrading to spiral cutt4r heads for my carbatec 15" thicknesser and 8" long bed jointer. I am getting the CTS ones through Robert Gregory/Wizard Products at Howard. I went with CTS as he can supply that brand for both machines which means the replacement cutters will fit both cutterheads, meaning I can swap between machines if there is a major disaster. (hopefully this will never occur)

He is bringing my new cutterheads to Melbourne with him for the Wood Show in September and I will be picking up from him at the show. Looking forward to doing the upgrade.

Cheers

Doug

I've dealt with Rob as well for work and he was very pleasant to work with and made sure issues were sorted out promptly.

Originally Posted by doug3030

I am in the process of upgrading to spiral cutt4r heads for my carbatec 15" thicknesser and 8" long bed jointer. I am getting the CTS ones through Robert Gregory/Wizard Products at Howard. I went with CTS as he can supply that brand for both machines which means the replacement cutters will fit both cutterheads, meaning I can swap between machines if there is a major disaster. (hopefully this will never occur)

He is bringing my new cutterheads to Melbourne with him for the Wood Show in September and I will be picking up from him at the show. Looking forward to doing the upgrade.

Cheers

Doug

Can you photograph your journey, including any hiccups? I am thinking about upgrading my CT 15" thicknesser also, would be nice to see the process!

Thanks for the replies guys

Rob it is then. Now I just need to convince the financial controller of the $1400 spend

Originally Posted by Pearo

Can you photograph your journey, including any hiccups? I am thinking about upgrading my CT 15" thicknesser also, would be nice to see the process!

Hi Pearo,

I am not very good at WIP's. I tend to get caught up in the task and not the documenting of it, but I will try.

There is a lot of material out there already on upgrading the Carbatec 15" thicknesser with the moving table (CTJ-381) but there is nothing at all that I can find for my model, the one where the cutter head moves up and down (CTJ-680). Which one do you have Pearo?

With the lack of information on upgrading the CTJ-680, it would probably be worth some effort to do the documentation. However if anyone finds any instructions on it could they please post it here?

Upgrading the jointer I am doing at the same time is a much simpler process as there is no gearbox involved.

Cheers

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

Hi Pearo,

I am not very good at WIP's. I tend to get caught up in the task and not the documenting of it, but I will try.

There is a lot of material out there already on upgrading the Carbatec 15" thicknesser with the moving table (CTJ-381) but there is nothing at all that I can find for my model, the one where the cutter head moves up and down (CTJ-680). Which one do you have Pearo?

With the lack of information on upgrading the CTJ-680, it would probably be worth some effort to do the documentation. However if anyone finds any instructions on it could they please post it here?

Upgrading the jointer I am doing at the same time is a much simpler process as there is no gearbox involved.

Cheers

Doug

I have the CJT680 also. I probably would have done the conversion already, but the lack of documentation (as you have found) has scared me off it.

Originally Posted by Pearo

I have the CJT680 also. I probably would have done the conversion already, but the lack of documentation (as you have found) has scared me off it.

Well I have searched some more and still cannot find anything on this particular model. Robert, the seller, of RDG international does not seem to get it that the instructions for my machine will be significantly different from the instructions he sent me fo rthe other model, although he assures me that the same cutterhead fits both machines.

It seems nobody else has found anything on this to link us to so far either.

Pearo, I will have a go at documenting the process but it might not be as complete as it could be; as I said earlier, I tend to get caught up in the job and neglect the documentation. If I forget to photograph a crucial step, I am not disassembling again just to get the photo. But if I get a start made on it, maybe you, Pearo, might be able to follow it along and add any detail and photos that I do not capture along the way. I do the "rough draft" and others who follow me can add the detail. Would that work?

Cheers,

Doug

Originally Posted by doug3030

Well I have searched some more and still cannot find anything on this particular model. Robert, the seller, of RDG international does not seem to get it that the instructions for my machine will be significantly different from the instructions he sent me fo rthe other model, although he assures me that the same cutterhead fits both machines.

It seems nobody else has found anything on this to link us to so far either.

Pearo, I will have a go at documenting the process but it might not be as complete as it could be; as I said earlier, I tend to get caught up in the job and neglect the documentation. If I forget to photograph a crucial step, I am not disassembling again just to get the photo. But if I get a start made on it, maybe you, Pearo, might be able to follow it along and add any detail and photos that I do not capture along the way. I do the "rough draft" and others who follow me can add the detail. Would that work?

Cheers,

Doug

Anything is good. Even if its not photographed, and I attempt it I can quiz you online. Any info that is exchanged here will be useful for anyone else who is going to do the conversion as well.

Originally Posted by Pearo

... and I attempt it I can quiz you online.

Of course I will help you if I can, Pearo. Thats what the forum is all about.

Its just a pity that sometimes when I tell other forum members things they REALLY should listen to, they get all ansty.

Cheers

Doug

Hi WWF,

I am having dust extraction issue with my new 20" carbatec Thickie and I am wondering if a switch to a spiral cutter head may help?


up until recently i have been using a Dewalt thickie with a Hafco dust extractor - http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W394

Worked a treat

now with the 20" the dusty is really struggling. The chips build up at the impeller and quickly block the airflow. I am wondering if the spiral head will produce smaller chips and perhaps solve my issue?

It absolutely will. Given that the inserts are only 15mm square, the largest chip/shaving you can get will be about 15mm long.