Thread: Looking to replace my fire damaged JET 13" Delux Thicknesser

i have not too much to add here. Except, on the OEM cutters. Buy SJE cutters as replacements... SJE-Tool

What fire?

Originally Posted by Pat

What fire?

This one - New a New VFD for my Woodfast Lathe

The Timbecon one looks like the goods to me. Just make sure you get the latest model, which has a true helical spiral head, not the superseded model. Looks like the latest one only arrived this year.

Originally Posted by Pat

What fire?

In my top workshop where my mobile lathe is kept, from being lazy. Instead of parting off a waste block glued on with hot melt glue I started with lots of metho, then due to good joint, rather than using my heat gun (that was inside the house) I used my little gas torch. The wood and epoxy shavings caught and melted quickly. So this dummy flicked the burning shavings from under the lathe to onto the floor, where there were heaps more shavings. The 4 litre metho bottle then melted onto plastic bottles of thinners and lacquer - whoof up it all went

I had the Carbatec, it was an absolute cracker of a machine. Had to sell it to raise money for an unplanned emergency

It was great and I miss it. I resent selling it (guess that says a good deal of my impressions of it!). It was made even better with the swap to SJE tools' carbide cutters. They were fantastic cutters.

Overall, I loved that machine. It was seriously loud, but it did a good job and a clean cut.


The Timbercon one, however, looks superior. The helical head is absolutely superior. I've seen a helical in action and there is no comparing. The fact it uses 4 sided knives is a bonus. They are dead easy to sharpen.

Me? I'd buy the Timbercon, even though there's a wait list.

The Dewalt is definitely worth it, but the shelix upgrade will easily double the price of the machine. At which point i don't think its worth the entry fee.

i'm intrigued at the Timbecon unit, and given how closely related to Carbatec they appear to be. I wouldn't be surprised if they come out with their own one in due time.

Also if you're dead set on getting a Jet, might be worth calling around the various Carbatec's around Australia. One of the other stores may have one in their warehouse still. I know the Perth store still has a small selection of Jet stuff despite the website saying out of stock.

You'd definitely need to make sure exactly what Timbecon are selling. The video on their website for the MB-1936 - YouTube - makes it clear that this model has straight 27mm wide two sided carbide cutters. This Youtube video - YouTube - shows a true helical cutter head with 4 sided cutters. So what exactly is available?

If Timbecon only have the 27mm straight knife model the perceived benefit over the Hare and Forbes T-13S and Carbetec TH-BX330P largely evaporates. Sure the H&F and Carbatec machines have HSS cutters in lieu of carbide but they can be upgraded quite cheaply through SJE - Carbatec CT-330X Hafco T13S Accuhead Carbide Inserts

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

The Dewalt is definitely worth it, but the shelix upgrade will easily double the price of the machine. At which point i don't think its worth the entry fee.

i'm intrigued at the Timbecon unit, and given how closely related to Carbatec they appear to be. I wouldn't be surprised if they come out with their own one in due time.

Also if you're dead set on getting a Jet, might be worth calling around the various Carbatec's around Australia. One of the other stores may have one in their warehouse still. I know the Perth store still has a small selection of Jet stuff despite the website saying out of stock.

Thanks. Yes the Dewalt is almost double the price when you add the Shelix Helical Head, so not sure if it's worth it.

Nah not interested in pursuing the JET, I only bought it originally because I got the deluxe secondhand at $250 with stand and 2HP dusty

Originally Posted by aldav

You'd definitely need to make sure exactly what Timbecon are selling. The video on their website for the MB-1936 - YouTube - makes it clear that this model has straight 27mm wide two sided carbide cutters. This Youtube video - YouTube - shows a true helical cutter head with 4 sided cutters. So what exactly is available?

If Timbecon only have the 27mm straight knife model the perceived benefit over the Hare and Forbes T-13S and Carbetec TH-BX330P largely evaporates. Sure the H&F and Carbatec machines have HSS cutters in lieu of carbide but they can be upgraded quite cheaply through SJE - Carbatec CT-330X Hafco T13S Accuhead Carbide Inserts

Yeh I'm definitely going for the new Timbercon model, this one https://www.timbecon.com.au/13in-del...al-spiral-head. Considering the cutters have 4 sides and can be touched up with a diamond hone (I do this all the time for my woodturning chisels TC tips) they lasts heaps longer than the Carbatec or H&F models.

At this stage I've ordered this Timbercon one and I'll just have to see how long it takes to actually get here.

I too am looking to upgrade from my Ryobi and have been researching and agonising for weeks over which way to go, started off with the Sherwood 16 inch with the helix cutter upgrade which came in at around $3300 however sanity prevailed and decided as a weekend warrior the much cheaper 13 inch Sherwood benchop helix would be adequate. The unit is now expected early August from early July and given everything that is going on is really out of their hands and who knows when they will actually land.

Am also considering the Dewalt with a Shelix upgrade which would come in at around $2000.00 with the upside that I can buy the unit tomorrow and have the Shelix in a couple of weeks so can effectively get cracking this weekend with the three blade and upgrade later. Another positive is that I will always have the original blades handy just in case.

All of my research suggests that the Dewalt with a Shelix is a superior unit to the Serwood however there is no comparitive information out there with the Sherwood so is hard to say if it is worth shelling out the extra $900.00.

See this purchase as a long term proposition and would not expect to upgade for many years if at all unless there was some radical gome changing technological advancement like the helix blades which seems unlikely and think the cost of the unit over the years will become less important than performance and logevity. Buying the Ryobi has taught me that much.

Appreciate that cost and the value for money proposition is a personal thing so need to make that call myself however am looking for some feedback on the relative performance of the Dewalt and Sherwood options side by side including reliability and longtevity.

Have seen that many of you are long time users of thicknessers and are far more experienced than I am so am hoping you might be able to provide some feedback based on your own personal experiences.

Thanks in advance,

Rudy

Originally Posted by Rudyvm

I Am also considering the Dewalt with a Shelix upgrade which would come in at around $2000.00 with the upside that I can buy the unit tomorrow and have the Shelix in a couple of weeks so can effectively get cracking this weekend with the three blade and upgrade later. Another positive is that I will always have the original blades handy just in case.

All of my research suggests that the Dewalt with a Shelix is a superior unit to the Serwood however there is no comparitive information out there with the Sherwood so is hard to say if it is worth shelling out the extra $900.00...

There is no doubt in my mind that the Dewalt with a Shelix would be a superior unit, but I'm not sure it is twice the machine to make the price worth while.

Originally Posted by Rudyvm

... am looking for some feedback on the relative performance of the Dewalt and Sherwood options side by side including reliability and longtevity.

Nothing much at the moment as the Sherwood is a new model. I did find these comparisons of the Dewalt vrs other cheaper thicknessers though (plain blade comparisons though)

YouTube
YouTube

At this stage, because if you ask for refund from Timbercon you are taken off the wait list, I'm sticking to the Sherwood order. I have till end June to reconsider, when the specials on the Dewalt finish (BTW Blackwoods have the best deal ATM to my knowledge)

Thanks for the response Neil, and apologies for not reading your original post thoroughly as basically I just asked the same questions as you in my post but in a different way.

Im afraid that we are both the victims of a lack of competition and availability in the market for benchtop helix units, spoke on line to Timbecon today and their position is that unless I stump up the cash now for the Sherwood will effectively go the the back of the queue. Is a fair enough position given the demand v supply at the moment and do not blame them at all however am not sure I am prepared to pay now for something that may or may not arrive in August and which I may or may not get which again is beyond their control.

My plan of action now is to visit bunnings tomorrow and claim the best price guarantee for the Dewalt based on the Blackwood price of $1199 which depending on how they calculate the beat it by 10% will reduce the bunnings price down from $1299 to $1079...sorry Blackwoods with the ebay Shelix price $880 (Including 5 spare blades and a torque wrench) added on will end up at $1960.00 in total and will still have the original Dewalt three blade cutter as a spare..and probably a better unit to boot over the long term.

Will let you know how I go however fully expect that I will have a Dewalt sitting next to my Ryobi on Saturday !.

Cheers,

Rudy

G'Day Neil, My vote is for the Dewalt DW735 with an upgraded Byrd Shelix Cutterhead...
Mine is brilliant, put heaps of secondhand hardwood through without missing a beat.
Cheers, crowie

Have you considered the Rikon unit Neil? RIKON 330mm 13″ Benchtop Thicknesser With Helical-style Cutter Head - Trend Timbers

Might be worthwhile looking at. I am glad the insurance company is doing the right thing by you.

Alan...

Originally Posted by Rudyvm

...My plan of action now is to visit bunnings tomorrow and claim the best price guarantee for the Dewalt based on the Blackwood price of $1199 which depending on how they calculate the beat it by 10% will reduce the bunnings price down from $1299 to $1079...sorry Blackwoods with the ebay Shelix price $880 (Including 5 spare blades and a torque wrench) added on will end up at $1960.00 in total and will still have the original Dewalt three blade cutter as a spare..and probably a better unit to boot over the long term.

Good idea Bunnings, wonder if they will do the redemption too . I got a quote directly from Shelix via R.D.G. International AgenciesT/a Woodcraft Supplies in QLD for $695 + $38 delivery for the cutter head

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Neil, My vote is for the Dewalt DW735 with an upgraded Byrd Shelix Cutterhead...
Mine is brilliant, put heaps of secondhand hardwood through without missing a beat.
Cheers, crowie

Yeh I'm sure it's a good option, just it is double the cost, so not sure it is worth it. If the Aug date can't be confirmed by end June, I'll probably go that way, if I have the cash.

Originally Posted by Uncle Al

Have you considered the Rikon unit Neil? RIKON 330mm 13″ Benchtop Thicknesser With Helical-style Cutter Head - Trend Timbers

Might be worthwhile looking at....

Thanks no I hadn't, but it appears the same as the Hare & Forbes, with 2 sided cutters.