segmented cutting heads

**fletty** · 10th August 2013, 02:28 PM

As noted in another thread, I bought segmented cutting heads for my 8" jointer and 15" thicknesser at SWWW. I received them last week and started to fit them yesterday. There are a number of youtube videos around at the moment about fitting these to a jointer ... and it really is as easy as they imply.....

..................... BUT NOT THE 15" THICKNESSER

!

I guess I should have realised it COULDN'T be as simple because the thicknesser has drive rollers connected to the cutting head via a gear box BUT I didn't expect it to be THAT much more difficult. I didn't take any WIP pics but this shot, which was taken only to assist re-assembly, shows the sprocket and chain set mounted on the back of the gear box which takes the gear box output (bottom sprocket) to the drive rollers (top sprockets). Wheras the jointer cutter comes out with just the pulley and bearings on it, the thicknesser cutter comes out WITH THE GEAR BOX!

segment01.jpg

Luckily I have a motor mechanic mate so I loaded all of the bits into the car and appeared at his workshop asking for help and another pair of hands. 2 hours and a couple of gashed hands later, I returned home with the bearings transferred from the old jointer cutting head to the new AND the thicknesser cutting head with bearings also changed and remounted to the gearbox.
I kept the bubble wrap on the new heads until I had them fully mounted ... and then pulled the VERY bloody bubble wrap off last thing. It was only then that I noticed that 2 of the TC segments were already chipped but luckily they were only on the jointer.

segment02.jpg

because, if they had been on the thicknesser, I would have had to remove the motor again to get at them!
Anyway, I have now got both machines reassembled with their segmented cutter heads. My jointer is an 8" JET and the thicknesser is the Carbatec 15" generic unit with the motor mounted on top. The cutters that the dealer advised, fit perfectly to both machines AND there were absolutely no bolts, nuts, washers nor gizmos left over when I finished.

So, proof of the pudding .......
I have some beautiful Forest Oak (or is it flooded gum?) that has been a pig to dress...

segment03.jpg

... but it cleaned up BEEEAUTIFULLY

segment04.jpg

another particular gnarly area where I had previously destroyed the timber also came up very well

segment05.jpg

As advertised, both machines are now MUCH quieter, the surface finish is superb, the chips are like individual 'flakes' and the dust collector seems to be able to do a much better job of whisking them away.
In short, well worth the effort, price .... and blood!
fletty

**wheelinround** · 10th August 2013, 02:47 PM

Only photo showing is the last one Fletty link is there but that doesn't work either.

Well done on the first part

Bloody messy job on second one

I'm heading your way tomorrow will drop of a stash in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon....................Yes I know race day but with those bloody hands you should be doing woodwork not leg work.

The chipped cutters I'd be asking for replacements or undo turn 90 degs and away you go thats the beauty of them no need to remove all and sundry.

**nosnow** · 10th August 2013, 02:48 PM

Hi
Cant see some of the pictures
Cheers Rod

**wheelinround** · 10th August 2013, 02:59 PM

Fletty reason you couldn't find video on segmented fitting is originally these were called Helix or Spiral cutters

**fletty** · 10th August 2013, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by wheelinround

......Fletty reason you couldn't find video on segmented fitting is originally these were called Helix or Spiral cutters

BUGGER, that would have been very helpful ....... YESTERDAY

!

Just a caution to those who follow though....
Carbatec is one of the many rebranded Chinese generic thicknessers like the Grizzly one in the youtube. However there are 2 units sold by Carbatec and unfortunately I bought the one with the motor on the top mostly because the one with the motor on top has a fixed base to suit a separate fixed outfeed table wheras the other has a base that rises and falls to set the thickness and so the outfeed table needs to rise and fall with it. The problem with this is that you have to remove the motor to even change a TC insert.
The other lesson (learned the hard way yesterday) is that there is an oil seal between the gearbox bearing and the cutterhead which is held in place to the gearbox with little countersunk screws. The recesses on the Shelix brand cutterhead are not deep enough to access these screws AFTER assembly, so you need to fit and fix the bearing into the gearbox AND THE OIL SEAL OUTSIDE THE GEARBOX before inserting the shaft of the cutterhead.

you'll keep Ray!

fletty

**wheelinround** · 10th August 2013, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by fletty

BUGGER, that would have been very helpful ....... YESTERDAY

!

Just a caution to those who follow though....
Carbatec is one of the many rebranded Chinese generic thicknessers like the Grizzly one in the youtube. However there are 2 units sold by Carbatec and unfortunately I bought the one with the motor on the top mostly because the one with the motor on top has a fixed base to suit a separate fixed outfeed table wheras the other has a base that rises and falls to set the thickness and so the outfeed table needs to rise and fall with it. The problem with this is that you have to remove the motor to even change a TC insert.
The other lesson (learned the hard way yesterday) is that there is an oil seal between the gearbox bearing and the cutterhead which is held in place to the gearbox with little countersunk screws. The recesses on the Shelix brand cutterhead are not deep enough to access these screws AFTER assembly, so you need to fit and fix the bearing into the gearbox AND THE OIL SEAL OUTSIDE THE GEARBOX before inserting the shaft of the cutterhead.

you'll keep Ray!

fletty

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