Reply by Tennessee

I used a Rigid for 11 years, and still have the original blades as well as a couple other sets, sharpened many, many, many times. That being said, now that I have a helical, I would never, never go back. Not only is it quiet, it will plane down a nice piece of crotch where the straight bladed unit would tear it to pieces. Not even a contest on cutting ability. You want to put that beautiful piece of flame maple on a piece, you need a helical.

-- Paul, Tennessee, http://www.tsunamiguitars.com