Thinking of installing a Shelix on my jointer...

I found one for my 6” Delta joiner for just $250 that I want to get. They said that it will still leave slight lines but is still better than regular knives. Turning the carbide cutters looks to be easier and faster than sharpening blades too. I have been thinking of getting my Dewalt 735 one of these but am sure they are costly. The blades which are not sharpenable cost $55 so the cost may be lower in the long run granted the planer would last a long time. I really like the 735 tho as it cuts great and the chips are practically thrown into the DC. I’ve had to clean the power rollers and waxed the bed many times or just before a big run of wood tho, makes a big difference. Another benefit is way less tearout in highly figured wood. One could easily ruin a fine piece of curly maple so that could justify installing one at any price!

-- $tudie

Considering that the jointer’s task is only to flatten boards and NOT give a final finish (Same can be said for a planer), why go to the expense or bother? If you are using nothing but exotic woods that are tear-out prone
the planer can correct that. The jointer is too rough a tool to require spending so much for so little benefit.

Mind you, the Shelix is a superb product, made here in Kentucky, and worth every penny, but is it worth it in this application? Only you can answer that. I think I would rather spend that money on more wood, but if you have it to spare, what’s it going to hurt?

Enjoy it if you do get it, and let us know how it works out.

Steve

-- Steve in KY. 44 years so far with my lovely bride. Think I'll keep her.

I thought about putting one on my jointer/planer, but then I thought…I always end up either planing smooth (my preference) or sanding if I can’t plane it. I need well dimensioned wood, it does not have to be super smooth…but that is me, maybe this is worth for you.

-- Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.

Hey Studie I got one on my 735, love it, that’s what got me to thinking about the jointer. The knives in the 735 nick easily for no apparent reason, that’s why I went to the Shelix. The reason is the shear angle of the knives that it uses to get the smooth cut. I tested a different cutterhead in my 735 for DeWalt for quite a while, they were trying different shear angles and blades, never quite got rid of the nicks. I was told it came down to the uneven hardness of the blades and the supplier was having trouble getting the hardness even all the time. So maybe it was hit or miss and why some have problems some don’t, I gave up and bought the Shelix. I remember one time I was planing some walnut with new knives and on the first or second board, bam, a nick. NO metal involved.

Steve, you make good points, I run everything through the drum sander so I’m not looking for a finished finish, just wondering how smooth it is comparatively to HSS. But, I hate the blade changes and adjustments especially in the middle of a project when a nick occurs. Last thing I want to do is stop and change the knives. I guess convenience is one of the things I’m looking for. I got pretty used to just indexing the carbide inserts on my lathe and milling machine when needed. And in the long run I think the Shelix is more cost effective. Nick a HHS blade and it’s sharpening or replacement. Nick a insert and you’ve got 3 more times to do it in that same spot before having to spend ~$10 to replace the 3 inserts aligned with that spot.

Haven’t priced jointer blades lately but they were $55 a pop for the planer and could not be sharpened. 7 sets and that more then pays for a Shelix.

Another thing I’m wondering for those who have installed a Shelix on a jointer, can/did you use the old bearings or install new ones? I can easily (I think) remove the old bearings with my arbor press, just trying to decide whether to go that route or not if I do decide to get one. I reused the bearings on the 735 but they were not pressed on.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI