My Powermatic 20" planer is equipped with the Byrd Shelix cutters. I have been happy with the set-up until it came time to rotate the cutters. In the process of rotating, some of the cutters inevitably broke (even with the meticulous procedure of cleaning, oiling, and carefully setting the tips with precise torque) and had to replaced. It was a slow process but eventually the tool was back together. The problem is now the boards run through are no longer flat, they now receive very slight but detectable shallow wide grooves corresponding with the 25mm cutter width. After contacting Byrd Tool I was told it may have to do with aftermarket cutters but I'm skeptical.The factory set cutters produced a flat board. I'm stumped, any help would be appreciated.
From contributor Ru
Bob
There are many different insert replacement cutters out there, some have radius faces, some have radius corners, some have both, many have different bevels of cut from 30 - 35 degree. Breakage is not common unless you have hit something that would break the carbide, just make sure you have the correct replacement blades, check the above things I mentioned it is probably something simple.
Contact information is on our site above if you need more help.
Good luck, I know it can be frustrating.
From contributor Da
Clean the knives and pockets that they sit in with saw clean solution to remove any pitch that has built up. A few thousandths of resin or pitch will cause what you are stating...
From contributor bo
Thanks guys, for the response. I was pretty careful when cleaning and resetting the cutters, but at this point I think will have to break it down and reset them once again and hope for a different result. I don't think its a compatibility problem with the replacement cutters since I set them over to one side of the head and I'm having the grooving problem across the entire 20".
From contributor Ru
Bob
Thanks for the update, one last thing to check, check the hole depth with an old one, one you know that works correctly, maybe the diameter or depth of hole is causing the issue.
Just a thought
Russ
From contributor Ja
I have not heard of anyone getting the entire head exactly the way it was when they first got it after rotating the knives starting with the first time they turned them.
Clean pockets, tork, they are the same teeth just turned a 1/4 turn right? Still lines.
I have decided that the robots that set the teeth in the factory have beat us here. Especially 20" across.
From contributor Da
I do not have a Byrd Shelix head but I do have 3 machines with multiple insert carbide heads. I do not see ridges or marks from individual cutters what so ever and feel that this type of tooling is superior to straight knives. The knife change over is a very methodical process. Everything has to be perfectly clean and you can not over torque the cutter screws. With a little practise I think you can get these as good as they came from the factory.
