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Wowzers!

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Wowzers!

#1

Wowzers!

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

So Christmas came early as the Shelix head for my JET 13" [JPM-13] planer arrived 4 weeks early. Naturally, I just HAD to install it. This was a job as the bearings needed replacing and the entire drive system had to come out, then, once installed (more than a day's work) it had to be re-tuned to match the thickness scale and the drive rollers reset to factory spec.

Also (naturally) I had to test the cut, right?

With the feed rate set at 20 fpm, I took a piece of fiddle-back red maple I had and sent it through.

Result? Well, this was the first time I've ever seen chatoyance in wood coming out of a planer!!! Holy S[mokes], I can start sanding at 180.

The Performax is gonna get a lot less use for anything 13" or less wide.

SWMBO: "So you like you present?"

"Oh, yesh, Mishtress, I do. I do!

SWMBO: "Wonderful, Sweetie. Now you just have to wait for Christmas to use it."

"Umm, oh yeah. I almost forgot . . ."

Re: Wowzers!

#2

PS

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

I case anyone here has to replace bearings without a hydro press, your drill press makes a good substitute for press-on bearings. Saves a whole lot of tap-tapping.

Re: Wowzers!

#3

Better for the bearings too


Re: Wowzers!

#4

Re: Wowzers!

Barry Irby

Nice Christmas present. You will like it. The hard part is over, now the fun begins. Are you going to be a good boy and wait? Is you is or is you ain't?

I put one in my 6" Delta Rockwell jointer. Big improvement. Not sure I was quite as impressed as you are, but it's a lot better. Been considering a new head in one of my planers, but the bigger one is a 15" Reliant I bought for $200. Not sure I want to spend $900 on a brand X planer. I really want a 20" one. I think you can order the heads with the bearings already pressed on. On some of them you can order a smaller diameter head that will pass through the hole for the bearings without removing the cutters. May not be worth it though, you have to reset all of the thickness gauges and the drive rollers.

Enjoy

Re: Wowzers!

#5

DidDat

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

with my Delta 37-190 jointer. The huge improvement in cut quality is what pushed me to do the planer as well. I would have liked a larger planer but the cost/benefit for a 15" Shelix machine didn't compute for the extra 2", and I don't have room (or the spare coin) for a 20" beast, especially since I have the 22-44 P-max.

Oh, and yeah, I'll be good, as shop time will be limited over the next 3 weeks and I've got several promised turnings to do/finish before I can get back to flat work.

Re: Wowzers!

#6

What I like best...

John in NM

Is how much more quiet the planer is running a shelix. That and it is so easy (if a little tedious) to rotate or replace cutters.

Re: Wowzers!

#7

Pictures or it didn't happen.

Jim Matthews

You shameless tease.

Hiding the naughty stuff behind a paywall?

Re: Wowzers!

#8

Actually Tried

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

but my camera just wouldn't catch the chatoyance.

I'll try again with the big SLR ;)

Re: Wowzers!

#9

Re: Actually Tried

William Duffield

The SLR won't do you ay good. You need a binocular (3D) video camera.

Re: Wowzers!

#10

Rats

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

Just passed on deal for one at $14k.

[so many things, so little money]

:D

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