It has been a long time since I installed Byrd Tool's Shelix carbide cutter heads in my Delta DJ-20 8" jointer (May 2009) and DeWalt DW735 13" planer (June 2012). The videos showing the installation of the cutter head in my planer have been viewed almost 75,000 times! Although the machines still produced tearout-free cuts, they did … Continue reading “Sharpening” Carbide Insert Cutter Heads
One of the most common questions I am asked is how I flatten the large pieces of wood I often use in my work. This table top, for example, is approximately 45 inches wide and 96 inches long. Machinery is Not the Answer Perhaps one of the quickest ways to surface a board is to … Continue reading Flattening Big Pieces of Wood
This video is the third of three (duration – 5:36). In case you missed them, here are links to Part 1 and Part 2. In this video, I start by reassembling the planer, working a 4x speed. Then I briefly share my thoughts about the procedure and show the tools used.
This video is the second of three (duration - 14:42). From where I left off at the end of Part 1, I continue to disassemble the planer in order to remove the stock cutterhead. To guide me through the installation, I followed the Installation Manual (PDF) written by Byrd. In the next video, I'll put the planer … Continue reading Installing a Shelix Cutterhead in a DeWalt DW735 Thickness Planer, Part 2
The DeWalt DW735 Thickness Planer is probably the best benchtop planer on the market today. However, the stock HSS (high-speed steel) planer knives don't last very long. Replacement carbide knives are available from Infinity Tools and are a longer-lasting option (the set of carbide knives I am replacing in the video remained sharp for two years). … Continue reading Installing a Shelix Cutterhead in a DeWalt DW735 Thickness Planer, Part 1
Note: Before you get into the article, check the date on which it was published. This other article discusses how I flatten large pieces of wood without machinery. If you read just one article about woodworking, this should be it. On the forums I frequent, I often see the question asked: "should I buy a … Continue reading How to Flatten a Board (You Don’t Need a Jointer)
Hand planes can be divided several ways. One of the more common ways is by length. There are of course block planes, which are the shortest, at around 6-7". Then come smooth planes, which typically measure 9-10". They are followed by jack (fore) planes at 14-15" and finally jointer (try) planes which are about 18-22" … Continue reading The Problem with Hand Planes Today
Sculptural Woodwork by Chris Wong 