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Three Year Real World Review of Helical Head upgrade. Worth the hype?

Wordsnwood (Art Mulder)

3,874 views

3 years with a helical head Jointer / 1.5yrs with a helical head planer // WnW332
👇👇 Click “Show More” for Stuff you probably want to know! 👇👇

Original Upgrade videos:
Finally An AFFORDABLE Helical Upgrade!? - FindBuyTool helical install on DW735 Planer

🤩 How EASY is a Helical Head upgrade on y... - Lux Cut-III helical install on Delta X5 Jointer

I upgraded to a Lux Cut III helical head in my 6-inch Delta X5 Jointer in around March 2023, which as of now is three years ago.

I upgraded to a FindBuyTool helical head in my Type 1 DeWalt DW735 Planer in around August of 2024, which as of now is 18 months ago.

Since then I've made over 25 projects using the planer, and over 50 projects using the jointer.

In this video I am giving an update on how it's going with those upgrades. Are there any aspects of the upgrade that I regret? Have there been any problems? How am I liking them? Would I do it again? (yes).

I will show you some test cuts on each of the tools, and it just so happens that both of the tools have their FIRST NICK in one of the carbide cutter blades. In both cases, the nick is quite negligible, but I will demonstrate how to rotate the cutter blades in both tools.

NOTES:
Here is Jon from Lincoln Street Woodworks where he explains some of his problems with a helical upgrade in his DeWalt Planer:
Did I Make a Big Mistake Upgrading My Plan...

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🗜 LINKS TO SOME OF THE ITEMS USED:

(AND/OR other tools and jigs that I use and recommend.
Most of these are affiliate links. If you buy through these
links it helps support my channel. Thank-you so much!)

https://amzn.to/2nbD1W4 — Freud Box Joint Cutter Blade set
https://amzn.to/3CWhzKR -- Freud Glue Line Ripping Blades
https://amzn.to/3RTazGn -- Freud Thin Kerf 10" Combination blade
https://amzn.to/3RW6OQo -- Freud Full Kerf 10" Combination blade

https://dowelmax.com?aff=4 -- Direct link to dowelmax.com

https://amzn.to/3WTVfcp -- Fein Turbo 1 shopvac

📸 GEAR I USE TO MAKE VIDEO:

https://amzn.to/3M6ot4k -- Sony ZV-E10 camera kit
https://amzn.to/3yEV2Dc -- DJI Mic 2
https://amzn.to/3SRflEt -- DJI Mic 2 Hotshoe Adapter for Sony

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases you make using my affiliate links.

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MORE MORE MORE:
https://www.wordsnwood.com
Instagram: words.n.wood
Facebook: wordsnwood

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🙏🙏Thank-you! 🙏🙏

Index
00:00 INTRO
00:22 Delta Jointer Helical Head
09:37 DW735 Helical Head

18 Comments

@Wordsnwood Creator 8 months ago Pinned

These folks help me keep working on funstuff in my basement: https://www.patreon.com/wordsnwood

Here are the original Upgrade Videos:
https://youtu.be/PyjKTOOSWQI - FindBuyTool helical install on DW735 Planer
https://youtu.be/DZdWXcL951s - Lux Cut-III helical install on Delta X5 Jointer

@Larry-qs4hs 7 months ago

I upgraded my 735 with a Lux helical head and it works like a dream with any hardness wood. The most important thing (I think) is to run it on a 20 amp circuit since the motor can draw an even greater current than that when under heavy load, but only for a short time so the breaker doesn't actually trip.

@RobertEchten 7 months ago

I had been thinking of upgrading my planer to a helical head for a while, but the cost stopped me from going ahead, until I saw your upgrade with the FindBuyTool one. I did the math and figured I could justify it because I would save the cost for the straight blades. Since I am a professional wood worker, I do run through quite a lot of board feet of a lot of teak, mahogany and white oak. I rotated one or two insert due to a nick and then a full rotation after a project where I had to make 13 mahogany doors. Like you, I found that I initially took lighter cuts, but later I returned to my standard 1/2 turn per run. My machine is a 2 year old DeWalt 734. I am also very happy with taking the plunge and want to thank you for the recomendation.

@JimE6243 7 months ago

Yes! Go helical. Love mine.
Good review. Thanks Art! JimE

@joestewart5874 7 months ago

Great video.

@billboy7390 7 months ago (edited)

I was an instructor for a furniture, making class at a junior college and we never trip the breaker once after installing a Byrd head in the machine and it was used constantly six days a week from 3/4” wide to 13 inches wide but it should be plugged into a 20 amp receptacle. Blades lasted about a year before rotating. Same with the 20” Powermatic planer and the 8” & 16” jointers.

@sdfjsdjfghssfgdsgvfs 4 months ago

There could be many reasons for the planer to pop the breaker.
Could be motor and other parts wearing down over the years, specific head putting on more strain on the motor, teeth not being as sharp or being of worse quality, him having faulty electrical wiring at his place or not enough power available, or him having dirty power meaning the electricity is not stable and machines don't like that.
Thanks for the update.

@paulfrizzell31 7 months ago

👍great video 🙂

@kevinbaxter5691 7 months ago

i ordered a few extra and change out the VERY RARE ones that get chipped and keep them all on the same number. Maybe ocd but works for me. lol

@TokyoCraftsman 7 months ago

Hey Art, I just have to ask.... Are you happy with the helical heads on your jointer and planner...? 😁
Seems like a great upgrade to me.
I have a very old Japanese jointer, and I cannot easily get a helical head for it. I found a company that would make me a new head if I sent them my old one, but it would have cost me twice the value of the jointer, LOL, so I did not do it. My planner is a Japanese Makita, and the same thing, no conversion exists to my knowledge, but I do have carbide knives in it, and it does well. If I get a really figured board, I will run it through my drum sander after the planner.
A very good, concise review, well done!
Cheers from Tokyo!

@WoodworkingDaddy 7 months ago

One other variable for DeWalt 735 planers is the diameter of the new helical head. I have read that some manufacturers are making theirs smaller in diameter than the original straight-knife head for ease of assembly. Might those smaller helical heads require a bit more power?? I don't know.

@anthonyaustin9948 7 months ago

I also upgraded my cutterhead in my 6 inch jointer (General international). After 2 years I am extremely happy. always a beautiful surface.
I bought a BB (busy bee) 13 inch segmented cutterhead planer about 3 years ago. This is better than the straight knives from my old lunchbox delta I had but the finish is definitely not as good as the helical head on the jointer. I wish there was a way to upgrade the cutterhead on the planer. I don't think the knives are carbide, they seem softer and not able to take the beating the carbide heads on the jointer do. and the knives in the planer only have 2 cutting sides. It's a good planer but not excellent.

@timothywhite6532 7 months ago

Ontario, eh? Immediate Subscribe!!!

@rob-dewhirst 7 months ago

I don't have a helical cutter of any kind, but if you only rotate one cutter, isn't that cutter now higher than the other ones due to wear? Say hi to Perry for me.

@benniegreen498 7 months ago

Thank you for the demonstration.
I have a Rigid planer and am interested in converting to helical blades.
Where do I begin the search to find out if the conversion is possible?

@MartinFraeman 7 months ago

Are you running your 735 on a 15A or 20A circuit? I've been using mine with straight knives on a 15A circuit with no problems but I'm concerned about upgrading to helical head will start tripping my breaker.

@oliver299d 7 months ago

the machine looks like it really struggles with milling such a small amount. Those machines are really not made for the stress of a helical head, you're better off investing in a better machine, They're not needed on a jointer it makes it really hard to push the stock through and you're going to be planing it anyhow

@murphymmc 7 months ago

I suspect that John at Lincoln Street doesn't really understand power requirements and respective circuit breaker size. It's not overly complicated, so he should...there is that. I did not, nor will, watch his assessment , so I have no idea how many lights, fans, tools, whatever are on the same circuit as his planer. Possibly he does not know that either, kinda important.