My buddy just purchased a powermatic 15HH (byrd head) planer. There was a little damage in shipment, but he got the repalcement parts and we put it together tonite. Oh, is it sweet!!!!! It just hums. We ran some minnesota white cedar (softwood) and some white oak (hardwood). It came out sooth as a babies butt. Did I say "sweet"???? This machine does not come with a DRO, so he ordered it as an accessory. It was a bear cat to get lined up and working...........but it's right on the money now.

I have the 15" powermatic, but mine has the steel spiral knives. It does a heck of a job, but at $100.00 per set, I may break down soon and buy a byrd head too.

Did I say 15HH was sweet????

gary

Man I could sure use on those, and a 15 incher! So, it's safe to say the Byrd Shelix spiral cutters are the cats meow, I have heard a lot about them, I am waiting for them to introduce a line of cutters for bench top planes, if they already haven't.

That sounds like it was a great boys night out Gary, you know your hooked on woodworking when a night spent putting together "someone elses" new machinery, is far better then a night on the town at the tavern watching sports. I know it would be for me!

 

Not the same as what you guys were doing, but my son and I put my new 15" drill press together last night. It was nice to add a new tool to the family.

 

Sounds like the 15HH is the baby to have. I have heard a lot about those heads, but this is the kind of testimony you really want to hear.

 

 

Steel City has a 13" with the helical head.  I am not sure how Steel City surrived the move west but their web site says new tools for 2011.  I hope they make it.

 

http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/products_tools.cfm?section=2&category=9&tool=40200H

 

The American Woodworker said:

Man I could sure use on those, and a 15 incher! So, it's safe to say the Byrd Shelix spiral cutters are the cats meow, I have heard a lot about them, I am waiting for them to introduce a line of cutters for bench top planes, if they already haven't.

That sounds like it was a great boys night out Gary, you know your hooked on woodworking when a night spent putting together "someone elses" new machinery, is far better then a night on the town at the tavern watching sports. I know it would be for me!