I have to vent a little frustration. On September 9th I ordered an OEM Byrd Shelix carbide cutter head for my DeWalt 735 with an 8 to 12 week delivery with a $399 price tag.The company I ordered it from shall remain nameless.  Today, I still don’t have the cutter head and the company said that they’ve had ordered since June with no delivery date in sight.  The reason Byrd gave for the delay is that they can’t get enough employees because of the CARES Act. According to Byrd many of their employees were drawing the $600 a week unemployment from Uncle Sugar and they wouldn’t return to work.  Reason or excuse?  Beats me but I can’t beg, borrow or steal a new head.  Rant over.

I've read similar stories about the Byrd head being slow to ship, specifically for the 735. I'm sure it's frustrating...and I'm also sure the of the circumstances surrounding the $600 payments. I have a granddaughter who works at a local hospital and she didn't go back to work until the $600 payment stopped.  In any case, I can only sympathize and you can only grit your teeth and be patient. Good things come to those who wait.

Hopefully you won't be charged until the unit ships!

12 minutes ago, JimM said:

Hopefully you won't be charged until the unit ships!

I won’t.  That’s the only good part of the story.

Sorry you have to wait. But, it'll be worth it. 

10 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Reason or excuse?

 

I thought that $600 ran out quite awhile ago?  It's like $300 or something now I thought?

Maybe Byrd has to compete with other employers and just don't want to pay the going rate?

I suspect you've heard the excuse...

12 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Reason or excuse?

 

Most likely he is getting a piece of the pie too. 

13 hours ago, Cal said:

 

I thought that $600 ran out quite awhile ago?  It's like $300 or something now I thought?

Maybe Byrd has to compete with other employers and just don't want to pay the going rate?

I suspect you've heard the excuse...

it’s clearly a Byrd issue because you can’t buy one anywhere.  I can buy one from Grizzly but their head has 30 cutters instead of 40.  Besides, I wouldn’t take it from Grizzly if they hand delivered it at my front door at no charge.  Yes, there’s a story there.

2 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

it’s clearly a Byrd issue because you can’t buy one anywhere.  I can buy one from Grizzly but their head has 30 cutters instead of 40.  Besides, I wouldn’t take it from Grizzly if they hand delivered it at my front door at no charge.  Yes, there’s a story there.

 

 

Well I can round up the guys and we can make a RAID.

 

 

6 hours ago, Gunny said:

 

 

Well I can round up the guys and we can make a RAID.

 

 

Hmmm, tempting.

It's a conspiracy. 

Frustrating Ron, been there and experienced it, like you said, at least they didn't tap your bank account already. From what I hear that cutter head is the cats meow!

3 hours ago, John Morris said:

Frustrating Ron, been there and experienced it, like you said, at least they didn't tap your bank account already. From what I hear that cutter head is the cats meow!

If I ever get it..

You can blame the employees, but that is to be shared with the CEO's and companies as they also got a huge chunk of money to do nothing.  It was sold as funds to continue to pay the employees, but that didn't happen.  Those companies got another handout without responsibility.  Again!

30 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

You can blame the employees, but that is to be shared with the CEO's and companies as they also got a huge chunk of money to do nothing.  It was sold as funds to continue to pay the employees, but that didn't happen.  Those companies got another handout without responsibility.  Again!

I’m sure there’s enough blame to go around but when you boil it down there’s one very unhappy customer.  Me.

Welp for myself I would have been boiling mad and filed a complaint with the state attorney generals office the BBC and some other places if that had happened to myself.  Then raged on twitter at how horrible of a company it was.  But then again that's just me and how I would re act.  I don't get mad I get even.  Or rather I should say.... I get mad then get even LOL.

Edited December 19, 20205 yr by AndrewB

It arrived yesterday and I installed it today.  Not a difficult task but time consuming.  I had two grooves in the final finish but a reseating of two inserts produced a smooth finish.  It’s a different sound and I immediately noticed that the Shelix cause a bit move drag.  Bet it pulls more amperage too.

Congrats!  I think I did hear on a Youtube video that it does pull more Amps.  On newer tools the conversion may void warranty.

Danl 

I'm certain they pull more amps but so far I've not read of anyone burning out their motor. I wish I had done a before and after amp measurement on mine. Too late now. Congrats....worth waiting for, wasn't it?

It was, Fred.  As much as I hated the wait it was financially worth it.  I bought mine from Holbren for $399 and free shipping. Now, the same head is over $450.  It’s going to take a some adjustment to get used to the difference in the sound, though.  The neighbors will like it.