"Shapers Barrel" feedback please

General Discussion
1

Hey all. I’ve been getting by with barrowing a Ryobi planer. The board I’m working on now, I really started to notice how rough it cuts, and choppyness etc. So, gonna pick myself up a Hitachi green machine. Whether or not its the clark model, I dont know. But what I’m really curious about is getting some solid feedback on the shapers barrel that is available for the hitachi.

Just a few thing I’m curious about: Is it worth the money? Does it dull or wear out easily/fast… durability i guess? And whatever else anyone would care to mention.

Thanks a bunch!

2

…if you use PS blanks its super good

if you use PU blanks is good to finish or do the last passes

not so efficient for the first passes (get rid of the crust, mowing foam, etc)

for PU better have 2 one with and one without

3

I use a bosch with the standard dual carbon tip blades

it cuts great as long as I dont push too fast

4

Great for older style PS foams. Not necessary with newer fused bead PS.

Quieter.

Can cut very fast.

Produces finer waste dust. (good? or bad?)

Doesn’t cut stringer woods very well.

Doesn’t leave clean, smooth surface, looks ‘wire brushed’

Robs power from planer.

Heavier than blades.

5

PlusOne’s observations are dead on, especially when used on Skil’s. Another comment often heard is that barrels seem to "suck " into the cut, and some upwards control is needed. The production shapers I know all say that they slow down the process overall, and they also need to use a second bladed planer for the stringer and other areas. Barrels are heavier than blade drums, and if you are using a Hitachi, watch out for heating at the bearings. On these planers the bearings can melt right into the plastic housing if you drive it long enough.

6

i make a high tech carbide spike blade for your planer, it work like a drum but you don’t have to slow down and it will go though wood like butter, it leave a smooth finish like the drum,

its the same tooling we use on the kkl cnc shaping machine, they sell for $250 which is cheaper than the drum and you don’t have to take your planer apart, they go in place of the blades and caps,

i have a few guy in Hawaii using them to make their stand up paddle boards they say they can get the boards down in 1/3 the time because they can plane so much faster than their drums… if you have any question call me at 949-412-7141 Richard