Does anyone recommend the Shapers Barrel from Shapers Australia? Is there a big difference between conventional planers and this planer?
Thanks,
Da Cheetah
I have used several of the carbide grit drums for the Skil’s and Hitachi’s. For mass removal of material, it creats lots of fine dust and requires more horsepower than a regular head with blades, but for fine tuning and getting rid of chipping from the planer, it is great. So for the pro shop, you’ll need it in conjuncion with another planer
Gordon Clark was nice enough to have one shipped to me from Australia during an assessment period for planer accessories. I’ve been using one off and on for a while now and it’s like Jim says, a great secondary tool that won’t cheddar your blanks. You can run the planer across the blank as fast as you want with no damage. On the down side the barrel I got was heavier that the stock 2 blade cylinder and I imagine it also has more contact “area” than the blades; so it takes longer to get up to speed and the top speed is noticibly lower. If you know how to boost the voltage as I see a lot of shapers do to regular planers, then this might help to a degree, (can’t say much for the life of the tool at that point). Also, the barrel takes the foam down just fine but watch out on larger stringers. I use a vacuum set-up and I could not imagine the amount of finer dust the barrel produces just being shot out into my work space; you will probably end up with “snowman” arms, big time. Lastly, the clean cut surface left by a bladed planer will be no more. The surface will look like someone used a wire brush on your blank; a cat-scratching post kind of look, if you will…
Thanks alot Jim!
Always happy to get advice from the Pro’s. I’m waiting to get paid and am very interested in watching your shaping video. I’ve heard nothing but good remarks. I’m still collecting data like always. I really want my first board to be special so I’m just taking my time to make sure that all my bases are covered.
Thanks Always,
Da Cheetah
DaCheetah, would you so kindly be on the lookout for a Japanese shaper in Osaka, he was my student here in Encinitas, but overstayed his visa by 2 days and got booted upon his return. He started the process to return legally again, but 9/11 happened and we all know what happens when there is an immigration violation on your record now! His name is Makoto(Matt) Fugiwara, his home is in Kyoto, but he was shaping in Osaka. By the way, he was really getting the aspect of becoming a good craftsman
…I got tired of the drum/grit barrels of which I have 2,and conventional or carbide blades.Sure they all work great in there place,but after my machinist buddy made me a couple helical/spiral carbide barrels(copies of a rockwell barrels) …the rest just sit in their storage spaces,un-used for a year or so…you can try to beat it but it won’t happen.
…it kills 2 birds with a thought of a stone.Herb
Yo Herb…is that barrel you had made for a Skil?I want one.
I have talked to a few guys about the barrel . the up side is speed and you can mow foam really fast without tearing but on the down side the planer suffers in the way off flogged out bearings from the finer dust , but the vacumm may fix that and the wear on the planer from the added weight
That would be no problem. Can you just tell me the company he might be shaping for? If not I have the few different catalogs for Japan. I’ll take a look.
Cleaner,
…Yes,for both type of planers*skill/Hitachi.
…I’ll ask if he’ll do one more,we will see.
…They are a type of cutting bit,converted for my planers.Alot of sizing and mod/re-tooling was required. The only downside is a slight gain in weight.
…If not,I’ll will you mine…Herb
I love my barrel and all that, but a sharp set of blades is really the best setup.
Thanks Herb!
Hey Herb, is that spiral barrel a single helical blade or double or grit zone or what? In any case,it sounds great, if it’s anything like I’ve seen on other woodworking tools there is the added benefit of directing/screwing the debris out the exhaust chute with more force. If you could consider me on your list of people wanting one of those spiral cutters, I’d be really stoked…
…Actually,it’s 6 blades???I think…it’s more that a couple I know that for sure.No grit,just razor sharp rifled blades…so sharp that I laid out my thumb on the first installation,about a year ago.No need for grit,or sharpeners,but I think I will trade my old Clark/Hit blades in for new ones,just to have a fresh set of flintstone-age blades handy.
…If he does agree to do any he’ll want to do more than one.I’ll see what’s up today,hopefully.I will also promise to keep prices down if he charges any $$$ fees.
…I use a vac-dust collector set-up 100% of the time these days.Before the helical barrels were installed, I would get a a clogged up line if I cut the foam too fast.Now…never happens,and the dust/chips are for the most part finer.Herb
Herb, I’m getting really psyched up!!! I’ll have my fingers crossed! Sounds like you can cut faster that with conventional blades…
It out runs me foresure.
…I originally got into this because of the EPS blanks…but I don’t like the way EPS surfs…a personnal prefence no doubt.Due to my re-wound motors the blades couldn’t keep up… and the grit barrels …well I never really liked them except for rails or clean-ups.
…by the way my buddy… just staired at me when I mentioned more,but that’s a good thing.He didn’t say no.Herb
I am a machinist and get custom carbide tools made all the time. I’m sure they could make something no problem. Send me a sketch of what your looking for and next time I talk to them I will get a price. You could get them with 2 cutting edges, 3, 4, 6, or 8 or more even.
I don’t use a planer much, but it seems like spiral flutes would work better, you would have constant cutting force(less vibration) and it seems like it would peel the foam off better. I would try one with 2 cutting edges I think.
sign me up
…I never tried anything with just two flutes/blades,I’m sure i’d work fine.Mine is 6 blades and has the feel of a grit drum but smoother,and cuts cleaner than standard carbide blades.
…The Rockwell is multi-fluted…I don’t remember how many?More than two if my memory serves me correct.Herb
Okay, getting VERY psyched on this thing. Do you think a retro-fit of an existing off-the-shelf item is better than building one from scratch? I’ve seen some spiral cutters in woodworking catalogs. They have left twist and right twist, depending upon the direction you want the chips deflected. Prices for these cutters wasn’t too bad, $50 to $100. Some of these are solid carbide rather than fused carbide blades. Don’t know if any machinists would be very happy to machine solid carbide; can’t cut it with a carbide bit, can they?