Just got the cheap spiral cut 6" from wen. I’ve only a run a few boards over it, but I like it. I was an idiot a few years back and gave up my cast-iron Harbor freight 6" model “just” because the shitty motor burned out. Today, I’d have been less stupid and picked up a new motor. I got Porter-Cable that’s clearly from the same factory where they’re making all the benchtop models these days, and it was fine until I had to replace the knives. It was tedious, finicky, and I never did quite get it right. I freakin’ HATED setting those blades.
I sold that (with full disclosure that it was aligned poorly), and then my used Shopsmith came with their little 4" cast-iron job. It was also annoying, but either I was better or the design was better, so I had it set up reasonably well. It cut pretty flat, but I blew up some retaining bolts and threads on the cutter head when some bad technique on a short workpiece saw it get wedged in there. No injuries thankfully, but I figured that since it was changing blades that I hated so much, I’d try one without straight knives, and I think I’m back in love with processing lumber, at least until my planer knives are too dull to use, LOL.
No real tips to add but I have a bench top jointer and LOVE it. Sure a larger one would be nice but it does the job.
Just got the cheap spiral cut 6" from wen. I’ve only a run a few boards over it, but I like it. I was an idiot a few years back and gave up my cast-iron Harbor freight 6" model “just” because the shitty motor burned out. Today, I’d have been less stupid and picked up a new motor. I got Porter-Cable that’s clearly from the same factory where they’re making all the benchtop models these days, and it was fine until I had to replace the knives. It was tedious, finicky, and I never did quite get it right. I freakin’ HATED setting those blades.
I sold that (with full disclosure that it was aligned poorly), and then my used Shopsmith came with their little 4" cast-iron job. It was also annoying, but either I was better or the design was better, so I had it set up reasonably well. It cut pretty flat, but I blew up some retaining bolts and threads on the cutter head when some bad technique on a short workpiece saw it get wedged in there. No injuries thankfully, but I figured that since it was changing blades that I hated so much, I’d try one without straight knives, and I think I’m back in love with processing lumber, at least until my planer knives are too dull to use, LOL.