Guides

Cutterhead Guides

Practical guides on converting straight-knife woodworking machines to indexable spiral cutterheads, measuring a machine for a made-to-order head, and getting the most from carbide inserts.

Conversion in eight steps

How to Convert a Straight-Knife Planer to a Spiral CutterheadConvert a straight-knife planer or jointer to an indexable spiral cutterhead in 8 steps. Insert sizes, torque specs, measurement points and 4 common mistakes.Read the guide → Eight Years on Straight Knives, One Afternoon on a Helical HeadA woodworker's first-hand account: what actually changed after converting an eight-year-old straight-knife planer, the two mistakes, and six things to check before you buy.Read the guide → Is a Helical Cutterhead Worth It? 5 Honest Trade-offsThe upgrade is real — quieter, cleaner on figured wood, no knife setting. But it is heavier, slower to feed, and not the money-saver ads claim. Honest trade-offs and who should skip it.Read the guide → Helical vs Spiral Cutterhead: What Actually MattersMakers use the two words almost interchangeably. Here is the real difference between the layouts — and why insert count, material and body precision matter far more than which word is on the box.Read the guide →

Prices are not published on this site — quoted once the dimensions are confirmed. Insert torque, sizes and conversion time are given as general guidance; always follow the specifications supplied with your cutterhead.