Helical vs Spiral Cutterheads: Why Sheartak Recommends Spiral for Cleaner Cuts and Better Woodworking
Understanding the Difference Between Helical and Spiral Cutterheads for Jointers and Planers
There’s often confusion surrounding the terms helical and spiral cutterheads when it comes to woodworking jointers and planers. While both words refer to a shape that winds around a center, the way the cutters are arranged on these cutterheads actually differs significantly. This subtle difference can make it tricky to say definitively that one type is “better” than the other.
What Are Helical and Spiral Cutterheads?
There are two common types of cutterheads used in woodworking machinery:
Some people call the top cutterhead in Fig. 1 a spiral cutterhead, and the bottom one in Fig. 2 a helical cutterhead. Others use these terms the opposite way around, which adds to the confusion.
For clarity, we will refer to the cutterhead shown on top as the spiral cutterhead, and the one on the bottom as the helical cutterhead.
Key Differences Between Spiral and Helical Cutterheads
Spiral Cutterheads
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Use carbide inserts with rounded edges at various radii, such as R150 and R100.
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The most common insert size is 15x15x2.5mm (see Fig. 3).
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Inserts are angled relative to the feeding direction of the wood, which produces a shear-cutting action.
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The shear cut results in cleaner, quieter cuts with less tear-out, which woodworkers greatly appreciate.
Helical Cutterheads
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Use square carbide inserts with straight edges set at a 90° angle to the wood feed direction.
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Common insert sizes include 14x14x2mm or 15x15x2.5mm with straight cutting edges.
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Cuts the material directly without the shear action seen in spiral cutterheads.
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While effective, the absence of a shear cut means more tear-out and potentially rougher finishes compared to spiral cutterheads.
Important Note: Compatibility of Inserts
Carbide inserts for spiral and helical cutterheads are not interchangeable. Each cutterhead type requires its specific insert design due to differences in shape and cutting angle.
Why Sheartak Recommends Spiral Cutterheads for Superior Woodworking Performance
At Sheartak, we strongly recommend choosing spiral cutterheads for your jointers and planers. Thanks to their angled, round-edged carbide inserts, spiral cutterheads deliver a clean, quiet shear cut that greatly reduces tear-out and provides a superior surface finish. This means less sanding, faster project completion, and higher-quality results.
While helical cutterheads have their uses, the shear cutting action unique to spiral cutterheads offers clear advantages in finish quality, blade longevity, and overall woodworking efficiency. Plus, our precision-engineered spiral cutterheads are designed to fit a wide range of machines with durable, easy-to-maintain carbide inserts.
Investing in a Sheartak spiral cutterhead is investing in better performance, less downtime, and more satisfying woodworking results—making it the smarter choice for professionals and hobbyists alike.
Ready to Upgrade to a Sheartak Spiral Cutterhead?
Experience the difference for yourself with Sheartak’s line of high-quality spiral cutterheads designed for a variety of jointers and planers. Our cutterheads feature:
- Precision-engineered carbide inserts for long-lasting sharpness
- Easy maintenance with rotating inserts and minimal downtime
- Compatibility with many popular woodworking machines
Don’t settle for less when it comes to your woodworking tools. Upgrade to a Sheartak spiral cutterhead today and enjoy cleaner cuts, smoother finishes, and increased productivity.
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