Sheartak Spiral Cutterhead for Inca 10-1/2" Jointer Planer, Model 343.190 – Premium Upgrade for Superior Performance
Upgrade your Inca 10-1/2" jointer planer with a Sheartak spiral cutterhead and enjoy exceptional cutting quality, reduced noise, and long-lasting durability. Designed with true shear-cut technology, this cutterhead delivers a noticeably smoother and glossier surface finish compared to other spiral designs.
Key Advantages:
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True Shear Cut: Produces a cleaner, glossier surface finish with virtually no tear-out—even on figured hardwoods.
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High-Precision Inserts: Equipped with 4-edge solid carbide cutters for consistent, accurate performance.
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Longer Lifespan: Tungsten carbide knives last 8–10× longer than traditional HSS blades.
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Quick & Easy Maintenance: No sharpening required—simply rotate each insert 90° for a fresh cutting edge.
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Reduced Noise: Spiral cutting action significantly lowers noise for a more comfortable work environment.
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Improved Dust Collection: Generates smaller chips for easier and more efficient dust extraction.
Kit Includes:
Helpful Tips and Lessons Learned — Shared by Adam in Toronto
1.The install requires a lot of disassembly first. Take pictures along the way to make sure everything goes back in the same position. This includes the chain-side assembly and the cutter guard. Bearing removal and re-installation is the biggest challenge.
2.Removal of the old cutter requires patience. The bearings on each side are in an aluminum housing, and there is a spring clip (which must be removed) on the pulley side of the driveshaft. To remove the cutter assembly from the aluminum frame, the aluminum housings need to move away from each other by about 4mm. Once removed from the frame, one can use a bearing puller to remove both housings (with bearings) from the shaft. But getting this 4mm shift first is tricky, and I managed to do it by wedging appropriately sized spanners between the old cutter and the aluminum housing and applying force along the shaft. And some WD40.
3.As I subsequently discovered (see #5 below), there was likely a 4mm internal space inside one of the bearing housings, though I still don’t know if this space was on the pulley or chain side. In any event, I focused on the pulley side, and I am not sure if I created this 4mm slide by moving the inner race along the shaft or the outer race inside the aluminum housing.
4.I wrapped the new cutter head with rags to avoid injury. If the bearings are too tight, consider sanding the shaft with fine wet-dry sandpaper as suggested by Mike at Sheartak. Tolerances are fine and a little sanding can make a huge difference.
5.One needs to deal with the 4mm slide when re-installing the (new) cutterhead or the aluminum housings will not fit snugly against the frame. This is achieved by sliding the bearing housing over the outer race of the bearing once everything is in position in the frame. This creates a 4mm non-visible internal gap between the inner shoulder of aluminum housing and the outer race. I first attempted to do this by driving the bearings closer together which was not possible as they were already on the shoulder of cutterhead shaft. Many thanks to Mike at Sheartak for helping figure this out.
6. In my case there was a slight diameter difference between the cutterheads which required a re-calibration of the out-feed table.
7. Sheartak helped along the way and provided great customer service. The new cutterhead is awesome and worth the effort.
Do I need to replace the original bearings?
If the bearings in your machine are in good condition, they can be reused by carefully removing them with a bearing or pulley puller. However, if the bearings are tightly pressed onto the shaft, removal may cause damage. To minimize this risk, we recommend replacing old bearings with our greased and sealed bearings, designed for long-lasting performance. For a smooth upgrade, we suggest adding the bearings to your shopping cart before completing your purchase.
We provide premium bearings from NSK, SKF, NTN, FAG, Timken. They are renowned for their high quality and performance, designed to provide durability and reliability in various applications
If you add the bearings to your order, we will preinstall them for you when premounting is possible, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.
Do I need to to Add a Few Boxes of Carbide Inserts
We provide 5 carbide inserts and 5 screws as spare parts. However, many of our customers choose to purchase additional boxes, as the shipping costs for separate purchases can make it less economical.
Do I need a Torque Wrench?
To securely lock the carbide inserts, we recommend applying a torque of 48 to 52 Pound-Inches (or 5.42 to 5.88 Newton-Meters). (Note: 1 Newton-Meter is equal to 8.851 Pound-Inches, and 1 Pound-Inch is approximately 0.113 Newton-Meters.) It is crucial not to apply excessive torque, as this could cause the carbide inserts to crack or explode. On the other hand, using too little torque may result in the inserts not being properly secured, which could lead to cracks, shattering, or uneven height on the cutter block, causing ridges or lines on the board.
If one person is responsible for maintaining the machine, they can typically apply the same torque consistently without a torque wrench. However, when multiple people are involved in machine maintenance, ensuring uniform torque application can be challenging. For consistency and peace of mind, we recommend using a torque wrench.
What kind of steel the cutter block is made of?
The cutter block is constructed using GB/T 40Cr, a structural alloy steel of the same caliber as ASTM grade 5140, AISI 5140, SAE 5140, DIN 41Cr4, BS 41Cr4, JIS SCr440, and EN 41Cr4.The primary components of this steel are as follows: carbon (C) at a range of 0.37-0.44%, silicon (Si) between 0.17-0.37%, manganese (Mn) within 0.50-0.80%, and chromium (Cr) from 0.80-1.10%.
In terms of physical properties, this steel exhibits a tensile strength range of 115-234σb/MPa, a yield strength of 2σ 0.2 ≥/MPa, and an elongation capacity of 65 δ5≥ (%). It also has a HBS range of 123-321 and a HRC rating of 30.
This alloy steel is frequently utilized in low to moderately stressed components for machines, engines, and vehicles.
