Busy Bee Woodworking Excellence Since 1976
Busy Bee woodworking represents over four decades of excellence as Canada's leading specialist in woodworking and metalworking tools. Established in 1976 with a Buy Direct and Sell Direct philosophy, Busy Bee has become a household name across Canada with 9 locations coast to coast. The company's proprietary Craftex and Craftex CX Series brands deliver exceptional quality woodworking tools including jointers, planers, jointer-planer combos, bandsaws, and complete workshop solutions for both professional and hobbyist woodworkers.
Busy Bee woodworking machinery features robust construction with heavy cast iron tables, powerful motors, and precision-engineered components. Popular models include the Craftex 25-210H 12" jointer-planer combo with helical cutterhead, B706 jointers, and various planer configurations. With headquarters in Concord, Ontario, Busy Bee has established itself as the trusted source for quality woodworking tools, offering expert advice, fast shipping, and exceptional customer service that Canadian craftsmen rely on.
Premium Spiral Cutterhead Jointer Solutions
Sheartak Tools Ltd. manufactures precision-engineered spiral cutterhead solutions specifically designed for Busy Bee woodworking machinery and Craftex brand equipment. Our cutter head upgrades transform standard planers and jointers into high-performance systems with significantly enhanced cutting quality. Each spiral cutterhead jointer conversion features premium carbide inserts as mechanical components arranged along helical grooves, creating a true shear-cut that dramatically reduces noise and eliminates tear-out on all wood species.
These mechanical component upgrades deliver exceptional surface finishes that enhance the already solid performance of Busy Bee woodworking tools. The advanced cutter head design provides more than 10 times the blade life of traditional straight knives. When an edge dulls on your spiral cutterhead jointer, simply rotate the carbide insert 90 degrees for a fresh cutting edge—no blade removal, no sharpening services, no complicated adjustments required.
Professional Mechanical Components
Sheartak Tools Ltd. manufactures every Busy Bee woodworking spiral cutterhead using high-tensile strength alloy steel paired with sintered tungsten carbide inserts. Each cutter head is precision-ground to tolerances of ±0.0004" (±0.01mm), ensuring seamless integration with your Craftex or Busy Bee machinery. Our mechanical components complement the quality and value that have made Busy Bee Canada's trusted source for woodworking tools since 1976.
Whether you own a Craftex jointer, planer, or jointer-planer combo, our spiral cutterhead solutions deliver professional reliability and performance. These woodworking tools reduce operational noise, improve surface quality, and maximize the efficiency of your Busy Bee equipment, maintaining the direct-to-customer value proposition that defines this respected Canadian brand.
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
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.
