Replacing Cutter head on 12 Parks with Shelix

[Mark R Webster]

Has anyone replaced the cutter head on a 12" Parks planer with a Shelix. If so, how did it go, any issues? Was it a difficult process, I am a woodworker not a machinist. Were you happy with the end result? My Parks, in general is in pretty good condition even though it is older. I am looking to reduce the noise and improve the quality of the cut. If you have a Parks, have you designed a dust collection "port" that works well?
Thanks
Mark

[Matthew Hills]

Have you found a good deal on a spiral head for the Parks?
Cut quality on mine is quite good, although I can get some issue with knots or reversing grain (I leave enough for hand plane work in this case).

old woodworking machines site has some examples of home-built dust shrouds.
That's next on my project list. (wind, broom and dust pan have been the dust collection to-date)

Matt

[Mark R Webster]

Not sure what you consider a good deal, but I found a replacement head for the Parks on the Shelix web site.
Thanks for the info.
Mark

[John C Bush]

I had a Parks for several years and got good quality cuts. When I would get greedy and try to get too much mileage out of the blades the quality of the cuts would diminish quickly. Changing blades became a quick excercise. I have a spiral head planer now and get more "mileage" from the carbide inserts but the quality of the cuts isn't quite as good as the Parks with sharp blades.

I cut out a piece of ply and drilled holes for the roller adj nuts to protrude thru, attached a 12" x 4" HVAC floor vent fitting, bungied it tightly and it worked great for DC.

[M Toupin]

I had a Parks for many years and just last year sold it as I "upgraded" to a larger machine. Truth be told I wish I hadn't sold it... The parks, set up properly with sharp HHS blades, gave a phenomenal finish. I thought about a insert head at one time, I decided against it due to cost and I could change blades and completely tune it up in under half an hour. As far as dust collection, here's some pics of the dust hood I built for mine. Worked great!

Mike
IMG_20140816_171236649-800.jpg IMG_20140816_171250302-800.jpg IMG_20140816_170455063_HDR-800.jpg IMG_20140816_170440799_HDR-800.jpg

[Mark R Webster]

Thanks Mike, great idea for the hood!
Mark

[Mark R Webster]

Thanks John for your insight and the Hvac idea!!
Mark

[John C Bush]

Hi Mark,
My DC hood was the same idea as Mike's but I attached the vent to the ply instead of makng a box. IIRC I cut and taped cardboard on the sides to manage air flow. Not as pretty as Mikes but worked well. I would still have the Parks but I got a great deal on a Grizz 20" with spiral head. Needed the width but miss the smoother cuts with the Parks. I don't think an upgrade to a spiral on the Parks would be worth the cost and rebuild effort. John.

[Mark R Webster]

Thanks John for the additional input!!
Mark