I have a delta HD shaper. the HD stands for Heavy Duty, which I guess it is, for a home shop machine. it sports a 1HP repulsion/induction motor, which if my calculations are correct is pullied to spin the spindle at about 9000RPM. I just ordered a power feeder for it, and am considering investing in a cutterhead which accepts replaceable knives. the sort of thing I'm looking at are like:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/3-Mo...h-1-Bore/D1701 (for which I'd need to buy a 1" spindle)
http://www.oellasawandtool.com/produ...4%22-Bore.html
less interesting to me are this type of head:
http://www.cmtutensili.com/show_item...pars=HK~692A~2
which has a larger diameter and shorter cutter length. I have a couple of similar heads from sears. they don't seem particularly safe or useful.
Of the above, the schmidt head looks to be the better quality, steel rather than aluminum as in the grizz unit. one question I don't see an answer to is if the corrugated cutters are exchangeable between the two- if I buy the schmidt head can I use the grizz knives in it?
But I also am seeking more general information. Is this a Bad Idea? are there better, easier, safer, cheaper solutions that I haven't considered? Other manufacturers of similar heads to look at? someone out there with used tooling they'd sell me cheap?