Installing Helical Cutterhead in Ridgid TP1300 Planer
I've owned a Ridgid TP1300 "lunchbox" style planer for at least 18 years and it's been quite reliable, despite the low price. However, like most planers with steel knives running the length of the cutter, tearout in highly figured wood is common, even with a set of fresh blades. And it runs LOUD. So I've long intended to either swap out the cutterhead for a Shelix or similar helical replacement, or buy a new planer with a helical head, perhaps recouping a little of the cost by selling the Ridgid. Although purchasing a new planer was my initial thought, upgrading to a wider floor-standing model, the cost of these is very high - for example Grizzly 15" planers are north of $2000, and other reputable manufacturers are still higher. Furthermore, I rarely have the need to plane wider than 13", and space in my shop is tight. Grizzly does sell a 13" lunchbox style planer with a helical head - the G0940 - for about $800 plus shipping, I was tempted