It’s of pivotal importance to install the appropriate cutterheads for your jointer or thickness planer when engaged in a woodworking project. There are three main types of cutterheads: straight, spiral, and helical. Obviously, it’s easy to tell straight from the other two cutterheads. As for spiral and helical, because of their similar appearance and function, it might be difficult to figure out their differences. Understanding the differences can help you select the right cutterheads for your project. So, today, we’ll compare spiral and helical cutterheads to give you inspiration for which one is right for your job.

What are spiral cutterheads?

A spiral cutterhead consists of a cylindrical shaft with several rows of small carbide insert knives arranged in a spiral pattern around the shaft. Unlike traditional straight cutterhead, these small inserts contact the wood board continuously, reducing tear-out and creating a consistent and smooth cut. Tungsten carbide is the second hardest material in the world, so these insert knives feature an extended service life and low maintenance. Spiral cutter heads are more suitable for low-density wood.

What are helical cutterheads?

A helical cutterhead also comprises a cylindrical shaft with rows of small carbide turnover knives that are positioned in a helical pattern around the shaft. Thanks to multiple cutting blades, helical cutter heads can produce a nicer finish on the wood surface than straight cutterheads. In addition, helical cutterheads are quieter because of less vibration during the cutting process. Usually, the carbide insert knives have four cutting edges. When one edge is damaged or dull, just change to a new edge, reducing downtime.

Spiral vs. helical cutter head differences

Spiral cutterheads and helical cutterheads are both important woodworking machines, but there are several pivotal differences we should know.

Cutters alignment:

First, the alignment of the cutters to the cutterhead axis is different. Cutters on helical cutter heads are arranged at a slight angle to the axis, whereas cutters on spiral cutterheads are at a 90-degree angle to the workpiece. As a result, the cut edge of helical cutterheads is angled instead of perpendicular to the feed.

Cost:

If your budget is limited, a spiral cutterhead is the right choice due to its lower price compared to a helical cutterhead. As we mentioned, helical cutterheads feature a more complex design and more cutters, making them more expensive and having better cutting performance.

Cutting Performance:

Usually, spiral cutterheads can create a very smooth and clean cut. However, when it comes to cutting harder and denser wood, helical cutterheads have a better cutting performance, resulting in a more accurate and even cut. In addition, helical cutterheads are capable of making deep holes.

Carbide insert knives

The special design of helical cutterheads creates a shearing action during the cut. Carbide insert knives or turnover knives mounted on the cutterheads play a vital role during operation. As the name suggests, carbide insert knives are made from tungsten carbide, featuring outstanding hardness, wear resistance, and service life. Most of the cutters have four cutting edges. When one cutting edge is dull or damaged, just rotate the cutter to a new edge, reducing much downtime.

Konetool, an ISO-certified manufacturer, has been committed to the manufacturing of turnover knives for over 20 years. Our complete CNC production line, rigorous quality control processes, mature supply chain, and efficient delivery guarantee the quality of both our carbide insert knives and customers’ purchasing experience. Get a quote for your business today!

Which one is right for you?

Deciding which type of cutterhead is appropriate for your woodworking project can be difficult. Here we’ve listed a few factors you should consider before the purchase.

Budget:

As we mentioned earlier, spiral cutter heads are less expensive than helical cutter heads. If your budget is limited, a spiral cutterhead is right for you.

Type of wood:

If you’re mostly working on difficult woods such as harder and denser woods, helical cutter heads are more suitable for you because they are capable of creating much smoother finishes on these woods.

Size of the board:

Helical cutterheads are recommended for processing smaller and thinner workpieces. Whereas spiral cutterheads work well with larger and thicker pieces.

In short, it completely depends on your budget and project needs.