Thanks for sharing your experience and modifications. I’ve been researching these little benchtop models and really appreciate your thoughts after actual use instead of an unboxing that doesn’t help much. And I like your under bench setup too. Happy New Year!
I also have the same jointer and like it. But after seeing your pullout for the jointer, that is what I'm going to do on my table saw/ router work bench to save from having to take it off the shelf, really great idea !
This design is based on the Japanese Ryobi model. I had one but sold it when I found a Hitachi combo unit made in Japan. If you do some googling, you can find pictures of the old Ryobi's with their extension wings. These days it's a DIY job but it's basically a bolt on extension with melamine faced board that extend the bed. Ironically I watched another Wen video earlier and he complained that it kept going out of alignment but he stored it on a shelf. I was going to comment on building a dedicated stand so he wasn't picking it up and putting it down but the video ended while I was on a phone call. Your solution to mount it the bench is a good idea as you're not picking it up by the beds.
Thanks for sharing - you didn't say much about any noticeable differences between the original HSS blades vs. the carbide cutters. Is the finish better? Noise level about the same? Seem to last sharp for longer period of time? Anything different/better/worse with the carbide cutters? Thanks and Happy New Year!
Great point! Thanks for the questions! duh, should have put that info in the video, wish I could go back and add it now. I used the HSS cutters only for a very short time after buying the jointer, did a project with maple and already noticed not as smooth of surface just after 1 project (HSS had quick wear), and also got a couple of nicks in the blades, not sure how. At that time i put in the carbide blades. I've done about 15 projects with the carbide blades, and they still seem to cut as smooth as when i first put them in. Sharper for longer was the primary motivation for installing carbide. When the HSS were new, the smoothness of the cut was about the same as carbide. No difference in noise level that I've noticed. Happy New Year!
I have a similar style model and mistakenly lifted the router by the table handles. That affects the table and you’ll need to realign. You only make that mistake once.
Wanted to mention that the original cutters are two sided. So if one is chipped it can be rotated. The carbide cutters from cutech are also two sided. How did the carbide cutters cut? I've also noticed some tear out with figured maple. Have you noticed any improvement with carbide cutters for figured wood?
Great point about the 2 sided cutters! When I first got the jointer and using the HSS cutters when new, they are just as sharp and good cut as the carbide cutters. Although, they quickly got dull, and also easily nicked by something as simple as a knot in the wood, so then turn that one cutter and all good, until that side gets dull or nicked. With the carbide cutters, they aren't any sharper then HSS when new, but they just don't seem to get dull, and are much more difficulty to nick. I've not had to turn the carbide cutters to a new side, although nice to know when needed, that 2nd side is available just like the HSS cutters.
Thanks Wallie! Yes, I'm pretty confident the same cutters will work with either the 8" or 6", since WEN's original cutters are interchangeable between the 2 jointers, then it's my assumption that the after-market carbide ones would also be interchangeable. That being said, note that I haven't actually tried it myself.
That's a great idea! It seems the craftsman is a popular choice, and would be a good comparison to make. At this time I don't have a craftsman jointer or planer, but I'll keep an eye out on how to get my hands on one. Note that based on my research, I pretty sure that the craftsman jointer is the same design and made in the same manufacturing facility as is WEN. The original manufacturer, Shinmax, just changes the branding as an OEM solution for both wen and craftsman. I'm not sure that is true for the planer, they seem like different designs. But, again, I don't have hands on with the craftsman at this time.
I replaced the cutterheads on my Wen 13 inch planer with carbide but they kept trying to rotate slightly when tightening. Did you have any problems with that?
Oh no, that doesn't sound right. When I replaced mine, they fit snug and tight just like the original cutters, no way they could rotate. Sounds like the ones you got might be a little too small, not sure?
Bought the carbide cutters for my wen 13inch planer. Made sure everything was extremely clean when replacing the cutters. I now have lines showing on the boards after running them through the planer. Took them off, cleaned them again, and same thing. Any suggestions?
I'm not sure, that isn't the experience that I had, dang, sounds like maybe you got some defective cutters. Are there lines with just one or a couple of the cutters, or are there 26 lines, every cutter? The only idea I would have is see if you could return them, and perhaps try a different band of cutters.
@@jkmwoodworking just a few of them. Very hard to pinpoint which ones. Have rotated them, cleaned them, blew compressed air etc. Nothing seems to get all of them cutting properly....I may return them if I can't get them set properly. Thanks for the response.
I would feel comfortable up to 40" on this jointer. You could go to about 72" with table extensions like in this video... czcams.com/video/yMhNognmsQU/video.html
Any thoughts on the foam handlers? I personally hate them. Reason being: their grip is weak so I need to push down. That alone makes it more dangerous, than not using them at all. Second reason is the end result won't be as good. I can't see how I can possibly get injured from a jointer table? the blades are always shrouded either by the guard or by the material itself
Yeah, the foam handlers feel pretty cheap, but I do use them frequently, they seem to be about the right size, not too big. Sometimes I use the grrr-ripper push block that I have for my table saw, it has a more solid rubber grip - not foam.
I do feel more safe using the push blocks with small workpieces than just my handss. I can't say that I'm much of a safety authority on what is safe or not on the jointer. wish I could be more helpful here, sorry.
just came back to say i ordered these cutters for my 6 inch wen jointer and they fit perfectly. just reuse the old screws
That's awesome Matt! Thanks for looping back, I'm happy to hear it worked well!
@@jkmwoodworking I am as well, because I am going to as well. 😊
Great! Thanks!
@@jkmwoodworking ordered a couple of packs of these today. Thx again!
Thanks for sharing your experience and modifications. I’ve been researching these little benchtop models and really appreciate your thoughts after actual use instead of an unboxing that doesn’t help much. And I like your under bench setup too. Happy New Year!
Thanks Ryan! I really appreciate your thoughtful comments on my videos! Happy New Year!
Thanks for all your information! Just found you at CZcams. Amazing wood work. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Very helpful - thank you for sharing your research findings!!
Great! Thank you!
exactly what i was looking for thanks!
Awesome! I'm happy it was helpful, thanks!
Nice review and cutter head find. I’m approaching buying…
Thanks! Glad the review was helpful!
I also have the same jointer and like it. But after seeing your pullout for the jointer, that is what I'm going to do on my table saw/ router work bench to save from having to take it off the shelf, really great idea !
Sounds great!
I have this jointer. I’m going to get these cutters! Thanks!
Great! Thanks for your comments on my videos!
This design is based on the Japanese Ryobi model. I had one but sold it when I found a Hitachi combo unit made in Japan.
If you do some googling, you can find pictures of the old Ryobi's with their extension wings. These days it's a DIY job but it's basically a bolt on extension with melamine faced board that extend the bed.
Ironically I watched another Wen video earlier and he complained that it kept going out of alignment but he stored it on a shelf. I was going to comment on building a dedicated stand so he wasn't picking it up and putting it down but the video ended while I was on a phone call. Your solution to mount it the bench is a good idea as you're not picking it up by the beds.
Great info, thanks!
Very nice review!
Thank you so much!
Thank you just bought one of these!
Great! I really like mine!
Great video.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing - you didn't say much about any noticeable differences between the original HSS blades vs. the carbide cutters. Is the finish better? Noise level about the same? Seem to last sharp for longer period of time? Anything different/better/worse with the carbide cutters? Thanks and Happy New Year!
Great point! Thanks for the questions! duh, should have put that info in the video, wish I could go back and add it now. I used the HSS cutters only for a very short time after buying the jointer, did a project with maple and already noticed not as smooth of surface just after 1 project (HSS had quick wear), and also got a couple of nicks in the blades, not sure how. At that time i put in the carbide blades. I've done about 15 projects with the carbide blades, and they still seem to cut as smooth as when i first put them in. Sharper for longer was the primary motivation for installing carbide. When the HSS were new, the smoothness of the cut was about the same as carbide. No difference in noise level that I've noticed. Happy New Year!
I have a similar style model and mistakenly lifted the router by the table handles. That affects the table and you’ll need to realign. You only make that mistake once.
Wanted to mention that the original cutters are two sided. So if one is chipped it can be rotated. The carbide cutters from cutech are also two sided. How did the carbide cutters cut?
I've also noticed some tear out with figured maple. Have you noticed any improvement with carbide cutters for figured wood?
Great point about the 2 sided cutters! When I first got the jointer and using the HSS cutters when new, they are just as sharp and good cut as the carbide cutters. Although, they quickly got dull, and also easily nicked by something as simple as a knot in the wood, so then turn that one cutter and all good, until that side gets dull or nicked. With the carbide cutters, they aren't any sharper then HSS when new, but they just don't seem to get dull, and are much more difficulty to nick. I've not had to turn the carbide cutters to a new side, although nice to know when needed, that 2nd side is available just like the HSS cutters.
Thanks for the helpful video. Would I be correct in saying the carbide cutters will also fit the 6" WEN jointer?
Thanks Wallie! Yes, I'm pretty confident the same cutters will work with either the 8" or 6", since WEN's original cutters are interchangeable between the 2 jointers, then it's my assumption that the after-market carbide ones would also be interchangeable. That being said, note that I haven't actually tried it myself.
Any chance you'll compare the WEN planer/Jointer with the Craftsman Planer/Jointer?
That's a great idea! It seems the craftsman is a popular choice, and would be a good comparison to make. At this time I don't have a craftsman jointer or planer, but I'll keep an eye out on how to get my hands on one.
Note that based on my research, I pretty sure that the craftsman jointer is the same design and made in the same manufacturing facility as is WEN. The original manufacturer, Shinmax, just changes the branding as an OEM solution for both wen and craftsman. I'm not sure that is true for the planer, they seem like different designs. But, again, I don't have hands on with the craftsman at this time.
I replaced the cutterheads on my Wen 13 inch planer with carbide but they kept trying to rotate slightly when tightening. Did you have any problems with that?
Oh no, that doesn't sound right. When I replaced mine, they fit snug and tight just like the original cutters, no way they could rotate. Sounds like the ones you got might be a little too small, not sure?
Can you share how to change the brushes? Mine simply stopped working after 6 months
I've actually not replaced the brushes in the motor. bummer that yours stopped working
Just wondering, have you ever tried the 15mm 4 side cutting carbide inserts? If they worked, you'd get twice the edge for the money.
That's a great idea, I haven't tried it, perhaps next time I need to buy a new set i'll give it a try.
Bought the carbide cutters for my wen 13inch planer. Made sure everything was extremely clean when replacing the cutters. I now have lines showing on the boards after running them through the planer. Took them off, cleaned them again, and same thing. Any suggestions?
I'm not sure, that isn't the experience that I had, dang, sounds like maybe you got some defective cutters. Are there lines with just one or a couple of the cutters, or are there 26 lines, every cutter? The only idea I would have is see if you could return them, and perhaps try a different band of cutters.
@@jkmwoodworking just a few of them. Very hard to pinpoint which ones. Have rotated them, cleaned them, blew compressed air etc. Nothing seems to get all of them cutting properly....I may return them if I can't get them set properly. Thanks for the response.
What’s the longest workpiece you would recommend using on this jointer?
I would feel comfortable up to 40" on this jointer. You could go to about 72" with table extensions like in this video... czcams.com/video/yMhNognmsQU/video.html
I own this same jointer. For a year now. I'm a rookie. So these cutters is all you have to change? There are no blades to change as well?
Yes, that's correct, just the cutters. This jointer doesn't have the long straight blades that some other jointers have.
@@jkmwoodworking Thank you for the info and reply!
Any thoughts on the foam handlers? I personally hate them. Reason being: their grip is weak so I need to push down. That alone makes it more dangerous, than not using them at all. Second reason is the end result won't be as good. I can't see how I can possibly get injured from a jointer table? the blades are always shrouded either by the guard or by the material itself
Yeah, the foam handlers feel pretty cheap, but I do use them frequently, they seem to be about the right size, not too big. Sometimes I use the grrr-ripper push block that I have for my table saw, it has a more solid rubber grip - not foam.
@@jkmwoodworking Interesting. Do you use them for safety reasons? Am I wrong on my high assessment on how safe the jointer is?
I do feel more safe using the push blocks with small workpieces than just my handss. I can't say that I'm much of a safety authority on what is safe or not on the jointer. wish I could be more helpful here, sorry.
That’s 50 inch pounds not foot pounds if anyone was curios broke a few inserts
These are junk you can’t get the fence at 90 degrees it moves after each use. I took mine back