Sheartak Helical Cutterhead for WOODMASTER 18" Planer/Molder Model 718

Early review.

Shipping package was very good and arrived with no damage. The head is well made and the balance is great with no vibration. Smooth cuts and much quites than the original straight blade.

I love the planer head, I work with a lot of hickory and am very pleased at the reduction in tearout to almost 0. It was easy to install and fit perfectly. Thanks.

Met Expectations!!! If you own a Woodmaster planer read all through the review

Buy the SHEARTAK for Woodmaster machines!!! I have been using the Woodmaster S2 spiral/helical head for 4 years. It has annoyed me for 4 years and Woodmaster said it is normal to have equidistant raised lines across a board that has been planed to thickness. IT IS NOT NORMAL. On a Youtube video and on FB I learned of SHEARTAK. I heard from people who use the SHEARTAK cutter head and do not have residual raised lines across the entire board. So I decided to give it a try. My goal was to only need 2 grits of sandpaper in most cases to finish instead of 4 separate grits which is common with the Woodmaster cutterhead. I have tested the SHEARTAK head for 2 weeks now. I want to say "It is not perfect," but it is 90% better than my S2 head. Visually there are no lines.. I am pleased with the result. I cannot see lines like I could with the S2 but I can sometimes feel a very slight raised sequence of lines. However, they are not always present to feel which is puzzling and I have yet to analyze and come to a conclusion as to the cause. In most cases 150--220 grit will accomplish what I want before applying a finish because there are no visible raised lines. This is a huge improvement over needing to start with 80 grit then 120 before moving to final sanding to smooth out the surface caused by the Woodmaster S2 head. My encouragement to fellow Woodmaster users who have the problem I have been faced with for 4 years: "DO NOT hesitate to purchase a Sheartak cutter head for any Woodmaster machine if you are tired of lines on your boards." "If you are going to go from the 3 blade planer head to a spiral/helical head look at Sheartak before looking at the Woodmaster brand unless you want a 50% chance of being annoyed because you do not get a "Satin finish" which is the claim of Woodmaster. Lastly and importantly I want to compliment the people at SHEARTAK. I was concerned with getting this across into the US because of politics. I was assured it would get to me but to expect a hold up at the border. My new cutter head was promptly shipped, made it through customs, arrived in good shape because it was well packed and most fit exactly in my 718. No surprises in the transaction. I am glad I came across this company.