I just saw this video about cool new tools of last year. Kinda mesmerizing!
Keeping Up with the Jennings? Maybe Just the Jarrah. Ever since Sean mentioned Cliff needed to start working on his trestles (MasterClass?) I thought I had time to get ready
I didn’t expect to be trying to purchase a planer this soon, but when my nephew tore up a Jarrah floor, I suddenly had a pile of un-stackable beautiful timber on my hands. Since Jarrah isn’t actively harvested in Western Australia anymore (thanks to de-forestation concerns), I couldn’t bear to see it go to waste.
So—out of the blue—I found myself on the hunt for a thickness planer. My initial choice was the same DeWalt model showcased at ShedOps 2025. It seemed like a reliable pick.
But then… I kept stumbling across YouTube videos on how to upgrade that DeWalt with a helical cutter head. The catch? The upgrade alone would cost almost as much as the planer itself.
But wait—there’s more.
It turns out one of the companies that make those helical heads also sell their own thickness planer—with the helical head already installed. And the total price? About the same as the stock DeWalt.
Here’s one of the videos that convinced me:
Watch it on YouTube
A Few Photos from the Journey:
The haul:
Some old boards stuck together with Liquid Nails and MDF—nothing the multitool couldn’t handle.
The machine itself:
It bears a striking resemblance to Metabo and Makita models—especially when you peer under the hood. Same form factor, same layout—makes you wonder about the OEM behind the scenes.
A fun shot:
This is actually the reflection of the blades off the planer’s base.
Starting Board:
In Progress – it’s incredibly smooth and feels like it’s already sanded:
“Still a few passes for these boards to go through, but it looks like this machine is earning its keep.”
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Wow Bill, what a great finish, amazing. I guess there’s a point to the helical blade, so I’m glad you didn’t listen to me!
Staying on topic here !
I bet this was probably cheaper than Bill’s cheap tools!
I think your correct but the problem is there is not one person in 100,000 that know how to properly use one or sharpen/hone the blade. 
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In the end, It’s more about being ready to enroll in Sean’s Trestle Summer MasterClass, isn’t it?
It was quite a difficult decision to not get the same robust appearing Dewalt thicknesser with the 4 point screw levitation. Here in Oz, Dewalt’s competition only have two screws and 4 rigid posts. If you look at the following photos the competition’s internals look quite similar. That was the impetus to seriously look at the FindBuy Tool product.
I’ll keep you abreast of how it’s holding up over time.
When it comes time to replace standard blades it might be worthwhile considering this company’s aftermarket helical blade kit.
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If it was me I would have used a drum sander, same general shape but the “blades” and way way less expensive , and I’m betting the glue will eat the blades up
just like a razor-knife - patience, 60°, file, leather-belt.
That was my worry too Pete. So I got as much liquid nails off as could with the multi-machine. The glue only started to lift once the friction got hot enough to start some smoke. It was a tedious morning and afternoon.
I have a Byrnes Model Machine thickness sander that is quite useful as I used it in my Not the MIK project, but the condition and grooving of the jarrah hardwood boards would have taken ages. The Byrnes machine loved the softer cedar though.
I like the idea that each blade can be rotated 3 more times before being replaced.
I think I/we may know maybe 3 in 300,000 ?
Rooster would know, but he’s one in 1,000,000, so I guess that proves your point. Because you’d need 10.0001 Roosters to disprove it.
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