Quick change knives, helical and quality

I also currently have a 735 and I agree, it does one seriously fantastic job of making wood smooth. That said, I always sand mine before I apply the finish. Given the rave reviews of the Byrd Shelix helical cutter heads I doubt those leave voids. I am fixing to upgrade to a bigger more heavy duty planer very soon, but not positive yet which one. Based on what I have read and heard it will probably be one with a Shelix head. They make the Shelix for the 735, but it costs as much as the planer and you are correct, it really isn’t a heavy duty machine.

Your going to really limit yourself by looking for quick change only planers

With proper jigs knife changing is very easy

Of coarse the planer will have a little to do with that by its design

Its been my experience that the larger the machine,,,,,the easier it is,,,,,( there is reasoning behind this statement)

I have not seen any HH give as nice if finish as a straight knifes. I have noticed the same thing on soft woods.And sometime go back to my jointer and take a very lite pass. I’m anti sanding.

Does your planer head look like this?

-- Aj

http://dispozablade.com sells a retrofit system
that converts standard cutter heads to disposable
insert knives. I assume they work well and
change out quickly. I haven’t looked at the
cost.

I’ve used a Tersa head planer and I now have
one with a Leitz Wigo head. The Tersa knives are
cheaper, probably because there are so many
Tersa heads out there. With this style of knife
if the knives get nicked one can easily be shifted
sideways a little so a line doesn’t show on the
wood.

Felder has a proprietary disposable straight knife
system.

William Ng has a great video on sharpening knives for a smooth finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUoEPgcqUFc

It doesn’t really answer your concerns but it’s time well spent and falls into the “Any other suggestions?”
category.

May you have continued success going forward.