The model I have uses a four-row spiral carbide cutter head, which is new to me. All the planers I've ever used had tool steel cutter blades; this one uses lots of little square carbide “chips” like the one shown at right. These chips are just over 1/2" square, and can be rotated (“indexed”) to used any one of the four sides as the cutting edge. Wood run through this planer has a subtle pattern showing in the planed face, just barely visible but definitely “feelable”. A couple of passes with 400 grit sandpaper and it's gone, though. This seems a very small price to pay for all the advantages: no sharpening (yay!), easy (and inexpensive) “blade” replacement, and no subtle alignment or calibration issues.
The painters will be here today to paint my office and the baseboard for Debbie's agility court. Hopefully the tile floor will go into my office early next week...
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