Thread: Should I buy a combination machine

Originally Posted by Trentk

Hi Albert

Do you mind sharing what it is you make and what sort of time you put in a week?

hi Trent
I make production furniture. There is a market for NZ made furnitrue but not a big market. That's where I survive. I put in about 10hours production time a week on average. Sometimes maybe 20 hours a week. Sometimes 0 hours a week.

Thanks for all the replies. It seems that the combo option is the way to go given my small space. I'm leaning towards the Minimax Genius 26 against the Hammer mainly on price. The quality of each machine is similar so the Genius seems good value for money.

My only hesitation about going for a combo is that I have the JET planer/thicknesser combo 310 with helical cutters. The MM planer/thicknesser is 260 wide with traditional straight blades. Do members think I'm sacrificing a lot by losing the benefits of a wider bed and the cleaner, quieter of the helical cutters?

Rob

Originally Posted by Rob from Kew

Thanks for all the replies. It seems that the combo option is the way to go given my small space. I'm leaning towards the Minimax Genius 26 against the Hammer mainly on price. The quality of each machine is similar so the Genius seems good value for money.

My only hesitation about going for a combo is that I have the JET planer/thicknesser combo 310 with helical cutters. The MM planer/thicknesser is 260 wide with traditional straight blades. Do members think I'm sacrificing a lot by losing the benefits of a wider bed and the cleaner, quieter of the helical cutters?

Rob

How many times would you wish for a wider bed, very few I would think. The helical v's the Tersa (both machines come standard with the Tersa, helical on the Hammer is an extra and is where I had the problem. I even looked at buying the Genius and fitting an after market Byrd helical to it from Holbren in the US but decided against it. The Tersa system is awesome in its own way and it took me many weeks and annoying many people with questions before I made up my mind. I don't think the finish quality of either system is better one way or another by the way, it all comes down to what material you are going to put through it. If it is all dressed, clean timber then a Tersa is no handicap. Have a look at this...

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...-Head-Question

Originally Posted by Rob from Kew

Thanks for all the replies. It seems that the combo option is the way to go given my small space. I'm leaning towards the Minimax Genius 26 against the Hammer mainly on price. The quality of each machine is similar so the Genius seems good value for money.

My only hesitation about going for a combo is that I have the JET planer/thicknesser combo 310 with helical cutters. The MM planer/thicknesser is 260 wide with traditional straight blades. Do members think I'm sacrificing a lot by losing the benefits of a wider bed and the cleaner, quieter of the helical cutters?

Rob

why not buy a bigger MM combo with 310m planer/thicknessor and sell the existing Jet planner?
260mm is quite limiting, plus its a traditional blades... I have Tersa on mine and its a 410mm wide. I dont think I will ever go back to straight knives nor narrower planer.

Albert

Originally Posted by Albert

why not buy a bigger MM combo with 310m planer/thicknessor and sell the existing Jet planner?
260mm is quite limiting, plus its a traditional blades... I have Tersa on mine and its a 410mm wide. I dont think I will ever go back to straight knives nor narrower planer.

Albert

I second that, I have the silent power helical head on the hammer which is 300mm. it was my upgrade from a standard blade 6" jointer and the funny thing is I can actually talk or hear people talking while im planning with these blades and 300mm capacity is great i find it a great size to flatten boards.

Originally Posted by Albert

why not buy a bigger MM combo with 310m planer/thicknessor and sell the existing Jet planner?
260mm is quite limiting, plus its a traditional blades... I have Tersa on mine and its a 410mm wide. I dont think I will ever go back to straight knives nor narrower planer.

Albert

Albert, so I understand, you have the Tersa blades on the MM410? The C26 does come with the Tersa blades as does the C30. So I assume that you are happy with the Tersa blades?

Rob

There is nothing between the Tersa and a Helical in what comes out the other end 99.9% of the time, in fact in some ways the Tersa is better from users who have used both. The Tersa is a bit noisier but they are low profile knives and MM have taken design steps in the machine to further reduce the noise. I am still not convinced I made the best decision when I bought the Hammer but it is what it is and we have to accept that.

Originally Posted by Rob from Kew

Albert, so I understand, you have the Tersa blades on the MM410? The C26 does come with the Tersa blades as does the C30. So I assume that you are happy with the Tersa blades?

Rob

Hi Rob. I have a Robland NX410, it has optional upgrade to Tersa. I wish I had spend the extra and got myself the minimax 410 elite. The mm410 cutter block is bigger and has 4 knives, I only have 3 on mine.

I am too happy with the Tersa, it take less than 1 minute to change each blade. Slide on and slide off. They cost $20-$40 for each knife which will last many many hours. And each knife has 2 sides, the turnover of my workshop is $40k Aud/$50k nzd this year and I only had to change the blade once. I havnt tried Helical head on a 300mm wide Jarrah but it is very noisey with Tersa when I try to take more than 0.8mm off on a 300mm wide Jarrah.

Buy the biggest planner with Tersa cutterblock your budget can stretch to if you can make money out of it.

Can anyone give me an idea of the best price they got on a c3?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by routermaniac

Can anyone give me an idea of the best price they got on a c3?

There are no substantial discounts on Hammer or Felder equipment as a general rule. Small discounts are possible but that's as far as it goes. If you are waiting for big discount specials it is going to be a long wait, I think they do something once a year at wood shows in the region of 5% IIRC.

Id say what i paid for my c3 but im affraid it would just annoy people so im going to say 10k they retail for with a few options. 2nd hand is another story.

Each quote I get is with 10% of at least. There's either a xmas, easter or show special and the prices are offered.

Thanks everyone. I thought 10% would be reasonable although what I was offered was 5%. A little steep I might look at Minimax


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi All, came across this old thread, am currently looking at a Hammer/Minimax/Robland combination machine and was wondering if any out there could give me the benefit of their more recent experience with these units. They all come with a spiral option and whilst am conscious of price am thinking long term so do want a unit that will suit my longer term needs. The Robland seems the best option but is also the most expensive by some distance. Will be most using to make benchtops and tables from recycled Australian hardwoods so the ability to rip and thickness lengths of up to around 2400mm effectively is my main priority.

Would appreciate any thoughts on the above.'

Cheers,

Rudy