Thread: is Felder really worth the extra? and other questions for home workshop

Is there a Minimax distributor in NZ?? I'd say a new Felder is way overkill.....

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Is there a Minimax distributor in NZ?? I'd say a new Felder is way overkill.....

I'd have to agree. Sorta like Festool stuff...very nice, but not necessarily that much better than the competition to warrant the extra cost. Felder is more of a commercial or volume production orientated brand.

Anyway, think of all the other toys you can buy with the savings.

Craig

The situation may be different in NZ, but here in Oz there is enough used Felder gear around to almost make buying new stuff redundant. Often its being sold by companies who thought they could justify the cost of new Felder machines, but found out the hard way that they couldn't......

There are plenty of other mid-range options (and the Robland is just one of them) that will do 95% of the same work, to the same quality, for less than half the price of the equivalent Felder.

For example:

Used 1996 Felder BF641 Multi Combination in Emu Plains, NSW Price: $10,000 <46336>

Felder are a very high quality machine and built to last, so unless they have been absolutely flogged to death they are a good buy on the used market.

Albert,

Granted I don't know your situation but my first reaction is that a Felder would be overkill. Making tenons seems a priority so would a dedicated mortiser not perhaps be the best route to take? You've also pointed to a jointer/mortiser combo, so perhaps that would be a better route. Is your SOMAC a planer or thicknesser, or both? Perhaps a PT and mortiser combo such as the Hammer A3 41 or A3 31 would be enough?

Minimax sold by Gabbet are another option. I've dealt with Greg Hamilton at Gabbet and he's been extremely helpful in the past, although I've never bought through them so cannot comment on service beyond selling. They sell other gear too so it'd probably be worth dropping them a line or e-mail to see what they could offer.

G

Just get the CF 741 Professional, you will love it.

Sadly, if you are even asking the question. Unless you have lots of money you probably don't need it.

I have similar sized workshop 9x5m, with a similar purpose making furniture for sale. I am not sure if I would have enough room for a panel saw. I have done a lot with a festool guide rail saw, both with mdf and solid boards.
To rip an 8x4' on panel saw you need least 5m of clear space, with machines, benches and the odd project I know how limited space can be.
I just bought a small good quality cabinet saw, which I will be able to cut joints, boards etc on and still cut sheet material with rail saw.

Originally Posted by CMB

I'd have to agree. Sorta like Festool stuff...very nice, but not necessarily that much better than the competition to warrant the extra cost. Felder is more of a commercial or volume production orientated brand.

Anyway, think of all the other toys you can buy with the savings.

Craig

agreed, I probably will never need a Felder...

Originally Posted by GarethR

Albert,

Granted I don't know your situation but my first reaction is that a Felder would be overkill. Making tenons seems a priority so would a dedicated mortiser not perhaps be the best route to take? You've also pointed to a jointer/mortiser combo, so perhaps that would be a better route. Is your SOMAC a planer or thicknesser, or both? Perhaps a PT and mortiser combo such as the Hammer A3 41 or A3 31 would be enough?

Minimax sold by Gabbet are another option. I've dealt with Greg Hamilton at Gabbet and he's been extremely helpful in the past, although I've never bought through them so cannot comment on service beyond selling. They sell other gear too so it'd probably be worth dropping them a line or e-mail to see what they could offer.

G

Hi Gareth, my somac is a thicknesser only, I have considered a dedicated mortiser but it only makes mortises, how do I make tenon accurate and fast (experiecne will make it fast I suppose)? I have not thought about the Hammer A341 or A331, will have a look soon.

Unfortunately there is no Minimax agent in NZ...

Thanks for the input.

Originally Posted by Albert

Unfortunately there is no Minimax agent in NZ...

Look up Gabbett website. They are in Auckland and Christchurch.

Craig

Originally Posted by jrock_au

I have similar sized workshop 9x5m, with a similar purpose making furniture for sale. I am not sure if I would have enough room for a panel saw. I have done a lot with a festool guide rail saw, both with mdf and solid boards.
To rip an 8x4' on panel saw you need least 5m of clear space, with machines, benches and the odd project I know how limited space can be.
I just bought a small good quality cabinet saw, which I will be able to cut joints, boards etc on and still cut sheet material with rail saw.

I have thought about the Festool guide rail saw, but it seems a bit of time is required to set it up properly? when I cut panel I need to rip and resize constantly, hence the guide rail saw probably is not going to be suit my need.

Yeah I have thought about the panel saw and space issue, I might have to set up the machine close to the garage door but this means I can only cut panels when the garage door is open and its not raining...

I dont think I will need the 2400mm cutting capacity for the near future, but I like the 12 inch blade as i do need to cut wood greater than 90mm quite frequent.

Originally Posted by Albert

Hi Gareth, my somac is a thicknesser only, I have considered a dedicated mortiser but it only makes mortises, how do I make tenon accurate and fast (experiecne will make it fast I suppose)?

You can purchase tenon jigs that when used on a quality cabinet saw, create very accurate work. Tenons can also be done on a molder, cabinet saw or docking saw fitted with a dado blade, router table, and the list goes on. Just a well thought set-up and back blocking to prevent chip-out is sufficient.

As I eluded to above, $10-$15k can buy a lot of a machine, or it can buy numerous machines still of very good quality.

Craig.

Originally Posted by CMB

Look up Gabbett website. They are in Auckland and Christchurch.

Craig

oh yes they are! thanks for this will have a look if I get an opportunity.

I just found out today from a local furniture maker that Robland bought the Knapp a few years ago and transferred some technology to their new range, I might settle with a new Robland machine then

Albert,

As mentioned in my first post talk to Greg Hamilton at Gabbet (sell Minimax and other brands), he's been great in the past.

As Craig mentioned for tenons I'd think a decent TS, router or similar type jig would do the job.

I also think a panel saw of the size you're looking at getting, in the space you have might mean you have very little room to move. And anyway, does it ever not rain in Auckland?



G