Thread: Hammer A3-31 feed problem?

Me too after not too long. Thought something dreadful had happened.

Wax the thicky table - she'll be right!

Haha, thanks FF, simple as that 'ey!? I'll try it out tomorrow and let you know how I go

Usually solves the problem.
Also check the splines on the infeed roller, sometimes the grooves get clogged up, especially If the timber has not been moving through.
Resinous timbers cause the most problem in this regard.

How did you go Peter?

Well, I waxed the thicknesser table, then I waxed the jointer table, then while I was at it I waxed the bandsaw table, and I eyed off the TS but there was too much c*#p piled up on it.

Haven't put anything big through but a few small sticks I am working on went through like a breeze. I'm certainly satisfied that it's working as it should, thanks for the tip.

I find I have more issues with the Felder thicky than the Carbatec thicky in regard to hangups, I suspect it might be the difference between a table with rollers as apposed to one without, that being said tho the Felder/Hammer is a nice machine and works perfectly if the table is lubed with something, I rub a candle onto my table then buff of at the first sign of any reluctance to go thru, fixes it every time.

On a different note; you do want to make sure to unhook the infeed after you have finished using it, the pressure of the engagement onto the drive wheel will leave little depressions in the drive wheel and this possibly will give feed problems.



Pete

So how does the Carbatec work if it doesn't have rollers?

For wax I used Ubeaut traditional wax, I always have it handy in the shed anyway. It works well for drawer runners too. I don't have much experience with proper machinery, but I did wax the TS when I first bought it a few years ago, and I've waxed the old 6" jointer tables before when timber got a bit sluggish, it just didn't occur to me to wax the thicknesser table for some reason

Thanks for tip about the feed roller engagement, I'd read somewhere not to leave it engaged while jointing but hadn't thought about the effect while sitting idle. I just went out and checked it and sure enough I'd left the roller engaged as thicknessing was the last thing I did. It's probably even more important for someone like me who only gets into the shed occasionally, so the roller could be sitting there in the engaged position for several weeks.

Haven't given the machine a good workout yet. All I've done is some small bits of blackwood for some bedside lamps, and I just did some Jarrah strips down to 4mm thick for a thin edging frame around a mosaic the missus did. Thank goodness I've got 4 horsepower!!

The Carbatec does have rollers, which is the one that gives less grief re getting boards hungup.

It's easy to forget that the lever is still engaged, I'm a bit OCD about and check it every so often until I'm sure it's off if I have been using it, if I was full on OCD that's the sort of thing that would drive you mad. I'm having to resist going and checking it now, I'm pretty sure it's off, I'll check a bit later if I remember, I know what will happen now, will forget and just hop into bed and then think farrk I didn't check it then wrestle with will I go and check it or I think it's off it'll be all right, arrghh, I'll go and check it!!!!

Another thing with your Hammer, (I think it is the same as the Felder) the little lever that flips over when you have lifted up the tables to prevent falling, make sure they locate in the locking position and if a board gets a bit sideways the board can run into the locking lever (on the outfeed side) and jamb, just something to keep an eye on.

Another handy thing to have is a suicide board, they are good if made from some melamine as that in itself is slippery and even more slick with a bit of wax on it, I made mine the full width of the table and the full length which also if left in position helps to keep the rust off the table.



Pete

Originally Posted by pjt

It's easy to forget that the lever is still engaged, I'm a bit OCD about and check it every so often until I'm sure it's off if I have been using it, if I was full on OCD that's the sort of thing that would drive you mad. I'm having to resist going and checking it now, I'm pretty sure it's off, I'll check a bit later if I remember, I know what will happen now, will forget and just hop into bed and then think farrk I didn't check it then wrestle with will I go and check it or I think it's off it'll be all right, arrghh, I'll go and check it!!!!

Dammit Pete, now I'm twitchy......and i haven't checked mine for, ah, quite some days...or so.

Mind you, I have found that the knocking noise settles down after a while......

DAMHIKT.

Now let me be quite clear about this. Since the last post I have had time to sit out the back and consume a durrie. During this I realised that the shed was still unlocked, so of course I had to go down and lock it

Now a man would be a fool if he didn't, with it it so recently brought to attention, check the feed position lever. Wouldn't he??

And......... BUGGERRRRRRR.......... at least 2-3 weeks since it was used too.....

Originally Posted by pjt

I find I have more issues with the Felder thicky than the Carbatec thicky in regard to hangups, I suspect it might be the difference between a table with rollers as apposed to one without, that being said tho the Felder/Hammer is a nice machine and works perfectly if the table is lubed with something, I rub a candle onto my table then buff of at the first sign of any reluctance to go thru, fixes it every time.

On a different note; you do want to make sure to unhook the infeed after you have finished using it, the pressure of the engagement onto the drive wheel will leave little depressions in the drive wheel and this possibly will give feed problems.



Pete

Thanks for the advice Pete. At the risk of seeming pedantic, is it just me or does it look like you're saying the Carbatec machine doesn't have rollers?

As to the issue of the engagement lever, I guess you blokes have seen that electronic doodad that has some kind of flashing light which tells you if the lever is right. Can't remember what it's called now, it was just one of 5 million videos and articles I looked at while trying to decide on a machine. At the time I thought..."that's going a bit far, all you have to do is remember to change the lever"...now I'm not so sure

Originally Posted by 3 toed sloth

As to the issue of the engagement lever, I guess you blokes have seen that electronic doodad that has some kind of flashing light which tells you if the lever is right. Can't remember what it's called now, it was just one of 5 million videos and articles I looked at while trying to decide on a machine. At the time I thought..."that's going a bit far, all you have to do is remember to change the lever"...now I'm not so sure

i can always remember to turn it off after use easily enough ... my fear is always not turning it back on when needed ... to which end i have a piece of paper with "feed disengaged" written on it which i tack to the table with a magnet ... same as one for the bandsaw with "tension off"


regards david

Originally Posted by 3 toed sloth

Thanks for the advice Pete. At the risk of seeming pedantic, is it just me or does it look like you're saying the Carbatec machine doesn't have rollers?

As to the issue of the engagement lever, I guess you blokes have seen that electronic doodad that has some kind of flashing light which tells you if the lever is right. Can't remember what it's called now, it was just one of 5 million videos and articles I looked at while trying to decide on a machine. At the time I thought..."that's going a bit far, all you have to do is remember to change the lever"...now I'm not so sure

The Carbatec is the one fitted with the rollers.

I haven't seen the doodad you speak of, your thinking sounds like the same thing as me with the external indicator light that tells me the VSD is on, I know it's on cos the Dust C. is on and running, What do I need a light for?....it is both annoying and helpful, annoying when I look at it and I see it on and I know it's on or it starts me on the....mmm VSD is on but DC not will I turn VSD off? Am I going to be machining something soonish? Might be yeh I'm gonna do this next then end up not
helpful at the end of play and about shut the door and I see it's on...ahhh I'll turn that off....Heh Yeh


Pete

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Now let me be quite clear about this. Since the last post I have had time to sit out the back and consume a durrie. During this I realised that the shed was still unlocked, so of course I had to go down and lock it

Now a man would be a fool if he didn't, with it it so recently brought to attention, check the feed position lever. Wouldn't he??

And......... BUGGERRRRRRR.......... at least 2-3 weeks since it was used too.....

Yep, I know that dreaded sinking feeling, but on the bright side it's only been some weeks not months.


Pete