Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 34
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    28

    Default Hammer C3 31 -Must tell Someone!

    Had to tell someone - tried to tell SHMBO but the eyes glazed over and the conversation moved on.

    Just picked up a C3 31 unused and still in the packing for $7k it has a 2 metre table but no outrigger the only thing is that it was bought in 2002 and put in a shed and not even plugged in until the other day.

    This wasn't a total impulse buy, actually part of a bigger plan to set up my workshop.

    It all started with the house we are just about to build and as it is a traditional design any suggestion of using aluminium windows would have ended in divorce so I popped a provisional window and door schedule into one of the window manufacturers to get a feeling for the costs etc--the feeling not good with the quote in the region of $60k and that was using Meranti!

    So to cut a long story short I said that I would build a door and if that passed through the QA dept (managed by SWMBO) I would take on the job. Well having overcome the first hurdle I purchased the wood (NG Rosewood) DAR to size and have made all of the external doors (5 sets of french windows, laundry door ,a 5 panel bifold + 3 panel one, all 2400mm high).

    Designed and did the quantities for the windows and started to cost the timber using the doors as an example and converting back to a cubic metre rate and it was at this point I found out how much it was costing for the DAR timber. The timber for the windows was to cost $9400 using an average cost ($5700 cu m, calculated from my invoice) or approximately $3500 if I buy rough sawn.

    Well there was the justifcation I will let you know how I go.

    If there any of you wise folks out there that have this model of machine and there are any "watch out fors" then I would love to hear them.

    Great forum for me its now taken over from ebay!

    jeff............

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Towradgi
    Posts
    4,835

    Default

    Jeff, no photos . . . no proof, we need to drool

    Now what else can you get thru the MfW&F?
    Pat
    Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Darkest NSW
    Posts
    3,197

    Default

    Jeff - was that the one at Felder?? Bit too pricey for me

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    28

    Default Picked it one

    Mr Brush

    I was actually looking at a new one but was finding hard to justify the $16k+ after you had bought a few bits and pieces so this opportunity looked ok.

    My only concern was the change in technology as the model was upgraded in 2006 but after a bit of research the changes were:
    • an upgraded crosscut and rip fences
    • the spindle was now 4 speed
    • the colour changed
    • The spindle fence was slightly downgraded with only the outbound fence having fine adjustment
    I can live with the changes.

    Interestingly enough a well used one sold on eBay recently for $5k.

    It wont arrive for a few days but looking forward to having a play.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Darkest NSW
    Posts
    3,197

    Default

    Jeff - secondhand ones tend not to come on the market very often, so I'd say you got a good buy. The current C3/31 would be on my shopping list if that big lotto win came in.....

    There might be a little corrosion on the tables after being in storage for so long, but that 's easily fixed.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    28

    Default Fingers crossed for Lotto!

    Hi Mr Brush,

    I was concerned about corrosion but I went out and crawled over the machine for a couple of hours before I made my final decision and the machine actually looked new.

    The tables are coated with grease and a sort of greaseproof brown paper is applied to them at the factory and I was told that this paper had been absorbed into the grease and it took them three days to clean it off. The tables are as good as new which I was obviously happy with.

    I have little experience with the spindle and of course hear all of the stories of horrific injuries that this device has inflicted on people so I will be doing a bit of research before using it.

    I have used routers both hand held and table mounted for yearsI will use the spindle because it will allow me to do jobs that would defeat the average router. For example it will allow me to mill my own floor boards (Grey iron gum) for my decks. To that end I have invested in a power feeder to firstly make sure that my hands cant get near the cutters and secondly get that continuous feed that eliminates the start and stop marks that are so hard to avoid when routing 2500mm styles on a router table.

    Any advice on this machine will be gratefully received. I thought the advice that I got from Stefan at Felder was good and that was to only use the spindle in the mornings and not use the rest of the machine after 5pm. He was talking about safety/alertness etc. though I am sure that my neighbours would agree with him from a noise perspective.

    The machine also came with three Felder professional blades and two spare sets of planner blades.

    I have added a mobility kit and a scriber + more blades as I do a bit of panel work. So Felder did alright out of me in the end.


    jeff.............

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
    Age
    69
    Posts
    3,925

    Default

    Big Bubba, does that machine have F-rails on the various bits?

    Also, consider joining the Yahoo group Felder Owner's Group, for Felder/Hammer/Format4. There are a lot of talented and friendly folks who freely share tips and projects.

    I own a Felder CF731, love it. I bought it half price second hand too, barely used.

    Does the Hammer have provision for the counters in the handwheels for elevation/angles etc?

    Greg

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Hi Greg,

    Did have a quick look at the CF731 as I walked through the showroom and whilst there is a family resembence the Hammer is definitely the poor cousin. I owned an Altendorf a few years ago and the quality of the CF731 was reminiscent of it. Loved the X roll table.

    To answer your question re the counters - yes there is one installed on the thicknesser which I saw as a bonus. Not sure whether I will bother with any more as I have a digital height guage that I got from Carbatech and I use it to set up my routers in the router tables. There is also an interesting device that you attached to the saw blade magnetically that supposedly gives a very accurate angle readout so might try that.

    There are some F-Rails on the planing field because I considered an extension table, not sure if any others. There is an extension table on the spindle out table that can also be attached to the sliding table. When it arrives and I start\ to use it I will find out what I really need.

    Thanks for the heads up on the user group I will go and pay a visit.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
    Age
    69
    Posts
    3,925

    Default

    BB: cool on the F-rails. You can make your own extension tables and accessories using 40 X 12mm steel bar, or the 40 X 40mm aluminium extrusions from Maytec or Item. They end up being so handy...I only have my outrigger on maybe half the time with these add-ons. You can even make a router table that hangs off the back (or front) if you so desire (for use with the slider).

    WRT to the angle gauge: I bought a Wixey from an English ebay seller...I think it was about $59.00 shipped. It is remarkable. I have cross checked mine against my Starrett machinist's bevel protractor and it is exact, to within the limits of the protractor's resolution: 5 minutes of arc, or just less than 0.1 degree). I have the angle counter in my saw's handwheel, but now use the wixey gizmo instead.

    One thing you'll want to check is the internal dust collection hose from the saw arbor to the outlet port. Felder genuine hose has a 2-3 year life max before it starts to self-destruct (owing, I'm told, to the fire-retardant added to the plastic per Euro regs)

    What else can I say? Time to go back to ebay and hunt for spindle moulder cutters. Look for a rebate head at least, then a universal head. Avoid the CMT aluminium ones-there were at least three of those on this forum alone that failed at speed

    Greg

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Hi Greg,

    The cost of the felder extension tables is what put me off buting one because I thought I could fabricate something once I have the machine in my shed. Never been one to reinvent the wheel so I might prevail on you in the near future to give me a few pointers.

    Interesting that you mentioned tooling for the spindle because I have none and have been googling about looking at things. I did wonder aboutthe ali heads. I will probably buy a new universal head just to have something to have a go with but I have to make 50 raised panels about 280 x 700 so will most likely get a set that can be used to make doors as well then I can use it in the future to make doors/drawer fronts etc.

    Thanks for the info re the internal extracter hose - I will get them to check it before they deliver the machine. I am waiting for a mobility set to be fitted as I am so tight for room here that I have got to be able to move it about.

    Isnt it good how we embrace the new technology (eg Wixey) to fine tune something that has been around from the Roman times (not my particular model, I ment the concept).

    jeff
    ps Pat I will post some pictures when it arrives ........

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
    Age
    69
    Posts
    3,925

    Default

    Hi Jeff...You might be better off getting an ebay pallet jack for mobility. At least then you can also shift other stuff around in the shop, like bandsaws etc. (and pallets of offcuts! )

    If Felder haven't installed the mobility thing yet gat a shaper cutter block instead, and you should be at abut the same money total.

    My Felder has the mobility kit...I don't use it anymore now that I have a jack.

    Greg

    Then again, its one more thing to get in the way when you are not using it, unlike the mobility kit.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    nsw
    Age
    52
    Posts
    595

    Default

    Jeff, as per Greg's advice. Use a pallet jack. much better option for similar money off ebay (or graysonline).

    I've a wixey knockoff angle gauge, as well as the readouts on my kf700 handwheels. The wixey knockoff is in constant use. The readouts on the handwheels - umm, I think I've looked at them a couple of times.

    Both the Hammer and Felder ranges are awesome products. You'll be a pig in mud. have fun!

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Hi Timbernut

    Thanks for the advice but I have commited to the mobility kit which is costing me $296.

    I have owned a pallet jack before and it was incredably useful but until I move to my new house (start to build in Aug/Sept) with a bigger workshop I am so tight for space that this will be just another thing to put somewhere.

    On the subject of shaper cutter blocks after I got the prices from Felder I contacted Mark at Henry Bros and whilst they are mentioned a lot on the forum in respect of bandsaw blades they are also great for shaper cutter blocks etc at about half the price of others and high quality as well.

    The 3 phase point goes in next Thursday and the machine the following Monday so by the end of June will be annoying the neighbours.

    jeff..........

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
    Age
    69
    Posts
    3,925

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Big Bubba View Post
    Hi Timbernut

    Thanks for the advice but I have commited to the mobility kit which is costing me $296.

    ....
    That's a really fair price for that. I was sure that it was $500+ a few years ago. Obviously not.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Rockhampton
    Age
    62
    Posts
    2,236

    Default felder hammer

    Well done on the purchase BB
    I have a AD531, a B3 winner comfort and the latest gadget is a f38 feeder.
    The feeder is a great bit of gear for any sort of continuos feeding, specially on anything long.
    Bit concerned about the CMT ali universal head, What have been the problems with them?
    Peter.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Hammer
    By Wyld One in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 8th May 2009, 04:10 AM
  2. My Old Hammer
    By gilbo in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 6th March 2009, 07:49 AM
  3. Hammer A3-41
    By diana in forum JOINTERS, MOULDERS, THICKNESSERS, ETC
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 24th July 2008, 07:35 PM
  4. Impact Hammer vs Rotary Hammer Drill
    By Burnsy in forum HAND TOOLS - POWERED
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 17th October 2007, 12:22 AM
  5. If I had a hammer...
    By HappyHammer in forum HAND TOOLS - POWERED
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 30th July 2004, 10:58 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •