Combo jointer / planer recommendation

[Patrick Pearce]

Wondering the community thoughts on recommendations on jointer/planer combo machines. I was leaning heavily toward the Hammer A3 41, but started reading about some qa/qc issues over the last year or so. Then started looking at the SCM Minimax FS 41C with the Teresa blades, but having trouble getting feedback from a local supplier. I know CWI out of Winnipeg has a model as well but not sure on quality. I am located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

[Lisa Starr]

I have a newer A3-31 and like it. No quality issues and it works like a dream. I have the Silent Power head and it produces a great finish.

[Derek Cohen]

Patrick, I have a Hammer A3-31 as well. It has performed flawlessly over the 7 years I have had it. Changed a few carbide inserts in the “silent head”, which is really pretty quiet. Change over is pretty stress-free.

If you go for one, make sure you also order the digital gauge with it.

I have not found that the bed extensions are needed, and mine runs without them.

https://i.postimg.cc/mDvStWyh/9a.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Becker]

I could be happy with Hammer/Felder or SCM/Minimax...all good machines that do what they do. I own the latter and love Tersa. I do wish I had bought the larger 410mm machine, but at the time, I got a smokin' deal on the 350mm machine. (no longer made)

[William Chain]

I am in the group of new A3-41 owners (thread earlier this year when the container arrived stateside), and after a visit by a Felder tech to do the initial setup, my machine is amazing. Some come dialed in perfect from the factory, some don’t. Mine was the latter but the tech got it where it should be. Get the dial indicator whatever you do. Well worth it. No quality issues for my machine. I will say wax them beds very well. Then wax them again.

[Mike Wilkins]

Another pleased A3-41 owner here. No problems at all with the machine which was dialed in and ready to go right out of the well built crate.
I did not get the dial indicator with it but it is on the soon to list. Leaves a very smooth, ready for 120 grit right off the machine.
You will love the 16" capacity and power.

[Richard Coers]

This comes up all the time. There has to be some discussion on the search function. I found at least 8 and stopped counting.

[Warren Lake]

ill be the odd guy here with old SCM stuff. 60 year old machines 1,280 lbs. Prefer heavier machines. Added bonus they came from the two best cabinetmakers I knew.

[ChrisA Edwards]

Had my Hammer A3-31, from new, for about 3 years now.

Was perfectly dialed in as delivered, works great and is quiet in both jointing and especially planing compared to my old Dewalt 735.

This was my first woodworking tool that went over the $3K price tag, so I was a little apprehensive, but this was one of my best purchases.

[Jamie Buxton]

The best machine for you may be the one you can actually acquire before 2023. Read about shipping times on big machines. They've gone crazy. For instance, read Eric Loza's post about Felder/Hammer machines.

[Jim Becker]

Jamie makes a good point...as part of your research, check on lead times with each manufacturer for the machine(s) you are interested in as they are all good tools and the "tool in hand" is the best tool.

[David Jurincie]

I am very disappointed with Jet. I ordered a Jet JJP-12HH planer/jointer the first week of January and every time the estimated delivery date nears, they push it out again. The last date was June 12th and when I called Woodcraft, they just moved it out a month and a half to July 29th. I Ordered several pieces of equipment in January including a wood mill and every other manufacturer (Woodland Mills, Saw Stop, JessEm) has been able to hit their estimated time within a few weeks.

[Jim Becker]

There are still a lot of cargo ships sitting off the left coast and waiting to be unloaded in addition to manufacturing challenges. Either or both of those factors...and other reasons...are what's causing these delays.

[Derek Arita]

I have a MM FS30 Smart. The Tersa head is great, but make sure your tables are flat before you sign off.

[David Publicover]

I have a MM FS30 Smart. The Tersa head is great, but make sure your tables are flat before you sign off.

That’s probably good advice for any brand. My FS30 was good to go right out of the box. I really like the Tersa head as well.

[roger wiegand]

Couldn't be happier with my SCM FS41 Elite S.

Well, perhaps. I would rather have had the Euro guard rather than the enormous porkchop, and I wish the height adjuster had pre-set stops so you didn't have to stand there pushing the button to move the table up and down for changeover. But it joints and planes perfectly. Mine has the segmented spiral cutter head, which works great for me and the highly figured wood I like to work with.

[Erik Loza]

Jamie makes a good point...as part of your research, check on lead times with each manufacturer for the machine(s) you are interested in as they are all good tools and the "tool in hand" is the best tool.

My prediction is that lead times will continue to be a challenge through 2022. For better or worse, things will be much easier once we (consumers) accept the fact that this is the “new normal”. One of the other reps and I were talking about this recently: We both feel like we’ve been pushing rocks uphill for the last six months with regard to convincing customers that no, this is not some sales gimmick or used car tactic. True: It was the case in the past that if you told us, “Oh, I’m just gathering info now but want machines in my new shop in 6 months”, we could reply, “Great: Call me when you’re ready”, and you would have a machine. Well, those days are gone and if you truly want one of these machines, you need to be doing something about it NOW. And folks still seem to be in denial about that fact: “I’ll wait take my chances”, etc. Guess who loses? You. So, I guess the point is, there was a time when you could be casual about making decisions like this but the reality is, now, you must be serious.

Straight talk, regardless of who you are looking at:

-“I’ll hold out for a used machine”: Then you will likely never own one. The very few that do pop up, sellers seem to be treating like the housing market and think their machine is made of 24K gold or something.

-“I’ll wait til things settle down and then make my decision”: Fine, but realize that will probably be 2-3 years down the road.

-“I’m worried that if I place an order, it will keep getting pushed back and pushed back”: Valid concern but there is literally nothing any of us can do about that, so the sooner you accept it, the sooner you get your machine. We (US reps) get weekly updates from the US Export Manager in Austria. The word he uses is “parked”. There are entire containers of A3’s that are mostly done or could be done in short order but those containers are parked, since the various suppliers we source out bits and bobs like fasteners, knobs, aluminum extrusions, etc, from, are slow/late in getting those things to us. Felder has the manpower to get the machines built in a normal timeframe but there is literally nothing we can do to hurry things up. It just is what it is.

So, my suggestion to anyone in the market, no matter the brand, is to frame this process as “getting your spot in line” rather than “having my machine”, then plan backwards accordingly. In my opinion, to think of it otherwise is setting yourself up for disappointment. I hope this all makes sense.

Erik

[Patrick Pearce]

Thanks for the insight folks! Seems to be a fair number of Hammer fans - glad to hear that the qa/qc issues may be isolated. To Erik’s point, I totally agree - the used market for large woodworking tools is insane here. Why I decided to look new.

[Jacob Mac]

My FS30 is my worst quality tool in my shop. But it is also the most expensive, so I have that going for me.

[Prashun Patel]

Well said.

[Robert London]

Combo Machines in that 4-7k price range aren’t made to next level industrial grade tolerances. They are designed for the weekend warrior or semi professional.

There’s a lot of hit and miss. One person gets and awesome machine, and the other gets one that isn’t. Which is why reviews vary a lot. Someone has one to .002 and the other guy has a .12 dip. A 1000 pound machine ain’t a motorcycle. You can’t take it to the dealer and have them check it out. It can be very frustrating for woodworkers who plunk down that kinda money.

[Rod Wolfy]

I am very disappointed with Jet. I ordered a Jet JJP-12HH planer/jointer the first week of January and every time the estimated delivery date nears, they push it out again. The last date was June 12th and when I called Woodcraft, they just moved it out a month and a half to July 29th. I Ordered several pieces of equipment in January including a wood mill and every other manufacturer (Woodland Mills, Saw Stop, JessEm) has been able to hit their estimated time within a few weeks.

I had a Jet JJP-12HH and it was great! I ordered an A3-41 in June of 2020, with a fall delivery date. My buddy bought my Jet and has been using it weekly since.

Covid. Delivery on the Hammer was changed to December, then early spring, then May, then June. The boat has finally come into port; however, I'm out of town for a month, so I can't even schedule delivery until July. Felder/Hammer (and lots of worldwide suppliers) are waiting on parts from upstream. Travel Trailers are being purchased right now with a delivery date into 2023! Lots of units sitting on the side of the production lines, waiting on small parts from other vendors.

If you order the Hammer or SCM right now, you'll be lucky to get it in 6 months. But if you wait?... It could be much, much longer.