Mini-Max Pre-Gloat!

[Chris Padilla]

:D Well, I officially have these two beauties on the way and I couldn't contain myself to not post about it! :D

They are the FS 41 Elite 16" Jointer/Planer combo and the MM20 20" bandsaw.

There aren't enough :D s available to describe my feelings! :D

The J/P is brand new and I picked it up at the Sacramento show last Saturday (5/1). I will have to play the waiting game for it to be shipped to me.

The bandsaw is just slightly used and I will pick it up from a guy in Sacramento on Sunday (5/16). I am quite happy with the deal I made on this little beauty. He is moving up to a MM24 or perhaps even bigger he told me.

Certainly I will post more pics when I get the real machines and do some serious gloating! :rolleyes:

[Alan Tolchinsky]

A big congrats to you Chris. It looks like Christmas has come early at your house. :) I have a MM16 and it's a great BS. It is ruggedly built and seems like it will last forever. Good luck with the new toys, ah I mean tools. Alan in Md.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Chris, Green.......just ......Green.........Envy.......

[Chris Pasko]

Awesome Chris, you will love your new tools! Now why couldnt they have sent them to me as well? heh.

[Byron Trantham]

Gee Chris, I'd be all smiles just have enough FLOOR SPACE to install these beauties! :D

CONGRATULATIONS

[John Miliunas]

The membership of this forum is starting to read like the "Who's Who of High-End WW Tools"! :eek: Congrats on the new toys, Chris! :D BUT, at the same time, you sure DO know how to make guys like me (in the low-rent district) feel pretty inadequate! :mad: Oh well...Guess if I could, I'd be doing the same thing! Now, if you'll excuse me; I need to go feed the squirrels living in my little jointer. I'll be needing to use it later and want to make sure I have enough power to get through the 1x2 Pine! :rolleyes: Seriously, congrats! :cool:

[Jesse Marquez]

Chris,

May your BS blade track well and your fly wheels be coplanar. A little humor.
Let me know how the BS performs. I'm in the market for one.What was the lead time on arrival.

Just curious
Jesse

[Jim Becker]

Ho, ho, ho!! What's not to like about that?? Excellent choices, if I do say so, myself! :p :p :p :D

[Chris Padilla]

Thanks, Guys! :eek:

Alan/Ken, Christmas has indeed come early. The LOML gave me the green light and I punched it...pure traction, too...no spinning of the tires...front end jumped 6 inches! :cool:

Chris, no chance for the MM20 to show but who knows about the FS41! :p I'm not sure where the port is for Mini-Max...Houston, maybe?

Floor space! :mad: Floor space? :( Floor space... :o :confused: My garage needs serious work, Byron. Even with the "space saving" J/P combo, I still have a lot of work to do in there. Everything's on wheels, however...everything....

John, I thought you had a nice spinny-thing? ;) I'll let you in on a little secret...it is called a HELOC! :rolleyes:

Jim, thanks for all your help on the BS deal! Check's in the mail. ;)

[Bruce Page]

YOU DIRTY DOG!!

</O:p

Seriously, congratulations on the new equipment!! I’m still trying to talk myself into buying the MM16 :( :o :eek:

[John Miliunas]

John, I thought you had a nice spinny-thing? ;) I'll let you in on a little secret...it is called a HELOC! :rolleyes:

LMAO!!! :D Mine should be coming through pretty soon, too! Sadly, the bulk of it is for house repairs/upgrades, though I'm trying to talk Momma into letting me upgrade to an 8" Grizz for the jointer. That little guy is OK, but them poor squirrels..... :( Again, congrats! :cool:

[Chris Padilla]

Chris,

May your BS blade track well and your fly wheels be coplanar. A little humor.
Let me know how the BS performs. I'm in the market for one.What was the lead time on arrival.

Just curious
Jesse
Thanks, Jesse. Lead time, last I checked, for the J/P was 30-45 days and the BS is already here...I just need to get out to Sacramento and pick it up. I will do that on Sunday, May 16.

Keep an eye on the Mini-Max forum on Yahoo! Groups. That is exactly where I found my MM20. I got lucky and it turned out to be fairly (150 miles) local to me.

[Chris Padilla]

YOU DIRTY DOG!!



</O:p

Seriously, congratulations on the new equipment!! I’m still trying to talk myself into buying the MM16 :( :o :eek:
Pssst, Bruce. I have a 16" Walker-Turner BS located in Denver! :D :D

However, I think I'll let dear old Dad have fun with it for a spell. I guess I don't need it now, do I? :confused: :p

[Bruce Page]

Pssst, Bruce. I have a 16" Walker-Turner BS located in Denver! :D :D

However, I think I'll let dear old Dad have fun with it for a spell. I guess I don't need it now, do I? :confused: :p
Let's see....Denver's only about 5hrs away.......I would be interested, let me know. :cool:

[Mike Palmer]

Chris: Congratulations on the new tools! There is nothing better than the smell of new cast iron in the shop. You gonna love the capacity of the J/P machine. Wide boards will no longer be a problem.

FYI....You might need to remember to go easy on the Sheet eating grin. Your neighbors are gonna think your using Viagra!!

[Todd Burch]

Chris - Nice "starter" jointer/planer!!! HA HA HA!! I can only say that as I got you beat by 4". I hope it arrives in good condition from Austin, Texas.

Is the J/P single or 3 phase? I just went through the "hook up the Rotary Phase Converter" process. The RPC is working now, as is the new dust collector. I'm waiting on a new section of flex hose to hook it into the sytem - should be here Friday. WOO-HOO!!


Todd

[Chris Padilla]

Mike, yeah...mostly they'll be wondering about all the noise coming outa my garage! :D

Todd, you know what they say, "Things are always bigger in Texas." ;)

I believe the J/P is 4.8 HP single phase.

Now I guess it remains to be seen if I'll be wanting a shelical cutterhead. Your AD751 has 4 knives (Felder brand) and my FS41 has 3 knives (Tersa style). I bet I can change my blades faster than you!! :p

I look forward to your review.

[Rob Russell]

Chris - Nice "starter" jointer/planer!!! HA HA HA!! I can only say that as I got you beat by 4". I hope it arrives in good condition from Austin, Texas.

Is the J/P single or 3 phase? I just went through the "hook up the Rotary Phase Converter" process. The RPC is working now, as is the new dust collector. I'm waiting on a new section of flex hose to hook it into the sytem - should be here Friday. WOO-HOO!!

Todd

So Todd,

You've got the Rl160 wired up, huh? Did you at least turn on the sucker and ... did it suck? :)

Rob

[Todd Burch]

Rob, yes, it sucks. I've never heard a "whistle" across a 160mm (6¼") opening before, but the RL160 certainly does move some air. I think it will quiet down some once I connect it to my piping (ETA, Friday afternoon). It is definately an industrial machine. The first thing I will be looking for from the dust collector is for it to "spit shine" the interior of all my clear flex hose that is barely transparent now, due to the inability of the little Oneida system I had to pull everything through.

[John Weber]

Chris,

A big congrats, couldn't happen to a nicer guy - can I borrow your stuff? I don't seen any of those kind of upgrades in my future, but hey it's always nice to dream. I thought I had nice stuff until I found the Creek, holy cow, we like those guys accross the pond. ENJOY!

John

[Chris Padilla]

Thanks, John. You're welcome to come over any time and use it! :) You have a nice power feeder as I recall. That has been suggested to me for the jointer. We'll see!

:D

[Michael Perata]

...and I had to drive him back from Sacramento to San Jose, and then the dam Av's win the hockey thingy and he's yelling in my ear.

[Kelly C. Hanna]

Another huge score! I sure like that J/P!

[Jim Becker]

...a nice power feeder as I recall. That has been suggested to me for the jointer...
I'm not sure this would be a good idea...the power feeder would put downward pressure on material which you don't want to do if it distorts the lumber. You want the knives to flatten the board by shaving off the "high" spots. Your job is to guide the board across said knives and just keep it on the tables with minimal pressure. Now, for a shaper...absolutely. Does the work and keeps your hands far away from those scary cutters!

[Kent Cori]

Chris,

Congratulations from yet another fellow woodworker who is green with envy. I'm pretty sure the working surface on your J/P combo is larger than my first house. ;)

[John Weber]

Jim,

It is recommended the feeders go on the out feed table with all the wheels on the out feed side and light pressure. I've seen this done with excellent results. If you have a lot of stock to do it works great. Although I've not mounted my feeder to my jointer, I just don't do enough volume. As well as keeping your fingers farther from the cutter head, it also helps to provide a consistent cut. However, I think I will make a jig to use the feeder on my table saw at some point.

John

[Chris Padilla]

...and I had to drive him back from Sacramento to San Jose, and then the dam Av's win the hockey thingy and he's yelling in my ear.
You got the last laugh, Mr. Perata.... :mad:

[Chris Padilla]

Kelly/Kent, thanks...it should be fun.

One thing Jim B. pointed out to me is the absolute necessity for good, solid dust collection for these machines. I have the Bill Pentz/Clarke Echols kit sitting in boxes in one corner of the garage. I guess I now have motivation to get that thing put together and installed!

However, I have to do so some serious remodeling in the garage...I'm getting too many toys at once. I'm not sure the BMW will make it back in...EVER! :eek:

[Jim Becker]

I'm not sure the BMW will make it back in...EVER!Chris, it's just not normal to park a car in a garage unless you have a stand-alone woodworking shop. Frankly, it's almost treason! :p Now a tractor...that deserves a garage bay. After all, it's a power tool! :D

[Donnie Raines]

You know, when I first came on board here Chris was one of the first to tell me know gloats allowed. Wellllllllll, here he is with one of the kewelest gloats of all time. This just ain't right........

.....great score though!!... :mad: :p


Donnie Raines

[Chris Padilla]

Did I say that, Donnie?! :rolleyes:

It must've been PURE jealousy speaking at the time! :p

[Donnie Raines]

I thought that you had. In any event, this a convienent time for me to "vent" about you getting these new toys....and me not.... :(

..boy..that sounds really sorry....

Let us know how they are when you get those puppies up and running..


Donnie Raines

[Jim Becker]

I thought that you had. In any event, this a convienent time for me to "vent" about you getting these new toys....and me not....
Donnie, Mini Max's phone number is 866 WRK WOOD (975-9663). They'd love to take your order! :cool:

[Chris Padilla]

Jim Strain's email address: jstrain@minimax-usa.com

Very nice man...he'll get you a deal! :)

[Mark Bachler]

Got a shop full of Mini Max and the more I use them the better I like them.


http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=129991425

[Chris Padilla]

Ah, yes, Mark. You are the other Mini-Max tool collector! Glad to hear your enthusiasm for the brand.

[Rob Littleton]

Dude, there's no stopping you huh.......

Congrats man. Im coming back to CA tomorrow and will be there for a week or two. Might like to get a peek at your new babies when they get there.

Nice ine bro.....

[Chris Padilla]

Thanks for stopping by, Rob...always good to see you. I PM'ed a little information. I should have the bandsaw by next Sunday...I may need a hand getting it off the truck and upright! :)

[Jim Becker]

I should have the bandsaw by next Sunday...I may need a hand getting it off the truck and upright!
Definitely a two person operation! (Unless you don't want to have feet when you are "done"...)

[Tyler Howell]

Got a shop full of Mini Max and the more I use them the better I like them.


http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=129991425Almost called last Wed. Mark. I was as close as Rice Lake but had to hustle down to La Crosse to meet George W. I'll be back. Keep the Mini's warmed up for a live demo.:D

[Chris Padilla]

Definitely a two person operation! (Unless you don't want to have feet when you are "done"...)
Jim,

I recall some pics of you loading/unloading your MM16. Do you have a pointer to that thread? Or, you could email them to me.

Thanks!

[Jim Becker]

I recall some pics of you loading/unloading your MM16. Do you have a pointer to that thread? Or, you could email them to me.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=6001&highlight=MM16

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=6160&highlight=MM16

[Chris Padilla]

Thanks, Jim. I still recall one of the BS lying in the back of the truck...I wanted to see that one again unless I am hallucinating about its existence! :)

The MM20 is 78" tall and my truck's bed is 74" so it'll have to make the 150 mile trip with the tailgate down. I wonder if I need side to side support while it travels on its back? I'll use ratchet straps to tie the bottom to the truck...just not sure about side to side...couple 2x4s wedged in?

[Jim Becker]

Thanks, Jim. I still recall one of the BS lying in the back of the truck...I wanted to see that one again unless I am hallucinating about its existence!

The MM20 is 78" tall and my truck's bed is 74" so it'll have to make the 150 mile trip with the tailgate down. I wonder if I need side to side support while it travels on its back? I'll use ratchet straps to tie the bottom to the truck...just not sure about side to side...couple 2x4s wedged in?
I just remembered I forgot to snap a shot of it in the back of the truck. My bad.

Strapping it down so it stays on it's back while you go around turns is a good idea. I also used straps towards the front to keep that end from swinging back and forth. It may be easier in you SUV to block it since you probably don't have hold-downs that far forward. Cinch it down tight however you do it!

[Chris Padilla]

I have a lil' 1990 Toyota Pick-em Up truck. 108k and won't die. I have plenty of hold-downs so I should be in good shape. The trick will be the unloading part! :)

I was thinking to rest the BS on a couple of 2x10s...maybe makes it easier to slide it out and tip it down?

[Jim Becker]

Chris, if you don't have a bed liner, than the two-by would help to protect both the saw's finish and the truck bed. Put a blanket over the tailgate when you are loading and unloading for the same reason.