1) If you have this machine, would you buy it again? Is there anything with it that you regret or would like to change?
I have the A3-31. 18 months now. Yes, I would have no problem buying it again. It is a very well made piece of equipment and is a great value for the money. IMHO it is a slight notch below the Mini Max FS41 I had the chance to use a few yrs ago. But that may be an apples to oranges compare as the FS41 is a bit more $. I have no regrets at all…I would have loved to have the funds to buy the larger size, or separates, or the Felder. The only thing I would change is the buying of add ons. When I bought my table extensions, I didn’t know about a company called Aigner that makes extensions and accessories. They have a lot to choose from.
2) I’m looking at buying the spiral head rather than the straight knives. The Felder rep told me that you can only purchase replacement cutters directly from Felder. Is this really the case? Can I not purchase the Byrd cutters as I’ve read that this is possibly a Byrd head?
I got the spiral head. I like the reduced tearout on figured woods. It’s a proprietary design and build from Felder. First side of the cutters lasted about 1 year. Changing was easy. I do see the value in the tersa style heads/blades, you can have different blades for different tasks and the blades are not very expensive.
3) If you’ve purchased this or other machines from Felder/Hammer, how has your support post-sale been? Did the machine arrive with any issues? If so, how did Felder handle it? I’ve read extremely conflicting reports on their service and I’m at a loss here.
I have purchased three machines from Felder/Hammer. Service is good. They handle issues. I had some issues and they were solved reasonably well. PM me or call if you want details.
5) I’ve also put the digital hand wheel in the order as well as two extension tables. I figured one on each side as I regularly work with long stock between 6’-8’ long and as I understand it the stock beds are rather short. Is this a good move? Have you possibly made your own infeed/outfeed for it and would not recommend these? Are there other accessories you’d suggest
I love the digital handwheel. I bought one of the short extension tables and I use it for the planer outfeed. I made two long (30 inch) extensions for jointing in and outfeed. They work reasonably well for the few times I’ve needed them. If money was no object, I’d buy proper extensions.
I’d suggest you make a little backing brace/block that sits behind the outfeed part of the jointer fence. The aluminum can flex when pushing heavy stock through and the block/brace makes it rock solid. Mine is just a 5 inch tall, 2 inch wide and 3-4 inch deep block of Ash that I just use a bessey clamp to attach it with.
6) Is there another machine along the lines of the A3-31 that I should be looking at? I looked at the Jet (not as favorable as this machine in terms of reviews on performance whereas this machine performance wise usually gets very high marks), the Grizzly (not interested due to having to take off the fence), and the MiniMax FS30 (more expensive, can’t find that much info on it, I spoke with a customer once and he was all over the place so I worry that an actual MM rep couldn’t call me to talk it through and they had a customer call me instead, or as he termed it an owner that is now a local rep, whatever that means). My main criteria are a spiral cutterhead, ease of changing over from jointer to planer and vice versa, not having to take the fence off for the changeover, and 12” capacity.
Minimax, Hammer, Felder are the only readily available choices I can think of on the high end of the hobby user market. I don’t have direct experience with the Jet, Rikon, or Grizzly products so I can’t compare them. Some guys use those brands and get great results. IMO there is a meaningful difference in the materials used, fit, finish, repeatable accuracy, etc, of the Hammer. It does what it’s supposed to, again and again. It just works.
7) How did you make this machine mobile?
I use the Hammer mobile base. Works great for me
Summary: IMO it’s a great mix of quality and price. Yes it’s a pretty costly relative to some other brands but it’s well worth it to me. I try to buy high quality stuff and cry just once when I cut the check and then I get to smile every time I use it and get great results. No offense to Griz Jet or Rikon, it’s good stuff but I simply chose to go with another brand and I love the product.
I'm not a professional woodworker, but I do use the machine to make and sell loads of end grain butcher blocks and cutting boards that I sell in Vermont and Florida, so my machines get more than hobby use but not as much as in a professional setting.
hope that helps.
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Originally Posted by Matt Przybylski
