Joe you really made my day today with these pictures. I noticed them mid day after getting back from a small local trade show myself geared toward general contractors that do home renovations. I couldn’t help but think man I wanna get on a plane to Germany in the worst way this show stinks..
I’m so torn between the two machines, Hofman and Martin. The facts are I can only get a Hoffman machine into my elevator with the standard size tables. I’m really torn as I would love a 24” machine but fear I will be disappointed without a long infeed table. I can get the Martin machine with extended infeed table to fit in the elevator as mentioned prior.
I did ask my Martin rep about removing a table and I was told not a chance. And that it was and idea.
The Hofman shapers is a thing of beauty! The planer would make a excellent addition to the jointer next year after I come up for air from the jointer purchase.
A co worker brought up the topic of resale value and it really got me thinking. I have no intention of ever selling this machine but you just never know. I have only ever seen one used Hofman for sale and it was a very nice 20” machine 2008 I think and it sold for $9900. I can’t help but feel the Martin will command a higher resale value.
I am half inclined to give the Hofman a try and for whatever reason the machines excites me a bit more. I find this strange as Martin to date has always been my pinnacle. Maybe it’s just the allure of having something different, I don’t quite know.
However the flip side of my thinking is the lack of being able to have a extended infeed table on the Hofman coupled with the known quality of the Martin from everything from the fence ridding on bearings to having actually stood in front of a few t54’s and seen with my own eyes and felt with my hands the striking difference between a Martin and everything else makes me feel like the Martin Is the safer bet.
Who knows. If I can get the Hofman rep to package a planer and jointer maybe I can convince my boss to buy a machine also then the decision would be much more easy.
Anyhow enjoy the show. If you do find yourself in front of a t54 and don’t mind taking a few pictures. And maybe a 60 series saw