Changeover takes me like a minute...and mine is hand-cranked. But good planning is certainly very helpful anyway and a good practice even if one has separate machines. I do most of my face jointing first and most of the time, my J/P is in thicknessing mode. (I don't normally do much edge jointing because my slider takes care of that well enough when ripping flat and thicknessed material.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Thanks, all. Brian, I'll see if I can get the same powered lift option with the 1ph package. If not, I may give Bernie and Phil's idea a try.
One note - the FS 41ES and likely the Felder equivalent are extremely top heavy and awkward so a lift gate would be a no-go. You’ll definitely want a fork lift to unload it from the trailer once it arrives. You’ll also need a lift to remove the machine from the pallet as well.
So there may be an advantage to the plain old FS41E as my machine was delivered via liftgate with no issues and I was able to roll it off the pallet with a quickly constructed ramp.
I've owned both and love both. Tersa is a fantastic cutterhead, I had one in a Mini Max and then a Felder. Also had an Oliver 20" with spiral cutterhead, it took too much space in the shop so I went back to a combo J/P. But for that small $250 price delta, I'd get the Xylent.
I just took delivery of a Hammer with a spiral cutterhead, but it was not an easy decision. Really, you'd be happy with either, I suspect.
I have the same machine as Jim (FS-350 with Tersa) and I am quite happy with Tersa. Minimum amount of sanding required.
I have a Tersa and I like it a lot. Given the choice I'd stick with Tersa.
Bumbling forward into the unknown.
It is done! I put down a deposit for the FS41ES today! Now I get to wait for my Christmas present... Real question is why does it take longer to build one of these guys than my 2021 F150...