Fitting a mobile base to a Hammer A3-31

[Derek Cohen]

My Hammer A3-31 jointer-thicknesser has lived in the corner of my garage workshop for about 8 years now ...



This is okay for moderate size work pieces, but larger boards, such as the recent dining table build, requires that the machine be pulled out into the workshop for clearance. This is not so easy since its mobility kit consists of two fixed rear wheels and a wheeled bar for the front.



I decided to fit the mobile base from Timbercon, their Sherwood Heavy Duty model, as this had larger, wider wheels and a sturdy steel frame. It can also handle 680Kg, which is twice that of the A3-31. But what I particularly liked about this mobile base was the four swivelling wheels set at the two ends, which placed them away from the front. This promised good movement and less obstructions. https://www.timbecon.com.au/products...e-machine-base



The problem was now to get the base under the A3-31! Don't do this on your own, folks! Of course I did

This machine weighs in at 290Kg and I do not have any equipment for lifting heavy objects. I discovered that a crowbar works well, pivot point down, and can gain added height with a wooden shim added underneath.

First step was to lift the rear up off the wheels using wooden wedges and the crowbar. This is the key to the whole endeavour. Adding blocks underneath, away from the perimeter (where the base will be) makes all relatively straightforward as we move along ...



This included the front, so the legs could be removed ...



The rear wheels could be unbolted at one end, and then the axel could be slid out ...



Now assemble and size the rear section of the base (the front section will be the same length, so that may be assembled at the same time) ...



Note that the front dimensions (width) of the A3-31 is shorter than the rear, hence the rear is completed first.

This is the fit at the rear ...



Throughout I used clamps to hold the base against the machine, and then to pull all together ...



Once the rear is in position, slide in the front-and-side sections together. The bolts all are tightened from the outside, so no concerns for wrenches on the inside.

Here are some photos of the fit ..

1. Front



2. Left side clearance at front



3. Right side clearance at front



One all done, it is easy to set the stationary stops (they just screw out to the desired height). You can adjust the stationary height to be perfectly level this way.


In summary, this mobile base fits like a glove. It would have been an easier process had I not had to problem solve this method at the start (where I was hoping to use a hand trolley to lift one side - oh yeah! )



Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Becker]

Looks good, Derek! That should make things work easier for you. Be sure to stabilize it on the feet when in use and otherwise, you're good to go.

As an aside, I had to do a similar operation to put my jointer/thicknesser on some dollies for the move to this property and then again for the move from the temporary gara-shop to the new shop building. I use a combination of a bar and a small scissor jack plus wood blocks to get things up where they needed to be. Unloading in the new shop was easier as I had acquired a small floor jack in the meantime which was easier to use than the scissor jack. The old "raise it a little, block it, raise it a little more, etc." works just great. Leverage is your friend.

[Derek Cohen]

Thanks Jim.

Your experience reminds me why I posted this - it seems that this is a story familiar to some.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Becker]

It does come up from time to time because while the OEM mobility for these tools is functional for moving the machine, it's not always adequate for the way the machine needs to move. My Minimax jointer/thicknesser uses a similar method to your Hamer's OEM with the exception that the fixed wheels are on one end and the wheeled "Johnson bar" goes on the other end when you want to move the machine. So like yours, there are directional considerations while moving, albeit in the opposite orientation. That's a problem in tight spaces so moving to something like you show is a good idea since your space demands you move it occasionally. I've seen a number of folks make this change, especially with the Hammer, due to the orientation of the OEM casters.

[Andrew Hughes]

I remember reading on this site some years back moving combo machine wasn’t a good idea. Uneven floor could cause the sheet metal base to flex and twist. Table alignment is critical on jointers nothing more frustrating then a jointer that was making perfect edges and flat faces one day then boom the sublime feeling of starting a project is gone.
My experience jointers with fixed inserts can even more frustrating.

[Richard Coers]

The wheel and single lever has worked great for my Minmax Lab30 for 25 years, and also on my MM16 bandsaw. I prefer to have some kind of footprint directly on the floor. Maybe it's because I'm a farm boy, but the steering has never been an issue.

[Derek Cohen]

I remember reading on this site some years back moving combo machine wasn’t a good idea. Uneven floor could cause the sheet metal base to flex and twist. Table alignment is critical on jointers nothing more frustrating then a jointer that was making perfect edges and flat faces one day then boom the sublime feeling of starting a project is gone.
My experience jointers with fixed inserts can even more frustrating.

Andrew, I cannot speak for other makes, but the 3 Hammer machines I have are all built to the same standard, with thicker sheets sheets than most other machines I have encountered For example, I could wack a wooden wedge under a lower edge, and the metal was not harmed. Instead, the Jarrah block split. The machines are all designed to be moved. I have moved mine on many occasions over more than a decade, and this has not affected their performance.

The mobile base was fitted as tightly as possible to the case. In fact, the sides only just squeezed in at the bolts. Anyone who tries the same base might consider enlarging the holes by a smidgeon. Still, only time will tell if there is any flex in the combination.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Andrew, tens of thousands of Felder and Hammer customers world wide move their machines without incident.

In my case it’s been 16 years.

Regards, Rod

[George Yetka]

The dream is to have the space where mobility isnt needed or at least enough so storing a pallet jack isnt an issue.

In the future you can rent pallet jacks. though on their own they are pretty heavy getting them in and out of a truck isnt the easiest.

[Warren Lake]

different levels of pallet jacks and heavy duty weight goes up. I think 300 lbs for the heavy duty ones and capacity over 10,000 lbs instead of the usual 5,500 lbs. Machine bases are not all the same you might need a narrow pallet jack or a regular 27" one depending on my shapers i have to mcgiver to lift and its more time. I need a narrow one as well. Id rather never have to move machines in the shop. some have critical alignment working with other machines around them, setting up the sliding table saw was nothing I want to keep repeating.It still needs more time. The sheet steel is 1./4" thick and still people have told me there will be movement find that hard to believe but be easy enough to test it. I put the pallet jack in the saturn trunk by myself but its not a thing I care to be doing. That for the last planer at 2,400 lbs.

[Andrew Hughes]

I didn’t mean to Jinx Derek.
I have a green pallet jack my heaviest machine is 1900#. I’ve had to move my bandsaw once to rip long slabs it’s only 5 or 600 pounds it’s not something I liked doing.
Good to know about Hammer and felder machines Rod. I will keep that in mind if I ever buy one.

[Jim Becker]

The key point about why Derek made this modification to his mobility solution for the jointer/thicknesser was to provide easy movement in all directions which is difficult in a small space with the way the OEM mobility solution was configured.

[Zachary Hoyt]

My "new" bandsaw weighs about the same, around 600 pounds, and I put it on a homemade mobile base in April after I got it home. It was easier to lift because of how tall it was, so I could tilt it from the top. The short heavy machines are much harder, I'm sure.

[Prashun Patel]

Looks great!

I have this machine. I've moved it from a sloped warehouse floor to my unlevel garage. It has jointed and planed just fine. Stiffness has never been an issue with this machine. Short tables, however, can sometimes be an issue on these combo machines.

I originally had "Great Lakes" casters with the thumbwheel that raises and lowers a brake. They work for many, but I found them not to work intuitively or very well.

I switched to 4 locking 2 1/2" casters on polyurethane tires. These work great (for me).

[Richard Coers]

The dream is to have the space where mobility isnt needed or at least enough so storing a pallet jack isnt an issue.

In the future you can rent pallet jacks. though on their own they are pretty heavy getting them in and out of a truck isnt the easiest.

I picked up a basically new pallet jack on Marketplace. A little company goes around the country remodeling Walgreens. They order equipment like pallet jacks and have them drop shipped to the location. When the job is over they sell all the stuff and move to the next location. I paid $75 for mine.