A3-31 or Sawstop?

[rnt80]

I've been saving up to upgrade up to a Sawstop and the A3-31 and I'm on the fence as to which one to pursue first.  I've been using a Ridgid ts on a homemade base/station for approx. ten years and while it has done well it has had limitations.  On the other end I've been using a Ridgid lunchbox planer and a Grizzly 8" jointer for roughly ten years.  I'm looking forward to saving some space with a combo machine as well as the increased width for flattening.  I'm inclined to wait for Sawstop, assuming they will do this again, to run another promotion like they did a while ago when they included the overarm dust collection for free.  I'd love to hear some feedback from those of you that have either machine.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

For me I would opt for the bigger jointer and planer.  These two operations are the most important in preparing stock and having a wide jointer opens up all kinds of possibilities.  It does save space and and the finish is flawless...I went from a lunch box and 6 inch jointer when I upgraded to mine 5-6 years ago and I have never looked back.  If I could get a 16 inch machine I would.  Since using Festool more and more I have not used my cabinet saw in some time, but I use the jointer and planer on every single project.  YMMV and I am sure others will weigh in.  I love my A331, though...

Scot

 

[Jalvis]

I too would get the A3-31 first.  After using a Felder product you might change your mind on the Sawstop.

 

[stvrowe]

Russell,
I don't have either specific machine your have specified but I have the Felder big brother AD741.  I do not own but I have used and also witnessed demonstrations of the Sawstop safety device.  Both would be excellent choices and if I had room in my shop for one more machine it would probably be a Sawstop (but no way am I ever giving up the slider).  From what you describe, it appears you may be more limited by your tablesaw setup than your ability to mill lumber with the jointer and planer.  Only you can determine the correct answer for your situation but, I would probably opt to go with the Sawstop for the reason stated above.  That said, this likely to be one of the best times for Felder purchases due to the seasonal sales so there may be valid financial reasons to do otherwise. 

BTW- I love the work you have pictured on your website.

PS - Watch out for the 50-50-90 rule.  i.e. - given a 50/50 chance most people usually blow it 90% of the time [big grin]

 

[Frank Pellow]

I have the Hammer A3-31 jointer-planer-thickneser combo machine and its quality and ease of use is very impressive.  I have used a Sawstop tablesaw and it is good but not really in the same league as the Hammer as far as quality goes. 

So, I would advise you to purchase the A3-31.  Maybe, once you have done so, you will decide on a Hammer table-saw or saw-shaper combo intead of the Sawstop.  I know that I am now thinking of upgrading from my General 650 (which is a very good saw).

 

[lumbajac]

I've been saving up to upgrade up to a Sawstop and the A3-31 and I'm on the fence as to which one to pursue first.  I've been using a Ridgid ts on a homemade base/station for approx. ten years and while it has done well it has had limitations.  On the other end I've been using a Ridgid lunchbox planer and a Grizzly 8" jointer for roughly ten years.  I'm looking forward to saving some space with a combo machine as well as the increased width for flattening.  I'm inclined to wait for Sawstop, assuming they will do this again, to run another promotion like they did a while ago when they included the overarm dust collection for free.  I'd love to hear some feedback from those of you that have either machine.

I don't know much about either the SawStop or A3-31 other than that they're higher end tools, so considering the quality builds you've already been showing us over the years... man, you're gonna be dangerously good as you upgrade your shop.

 

[rnt80]

Ahhhhhh! Decisions, decisions.  I'm more fed up with my ts setup but having wider jointing capability would open more possibilities.  I know the a3-31 is "on sale" but it's been around the current price for awhile now.  I was really hoping it would go back down to approx three thousand again but that's probably wishful thinking.

 

[Kev]

I'm still confused about what I want to do about a table saw, by the A3-31 is a future certainty. I'm also confused about how serious a band saw I should go for. Fortunately I have almost no spare time at the moment, so a lack of decisions isn't hurting me !

 

[polarsea1]

I'd buy the J/P then save my money for a slider. Even a small slider is more useful than a comparable conventional tablesaw.

 

[GhostFist]

+1 on the slider over the sawstop. Again I'd get the J/P first.

 

[TJ Cornish]

I have the original ICS 5HP SawStop with 52" rails.  I don't yet have a jointer/planer, but have looked at the A3-31, and will likely get a machine like that when I do get one.  I think the order you pursue should reflect what you are building and what the current limitations you're facing are.

For me, that was the SawStop first.  I'm an intermediate woodworker, and I make a lot of things out of sheet goods.  My previous saw was a Bosch 4000 portable, and while it was pretty nice for a portable saw, I found myself trying to do fairly scary things on a tool that was really inadequate for the size of material I was working with.  I decided to solve both issues with the 52" Sawstop - big enough to handle large workpieces, and less likely to hurt myself both in that the saw is big enough to safely hold my workpiece, and if I do something really dumb, there's an insurance policy.

About 9 months after getting the SawStop, I got a TS75 and a big piece of pink foam.  This has changed the way I work with sheet goods.  Now my rule of thumb is if the piece I'm working with is 1/3 of a sheet or less, it goes on the table saw.  If more than that, it goes on the floor with the track saw.  My cuts are better - no more table saw wiggle, and I can do it by myself.

I looked briefly at sliding saws after reading comments like the ones in this thread, and I confess I must be drinking the wrong Kool Aid.  For a part timer like me, the cost, shop space, and the fact that I still have to lift and move the whole piece of wood up onto the slider make it not better than the combination of table saw + track saw, at least for what I do.

I will say that now that I have the track saw, I could have gotten away with the 36" rail version of the SawStop.  It wouldn't have made a lot of difference in my shop, but for people where the 16" saved would matter, that might be a good compromise.

 

[Physicist Bob]

I've been saving up to upgrade up to a Sawstop and the A3-31 and I'm on the fence as to which one to pursue first.  I've been using a Ridgid ts on a homemade base/station for approx. ten years and while it has done well it has had limitations.  On the other end I've been using a Ridgid lunchbox planer and a Grizzly 8" jointer for roughly ten years.  I'm looking forward to saving some space with a combo machine as well as the increased width for flattening.  I'm inclined to wait for Sawstop, assuming they will do this again, to run another promotion like they did a while ago when they included the overarm dust collection for free.  I'd love to hear some feedback from those of you that have either machine.

I have both the Sawstop Pro 3 hp and the Hammer A3-31.  Would not want to do without either.  Just received the A3-31 in late October.  Be sure to get it with the spiral cutterhead.  It does a great job of either thicknessing or jointing.  Virtually no snipe.  Do not get the digital thickness gauge calibrated for inches.  The dial part of the indicator is virtually useless since the analog hand does not go to 12 o'clock when the digital numbers end in 0.  It only does this for a 00.00 reading.  Hence, the major analog readings make little sense unless one uses an extensive calculator calculation.  I sold a General 6 inch jointer and Woodmaster 8 inch planer.  Having 12 inch width for both operations is really helpful.  The change over operation is very smooth.  The Sawstop is a really good saw.  It replaced an old Sears 10" Craftsman which served long and well but can't compare with the vastly superior Sawstop independently of the improved safety.  If I had to make your choice, I would get the A3-31 first if you use wide boards in the rough.  I do a lot of Queen Ann style furniture building and it really nice to now be using some high quality equipment and not have to start with all the boards cut down to 6 inches.

 

[Frank Pellow]

...  Just received the A3-31 in late October.  Be sure to get it with the spiral cutterhead.  It does a great job of either thicknessing or jointing.  Virtually no snipe.  Do not get the digital thickness gauge calibrated for inches.  The dial part of the indicator is virtually useless since the analog hand does not go to 12 o'clock when the digital numbers end in 0.  It only does this for a 00.00 reading.  Hence, the major analog readings make little sense unless one uses an extensive calculator calculation.   Having 12 inch width for both operations is really helpful.  The change over operation is very smooth.     If I had to make your choice, I would get the A3-31 first if you use wide boards in the rough. 

...

I agree with almost everything that Bob says about the A3-31.  But, I disagree with the need to get the spiral cutterhead.  The regular blades also do a great job with virtually no snipe.  Definately get the metric version of the digital thickness guage.

 

[Mauri Motti]

Both cutter heads leave a very nice finish on the wood. The spiral head is more silent and the cutter bits can be used on all four sides before replacement. The strait cutter head's blades can be reversed in the head once before replacement. I personally do think though that a four blade cutter head is a improvement over the three blade head.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I agree with the dial gauge...I think that all of the blade options leave a good finish.  The spiral is probably the least long-term option.  You can adjust the machine to get no snipe whatsoever if you have a little out of the crate. My machine needed a slight adjustment on this and once set, it has been perfect -- I get no snipe whatsoever.  It is a great machine.

Scot

 

[Stokely]

I'm expecting the A3-31 late January. Very excited. Got the silent cutter head , figuring, since I spent this much.....