Decisions on Hammer A3-XX......

[estley]

I'm starting to seriously look into a Jointer/Planer. Since all the reviews are stellar, and I have a hammer bandsaw I love, I'm looking at one of the A3 machines. Here's where it gets sticky, the cost difference between the 3 knife and the spiral cutter block machines is not small. A3-26 with the spiral block is $4100, A3-31 with 3 knife is $3200, A3-31 with spiral $4800.... if Money wasn't a factor I'd go for the 31/Spiral, but I think realistically the question is:

"is the spiral cutter block worth an extra $900, and sacrificing 2 inches of width?"

As of right now I mostly deal with 8-10 wide boards, walnut, cherry some soft maple, but as I get more into using rough lumber instead of 4s, that may or may not change. I know that at the end of the day the answer is "it depends on _____", I guess what I'm asking is "if it were you...". Thanks!!

 

[rljatl]

I've got the A3-31 with Silent Cutterhead.  If noise makes any difference to you, get the Silent Cutterhead.

I live in a townhouse, so the Silent Cutterhead was worth it to me.  Hammer has sales quite regularly.  I bet they will have one this fall.  Call and ask.

 

[southrider]

Absolutely go with silent power

Besides noise it's a smoother cut

AND if you nick a blade you just rotate that one blade 90 degrees instead of changing 3

They go on sale a couple times a year

Wait for the sale and get the right equipment

 

[ben_r_]

I am currently saving up for the A3-31 with Silent Cutter. From everything I have read from owners online the Silent cutter is well worth the additional cost both for the noise reduction and the finish quality. There is also the other bonus of blade longevity as the helical cutting heads have tons of individual square blades that last a long time and can each be rotated three times to a fresh cutting edge when they get dull or get nicked.

 

[egmiii]

Get the silent cutter head. I hit a hidden nail this weekend and wrecked 3 carbide inserts. Was back up and running again in a few minutes after a quick rotation.

I'm very sensitive to noise, and wear hearing protection when hammering nails, or using an impact driver. But the AD941 silent cutter head is quiet enough that I typically don't bother for a board or two.

 

[estley]

Spiral cutter head it is... I'll give them a call see what the actual pricing is. I remember when I bought my bandsaw, the price the sales guy gave me was lower than the online price, even with the sale, so they 31 w spiral head may not be that far off, thanks for the suggestions!

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[WarnerConstCo.]

I am a straight knife guy.

Do they offer a tersa option?

 

[escan]

i went with 12" striaght blade for my hammer. My though was, they wanted $1000+ for the spiral head so they're saying that silent head is worth the cost of the striaght knife plus $1000...I could always pick up an after market spiral head for a 1000 and I still had the straight knife if ever needed. 

I just picked up a bigger band saw saw, over 12" re-saw, so I'll be putting the hammer in the classified when I came across a bigger jointer.

 

[ben_r_]

I could always pick up an after market spiral head for a 1000 and I still had the straight knife if ever needed. 

Who makes an after market spiral head for the Hammer A3 series?

 

[escan]

I could always pick up an after market spiral head for a 1000 and I still had the straight knife if ever needed. 

Who makes an after market spiral head for the Hammer A3 series?

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?125251-Byrd-Spiral-Head-for-Hammer-A3-31

 

[ben_r_]

I could always pick up an after market spiral head for a 1000 and I still had the straight knife if ever needed. 

Who makes an after market spiral head for the Hammer A3 series?

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?125251-Byrd-Spiral-Head-for-Hammer-A3-31

Ah, Byrd. Didnt know they made one. Good to know. Think Id still rather go with the factory installed one though.

 

[NL-mikkla]

Same here!

I am currently saving up for the A3-31 with Silent Cutter. From everything I have read from owners online the Silent cutter is well worth the additional cost both for the noise reduction and the finish quality. There is also the other bonus of blade longevity as the helical cutting heads have tons of individual square blades that last a long time and can each be rotated three times to a fresh cutting edge when they get dull or get nicked.

 

[bkharman]

I am going with the silent power head as well.  I am deciding on the 41 right now, or maybe the fielder, or a Format!?!?  ;^)

Cheers. Bryan.

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[live4ever]

Saving for a 41 with silent power as the noise is an important consideration for me.  Will probably be saving for a while, lol.  Truth is I'd probably be okay with the 12" but right now I'm on 8/15" separates and don't want to feel downgraded on the planing width. 

 

[escan]

I could always pick up an after market spiral head for a 1000 and I still had the straight knife if ever needed. 

Who makes an after market spiral head for the Hammer A3 series?

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?125251-Byrd-Spiral-Head-for-Hammer-A3-31

Ah, Byrd. Didnt know they made one. Good to know. Think Id still rather go with the factory installed one though.

That can of worms could be the most expensive.

 

[estley]

Yeah, I'm also a fan of getting factory vs after market

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[WarnerConstCo.]

No difference in factory vs. Aftermarket, most of those similar style insert heads are made in the same factory somewhere in Asia. 

Bunch of companies make insert heads and Byrd would be my last choice. I am having a couple made for direct drive jointers and planers, hermance, Gladu, global tooling, etc. Will all make a head designed for your specific machine. 16" for a direct drive Yates jointer is about 2500 bucks.

 

[Musatoved]

HelixHead cutterheads  Build by Hermance Machine company are really good cutterheads
I oder one for my Formad4 Exact 63 planner over a year now, it works really good.
I am really happy with it.
I have not had any issues at all,
In few months I am upgrading my 20" jointer,

If you want one talk to this guy 
Matt Strouse
General Manager
Hermance Machine Company
570-326-9156
www.hermance.com

 

[rst]

Hermance is a great company that has been in machinery manufacturing and sales since the early 1800's.  They also have a Rockler store and they sell Festool.  They sell everything for DYI, to small shop, to major manufacturing equipment and carry all the major brands...PM, Delta, Jet, etc.  Best of all they are only 40 minutes from my shop and I work in Williamsport regularly.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Does the V set up work well for directing the chips towards the middle? Looks like it would eliminate blow out on the right side of lumber, which is common for most helical, insert style heads.