Felder FAT300

[Grev]

Well, after a year of inner-turmoil, I finally bought a FAT300 lifting table.  I really didn't want to spend the $$$, but it really was the best solution for what I plan on using it for in my garage/shop.  Anyhow, I didn't get a top because I plan on building a custom top that does a lot more than just an MFT ... any ideas?
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[egmiii]

I'd probably get a piece of 25mm baltic birch, drill a few 20mm holes for using track clamps and leave the rest solid. I'd then mount a small vacuum pump under the table and have quick disconnects to attach a two sided vacuum pod to the top.

You're going to love the FAT 300. Glad to see you didn't waste the money on the Felder top. Better to make your own. I have a Barth 300 and Barth 500V and really enjoy them. Total game changer for workflow.

 

[ScotF]

That is awesome...I have been wanting one of these since they came out a few years ago. Just nowhere to store it when not in use. Love the idea and the versatility. Looking forward to how you use it.

 

[Grev]

I'm finally getting around to building my FAT300 workstation, so thought I'd post some photos. Second project using the Jevons 3d squares.  Thanks to [member=6237]deepcreek[/member] (Joe Adams) for mentioning them in a post a while back.  I purchased a dozen of them and can't believe how much easier assembly goes using the squares and 99¢ spring clamps from Home Depot. 

 

[Grev]

Had some time to work on the Felder workstation today .. still a lot to do, but it's coming along. I don't have any plans .. so open to any ideas on what to add?

 

[ScotF]

Looking really good! Love the saw shelf....very handy.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Very nice setup. I like the extension give you full versatility  [thumbs up]

I asked for a quote from Felder Canada a few months ago and the FAT 300 was $2,700  [eek] plus $127 shipping  [eek] plus $380 taxes . I let you make the calculation  [scared] I'm NOT kidding  [crying]

 

[Grev]

Very nice setup. I like the extension give you full versatility  [thumbs up]

I asked for a quote from Felder Canada a few months ago and the FAT 300 was $2,700  [eek] plus $127 shipping  [eek] plus $380 taxes . I let you make the calculation  [scared] I'm NOT kidding  [crying]

The Track Tube extensions are handy .. they can be removed and used on sawhorses or another bench in a minute.  The price you were quoted is ridicules.  I'm thinking mine cost about $1,800 with taxes/shipping and even that was hard to swallow.  Just couldn't find another solution for the versatility I wanted in a mobile bench. 

 

[Mario Turcot]

Indeed that price was rediculous. The quote was for FAT300S. To make sure I did not dream about it I had a look at the quote pdf again and here the description:

Height-adjustable FELDER work table $2,786.40CAD  >>> ~$2112.09US
FAT 300S without work table top
Max. load capacity 300 kg
Work height continuously adjust 445-1040 mm
Raised hydraulically via foot pump 595 mm
2 steering rubber casters with brake
2 fixed rubber casters
Frame size 1440x770 mm

I also asked for a quote on the A3-31(12") Jointer/Planer combo with standard cutters @ $6,738CAD. I found two Canadian reseller that sells them under 5,700 and one was with the helical cutters. The helical cutters are an extra $1,400CAD

 

[travisj]

I also asked for a quote on the A3-31(12") Jointer/Planer combo with standard cutters @ $6,738CAD. I found two Canadian reseller that sells them under 5,700 and one was with the helical cutters. The helical cutters are an extra $1,400CAD

I know nothing about the pricing on the FAT (I don’t have the space so I don’t even want to look at them for fear of wanting one).  I thought the A3-31 price was a bit excessive though.  I just checked and I paid $4500USD for my A3-31 back in February.  That was with the Silent Power cutterhead and shipping.  $5700CAD would be an even better deal, but $6700CAD would be about a 10% up charge from what I paid. 

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[Mario Turcot]

$4500US is pretty close to $5700CAD.. for an easy conversion add 30% from US currency  [smile]

How is your A3-31? Do you have to set the infeed table or any adjustment? IMO the A3-31 is the best machine if you have a small shop.

I looked at the rikon and jet machine and from the reviews both need constant adjustment on the infeed table to keep it coplanar. Rikon and jet machines are from the same factory at half price of the A3-31 but people also are reporting snipe on the planner mode.

 

[hdv]

I have had the C3-31 for a few years now, which is in essence just the saw/shaper table and the jointer/planer attached to each other (including the optional horizontal mortiser attached to JP side of the machine). The JP has been great in my experience. No snipe, no sagging table, none of that. The amount of calibration needed at first setup was almost negligible (I'd say probably not needed at all for most "normal" folks, but I am a stickler for perfection when it comes to these things). About the only thing which I somewhat hate is the amount of wheelturning needed to adjust the height of the planer. But that might be just the price you pay for being able to increase or decrease the thickness in very small increments. Have to think of a way to improve on that when I find the time.

I have the plain cutters, not the helical knives some people here on the FOG have. Somewhat jealous of that. After reading the comments about those knives I feel I have skimped on the wrong items when I ordered this machine.  [embarassed]

 

[Mario Turcot]

I have had the C3-31 for a few years now, which is in essence just the saw/shaper table and the jointer/planer attached to each other (including the optional horizontal mortiser attached to JP side of the machine). The JP has been great in my experience. No snipe, no sagging table, none of that. The amount of calibration needed at first setup was almost negligible (I'd say probably not needed at all for most "normal" folks, but I am a stickler for perfection when it comes to these things). About the only thing which I somewhat hate is the amount of wheelturning needed to adjust the height of the planer. But that might be just the price you pay for being able to increase or decrease the thickness in very small increments. Have to think of a way to improve on that when I find the time.

I have the plain cutters, not the helical knives some people here on the FOG have. Somewhat jealous of that. After reading the comments about those knives I feel I have skimped on the wrong items when I ordered this machine.  [embarassed]

Wait! the C3 is a combo? I need to have a look now  [wink]

 

[hdv]

I bought mine in June 2016 and have been happy with it ever since. I did add a fair share of options, but that's about all I ever changed to it from that time on. No replacements, except for the cutting parts. It is still as accurate as it was when I got it.

Mind you, I did not opt for the wheels, but choose to get a pallet truck for it (on advise from the seller). Much more convenient if you ask me.

If you need more info, just yell!

 

[Grev]

I bought mine in June 2016 and have been happy with it ever since. I did add a fair share of options, but that's about all I ever changed to it from that time on. No replacements, except for the cutting parts. It is still as accurate as it was when I got it.

Mind you, I did not opt for the wheels, but choose to get a pallet truck for it (on advise from the seller). Much more convenient if you ask me.

If you need more info, just yell!

Curious to see a photo of your setup.  When I purchased my FAT300, I actually was also purchasing a K3-Winner and A3-31, but held off on the machinery due to the fact I was looking to lease a small shop and didn't want to move them.  Now back looking at machines and thinking the C3 might work fine for me.

 

[hdv]

What would you like to see in particular? Please let me know and I'll try to make a photo for you tomorrow.

P.S. I've been drooling over the FAT 300S with the tilting device myself, but I'll have to wait 'til my new shop is built next year, because right now I wouldn't be able to fit it in the shed. It is way too small for that. Even with the C3-31, the router table, the Sjögrens, and the drill press on wheels I wouldn't be able to shoehorn it in. 

 

[Grev]

What would you like to see in particular? Please let me know and I'll try to make a photo for you tomorrow.

P.S. I've been drooling over the FAT 300S with the tilting device myself, but I'll have to wait 'til my new shop is built next year, because right now I wouldn't be able to fit it in the shed. It is way too small for that. Even with the C3-31, the router table, the Sjögrens, and the drill press on wheels I wouldn't be able to shoehorn it in.

Just a photo of the C3 with pallet lift .. only if not too inconvenient.  Thanks.

 

[travisj]

$4500US is pretty close to $5700CAD.. for an easy conversion add 30% from US currency  [smile]

How is your A3-31? Do you have to set the infeed table or any adjustment? IMO the A3-31 is the best machine if you have a small shop.

I looked at the rikon and jet machine and from the reviews both need constant adjustment on the infeed table to keep it coplanar. Rikon and jet machines are from the same factory at half price of the A3-31 but people also are reporting snipe on the planner mode.

The only adjustment I made to the A3-31 was to square the fence for jointing.  The tables were fine. 

I have gotten some snipe while planing.  It usually happens with short stock and too heavy of a cut.  If I back it down to 1/4mm per pass it becomes negligible if even noticeable.  I have been working with red oak recently bringing it from 19mm(+ or -) down to 12mm.  My first cuts were almost 1mm per pass and snipe was evident.  I then backed it off to 1/2mm or less per pass and snipe was minimal at worst and not measurable at best.

I love the machine.  I am space constricted (15 feet by 15 feet) and it works out well.  I have Hammer’s mobility kit on it and it is easy to move and angle it so longer stock can be positioned to be fed out the door outside of my shop space.  I was really impressed when I was working with a 8/4 x 6” hard maple board that was 10’ in length.  The rollers pulled it through the planer like a hot knife through butter.  The changeover from jointing to planing is literally less than a minute.  If you go ahead with one, I would recommend the “digital handwheel”.  It is expensive for what it is, but it’s simplicity of design makes repetitive planing to specified thickness easy.  I have been building an outfeed table and winging it as I went.  When I need another section of 12mm red oak for a drawer piece, I can joint it and then plane it to the exact dimensions of the pieces I had done a week or so prior.

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[Mario Turcot]

Thank you Travis, this is valuable info I will keep in mind  [cool]

 

[hdv]

Here's some photo's.

Photo 1]  This, in my experience, is the most convenient way to use a pallet lift to move the C3-31 around. Often I just leave it like that. For jointing/planing I have to remove it though.

Photo 2] I have done some things to improve the standard fence. I added a Wixey digital readout for convenience. I do really recommend that (no parallax errors anymore) . I also added a multi-track piece of aluminum. That way I can use jigs made for T-tracks. And it allowed me to add the Jessem guards on top for better safety. Those things are really great! Lastly I added a MagSwitch to fix a very small amount of flex in the fence. By the way, if you decide to buy this machine, then I'd recommend choosing the round guide for the fence. The standard one is OK, but not very rigid (just good enough). Also, due to all the stuff I added to the fence it has become quite heavy (I only need to loosen one bolt to remove it though). This makes it somewhat cumbersome to move when you're crossing the gap between both parts of the machine. The round fixing doesn't seem to have that "problem", or so I've been told.

Photo 3] A general impression of the machine. The JP-side is almost against the wall. I mostly use the saw. When I need the jointer or planer I just move the machine around as needed. After an initial session to calibrate the angle guide it has been perfectly accurate for me ever since. It can easily be removed and replaced, without losing its exact position. I do so a lot, so I know this from experience. It can be fixed in a pull or a push position.

Photo 4] Another general impression. I moved the router table and the pallet lift for the photo, but those are normally next to / under the machine.

Photo 5] The router table in its normal position, right next to the C3-31. I can use either the Hammer, the Incra, or the workbench. I have to move 2 of them when using the third. The drill press is in a corner and doesn't have to be moved. I am saving (I really do hate loans [scared]) for a new 100 m2 shop and hope to have it built next year. You should see my smile by then!  [big grin]

I haven't ordered the digital handwheel travisj wrote about yet, but he is absolutely right. It is a great addition to the machine.