Hammer A3 31 Owners - looking for Los Angeles Owners

[younger]

Hi

I am considering the purchase of the Hammer A3 31 jointer planer combo, I have read all positive reviews so far.  Hammer does not currently have one assembled in the L.A. area that I can go have a look at so I am wondering if there are any owners in the Los Angeles area that would be open to letting me stop by for 15 minutes to chat and have a look at the machine.  I really just want to put a combo square against the fence to check square and talk about how much you like it..

Please P.M. me if you are available this week as I would like to put a deposit down by January 25th.

Thanks much!

Larry

 

[egmiii]

The fence can be made square to the table with some minor adjustments, so I wouldn't worry about that so much. That being said, the fence isn't what I'd consider robust. With proper technique, you can get excellent results, but don't expect to bear down on it like the traditional american style cast iron. A common euro workflow is to flatten one face on the jointer, then rip a clean 90 degree edge using a sliding table saw, so the jointer fence isn't a big consideration.

I had an A3-31, but upgraded to an AD941 because I wanted power drive. Overall, the A3-31 with spiral head is an excellent machine and I highly recommend it. Get the "digital" dial and handwheel. You won't regret it.

 

[rljatl]

[member=11423]egmiii[/member]  What did you do with your A3 31?

 

[egmiii]

Ended up doing a trade in. Felder buys and sells used equipment on a fairly regular basis.

 

[ben_r_]

If you can make it up to the Sacramento office, they might have one on display. Give them a call.

 

[ScotF]

I have an older generation, so would not do you much good if you are looking at yoday's configuration. In the 12 years or so that I have had mine, the only thing that has gone bad is the start capacitor. Cheap part to replace. I put a 700 fence on mine as I did not like the one that came with the Hammer, but the design today is much better. All in all it is a very good machine for the price.

 

[younger]

Thanks for the reply.  Not sure how I missed it last week. I went ahead and pulled the trigger!  can't wait until April when it arrives!

The fence can be made square to the table with some minor adjustments, so I wouldn't worry about that so much. That being said, the fence isn't what I'd consider robust. With proper technique, you can get excellent results, but don't expect to bear down on it like the traditional american style cast iron. A common euro workflow is to flatten one face on the jointer, then rip a clean 90 degree edge using a sliding table saw, so the jointer fence isn't a big consideration.

I had an A3-31, but upgraded to an AD941 because I wanted power drive. Overall, the A3-31 with spiral head is an excellent machine and I highly recommend it. Get the "digital" dial and handwheel. You won't regret it.

 

[younger]

Thanks for the offer and the reply.  It does look like a well built machine.

I have an older generation, so would not do you much good if you are looking at yoday's configuration. In the 12 years or so that I have had mine, the only thing that has gone bad is the start capacitor. Cheap part to replace. I put a 700 fence on mine as I did not like the one that came with the Hammer, but the design today is much better. All in all it is a very good machine for the price.