NEW K3 OWNER OBSERVATIONS

[bobreed2010]

**NOTE I am writing this ongoing analysis so that others in my situation get a balanced report of the K3. When I did my research, all I read were glowing reviews and I now believe that's not the case for everyone. Certainly not for me at this time.

After much research, I sold my General 350 cabinet saw of 25 years and got a new Hammer K3.

After Day 1, I absolutely hate it!!!! I hate almost everything about the K3.

But as others stated, I'll give it some time to get used to it.

It's almost the same as when I was working in Indonesia as a Flight Instructor and the first time I drove a right handed car. Not only is the steering wheel on the wrong side, everything, including the gearshift is backwards.
For the first month, every time I turned a corner - the wiper blades were going ( turn signals & wipers are reversed). But I eventually got used to it. Then 7 months later when I returned to the USA, I had trouble driving here for the first few days. Ha ha ha.

I'll report more in 2 weeks. Bob Reed

End of week #3 is below.

 

[RussellS]

Please give some details on exactly which Hammer K3 you purchased.  And some of the reasons why you do not like it yet.  I know some things can change after time so the reasons now may not be valid in the future.

 

[egmiii]

Please give some details on exactly which Hammer K3 you purchased.  And some of the reasons why you do not like it yet.  I know some things can change after time so the reasons now may not be valid in the future.

I'd really appreciate hearing your initial impressions as well, even if they change in two weeks.

 

[Nick561]

I too bought a slider and just can't get used to it.  It's a great machine but I miss my cabinet saw. Any one want to buy a scmi cu300?  Lmk

 

[Poindexter]

After much research, I sold my General 350 cabinet saw of 25 years and got a new Hammer K3.  After Day 1, I absolutely hate it!!!! I hate everything about the K3.

It's almost like, 2 years ago, I was working in Indonesia and the first time I drove a right handed car. Not only is the steering wheel on the wrong side, everything, including the gearshift is backwards. But I eventually got used to it. Then 7 months later when I returned to the USA, I had trouble driving here for the first few days. Ha ha ha.

Well.....duh.

After 25 years you've completely altered the main tool in the woodshop.  Yeah, day 1 is hard.  So duh.

Good metaphor though

 

[bobreed2010]

It's been 3 weeks now and I am adapting to the K3.

The base machine and sliding table function as I would have expected.

BUT, the extension tables and fence system gave me problems while assembling. I eventually had to have, Jessie, from the Felder in New Castle take a trip to my shop and correct the alignment issues. He's been at Felder for 8 years and after about an hour and a half he had everything working smoothly. KUDOS to FELDER CUSTOMER SERVICE.

OBSERVATIONS

My 1st observation, is that the saw is not as "efficient" as I expected it to be. I thought I could work faster and more efficiently on the sliding table saw, but that hasn't proven to be the case - YET anyways. This is not a big deal for me.
However, I am now able to square doors much more efficiently with the K3 than on the General 350.

I love the design of the fence.
a) I am constantly adjusting the aluminum extrusion fore and aft for differing operations.
b) Sighting down the face of the fence is how you align with the tape measure. Now, when I add a sacrificial fence to the main fence, the measurements remain the same. Not so with a Biesemeyer where the hairline pointer is fixed.
c) I absolutely love that you can remove the fence extrusion and rotate it 90º to have a low fence for working close to the blade. I used that feature several times recently and it is a lot safer.

NOTE*** Convert ALL the accessory dimensions to English BEFORE you buy. The crosscut fence extension is 2050mm maximum. I
never did the conversion or I would know that is 80". And as it happens, I postponed 3 projects so I could use the crosscut function of the K3. 1st project is 3 tall display cases. Sides are 81" so I screwed myself there. 2nd is a tall vanity of 84". Screwed again. But that is my fault, not Felder's.

Sincerely, Bob Reed