posted by: Daryl
5/11/2006

Like Art, I have almost the same tool. In my case it's the saw/shaper combo, and the jointer/planer as a separate unit. The jointer replaced the truly awful Inca, which replaced the truly awful Delta DJ-15,which replaced a servicable and high value 6" Grizzly. The AD731, which is a 12" jointer, making it the smallest (!) in the Euro combination lines, is excellent. Easy to adjust, the fence is heavy and strong, easy to adjust. The guard is the far superior Euro type, which seems worse than the American type, until you get used to it. Now I won't go near an American machine without even more fear. I have it on casters, and it moves with a lever type johhny bar that moves this 1000 pound machine around my garage pretty well--I won't say great, a half ton is a lot of intertia to overcome. But it switches from jointer and planer and back singlehandedly, and easily. Changing blades is also easy, with either the 4 knife Felder system or a three head Tersa cutter. I have the Felder block.I then replaced my Delta 3 HP Unisaw with the 12" Felder saw/shaper. I had it serviced by a Felder technician (you pay for set up), then I tweaked it myself to learn about the machine. Although the motor is rated at almost 5 HP, and pulls 220v from a 30A line, it's really not as powerful as my old Delta, but I Would say it's maybe 85% of it. However, it does have to turn a 12" blade, not a 10", and it has a built in phase convertor, as Felders come normally in 3 phase (or so I am told). Contrary to the FWW review, you can get a dado arbor, and it easily slides on and off. The sliding table and intergral miter gauge makes crosscuts easy. You can buy some very expensive cam clamps that helps with large pieces, and they are worth the price. The sliding table is far more accurate than the Delta and cloned variety, meaning you can machine cuts far better than you would otherwise.The shaper unit comes with a separate motor, and spindles that run you several hundred dollars each, but they change over very quickly. I have the router spindle (which runs at 15000 rpm) and a 30mm. So I decided that my shaper bits would all be 30mm--easy enough. Felder has lots of cutters available, as does Amana. The shaper rumbles with power, but is not overwhelming in noise. It is very powerful however, and easy to use. The guard system is very well thought out. Many of Felder's accessories integrate with Aigner products, a German firm that makes ungodly expensive but well thought out gadgets available through Martin USA.It is a very expensive unit, but like Festool products, has you rethink just how you approach what is possible. The company is easy to deal with, and has a great system of sending you a technician to either service or set up the unit. You pay to set it up. However, when the motor burned out after a few weeks (it happens to anyone of course), they responded quickly, and sent a tech with a new motor within two weeks. Imagine Delta doing that. I know they don't. They told me to carry a DJ15 jointer to a service center miles away. Felder came to me. And it's worked great the last 2 years.The only thing I don't like about the unit is the blades Felder sells. They are not up to the cutting quality of the unit. I use a Forrest WWII for crosscutting, and my Amana EuroRip rebored for the Felder configuration (a 30mm hole, plus two pin brake holes).Buy th eunit, buy your own blades.

posted by: Artl
4/2/2006

I have the slightly larger(16" wide jointer/planer)model CF741SP by Felder. I know the talent is in the operator and a good woodworker can use a butterknife and a bent nail to create a Sam Maloof chair....BUT, I find that cuts are easier and cleaner, accuracy is exact and it is a pleasure to use and fran kly even to just sometimes look at. I use it a lot and am asemi-pro (I sell stuff but still keep my day job). I upgraded from a very nice Italian Combo and that was a step up from a Unisaw and 7" Jointer. Each step in the progression has been a great and noticeabl;e improvement. In general, the 9 foot slider and the riving knife has saved my marriage. "YOU TWISTED THAT PANEL AND NOW THE EDGE HAS BURNED!!!!!" " Don't ask me to help if you are going to yell at me." etc etc etc. At any rate both for solids and panels , the m,achine is a dream. If it sounds like I am biased, well you can bet on it. It is my prized possession and it is rapidly paying for itself. Bigger than a Rolex but machined pretty much the same ! (Costly as a Rolex, yep). You might say I am glad I got it. Art Liebeskind, Baltimore, Maryland