Replies

1. 
   JMartinsky | Jul 23, 2006 05:47am | #1

   Dear Koa,
   I looked real hard at the Minimax and really liked what I saw. There is a an owners forum as well that you may want to check out: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/MiniMax-USA/

   I liked the forum, the people are very helpful and candid. I would do the MM in a heartbeat. That being said, my understanding is the the Felder is the top gun, I've hear mixed reviews on the Laguna.

   Good Luck!

   John

1. 
   Koa | Jul 26, 2006 03:54pm | #8

   Any draw backs now that you've had your MM Combo for a while?  I have their 14" bandsaw and have been very pleased with it.  I get their flyer and that is how I came to know about the Combo machines.  Do you have the smart machine?  Are the Tersa blades really that good?

   One last and important question I can't seem to find an answer too... where was it made?  China, I'm guessing?

    

   Thanks again!

1. 
   JMartinsky | Jul 28, 2006 04:49pm | #15

   Dear Koa,
   I don't own the MM as it is out of my reach financially, but I have used one and I can tell you that it is a very nice machine. The Tersa blade system is very cool. Works great. Country of origin I believe is Italy.Best,john

2. 
   Norse | Jul 23, 2006 02:33pm | #2

   I have a Laguna 12" jointer/planner (wanna buy it?).  I found that the change in set up takes too much time.  And for my shop, I have the room for separate pieces.  I bought a planner and now just use the Laguna for jointing.  A co-worker is selling his grandfather's 16" jointer so the Laguna will be on the block soon.

   Norse

1. 
   vincentedwards | Jul 30, 2006 11:39pm | #18

   How much do you want for the jointer/planer?Where do you live (I live in Bloomington, IN)I may be interested, but I'm not sure if I could buy it right away...

1. 
   Norse | Jul 31, 2006 12:33pm | #19

   I'm not sure on the $$ but I'll give it some thought. I won't be ready to let it go for a few months until I get the antique jointer I just bought set up in the shop. I'm in Central New York so we'll have to look into shipping. email me at [email protected]

3. 
   wop | Jul 23, 2006 03:57pm | #3

    I used Mini- max for years. Now I have a Felder. Mini-max pretty much copies Felder 5 years behind. Both are great. Right now I would choose a mini-max 35cm planer, tilting shaper with changeable shaft (with a router bit shaft extra) and a 35 cm saw blade and a scoring blade.

                                               Philip

1. 
   Koa | Jul 26, 2006 03:56pm | #9

   Which Felder model do you have?  I'm confused on which line is considered their top and mediocre.

    

   Thanks again!

1. 
   RodWolfy | Jul 26, 2006 09:55pm | #11

   Koa,

   Both Hammer and Felder are made in Austria. MiniMax (MM) is made in Italy. Rojek is made in czeck republic or somewhere like that. Felder actually has 3 lines of products, Hammer (lower end, about on par w/ MM), Felder and Kappa (upper end). Several notable woodworkers use Felders to include Kelly Mehler (The Table Saw guy) and Yeung Chan.

   Felder has a "commisioning" available. It costs about $600 extra. The technician flys to your home from Delaware and sets up the machine to make sure that all of the equipment is set up properly and adjusted to machinist tolerances. Most guys that spen the money on a Felder opt to do this so that they can see how to do it themselves by watching the Tech. There is a lot more info on the FOG. One of our members wrote a book in fact "The Unoffical Survival Guide" which was published. It's an invaluable reference if you purchase a Felder as most of the machines don't come with very good English instructions. Many of us believe that Felder should purchase the book from our author and hand it out with their machine! Anyways, if you join the FOG you can get a lot more information from the 1800+ members and by reviewing the archives (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/felder-woodworking/messages). MM also has a group on Yahoo that you can join to ask and look up questions.

   I have a Felder BF6-31, which I purchased used. It has a 4' sliding table, tilting head shaper, 12" jointer and planer. These things weigh about 1500 lbs and are not anything like from China. Precision made, like a Mercedes or Porche. European made.

   Rod

2. 
   wop | Jul 28, 2006 10:41am | #14

        I have the CF 731. The Hammer is their economy line and I have heard a number of complaints about the Hammer. If you want to go cheaper than the Felder get the Mini-Max with the 35 cm planer. It's a good machine. The mini-max with the 30 cm planer is also good but not near as robust.

                                                                  Philip

4. 
   cigarmike | Jul 25, 2006 11:04pm | #4

   You did not state if you are looking at the 5 in 1 combos or the seperate combo set-ups (saw/shaper and jointer/planer/mortiser). Either way you decide to go, a lot will depend on your budget. If your bank account can handle it, the Felder I am told will make you think you are using a precision metal working machine. Excellent fit and finish all around. Lots of folks swear by the MiniMax line. The offerings from Laguna include the Knapp, which is right up there with the Felder, and about 5 or 6 other offerings in different price ranges.

   Fine Woodworking magazine had a test report on several 5 in 1 combos; you can check for back issues if you don't subscribe. My suggestion is to sign up for one of the online forums for each of these companies, read all you can, find a local owner who is willing to show off his (or her) machine and get a first-hand look at one.

   I'm sure you have checked each one's web site; Laguna and MiniMax are the only ones that list their prices, but a dialogue with one of their sales persons will be the best way to get exact info on each firm's offerings.

   Good luck and watch those fingers.

5. 
   Rich14 | Jul 26, 2006 01:14am | #5

   Koa,

   I've been looking at literature and videos of the Felder (and their "lesser line," Hammer), Laguna, Rojtek.

   So far, both the Felder lines appear to be significantly superior to the others, although any of them are far superior to the typical (non "Euro") machines sold in the U.S.

   I'm going to go with the Hammer 5 in 1 machine in about 6 months.

   Rich

1. 
   Koa | Jul 26, 2006 03:50pm | #7

   Rich,

   Thanks for your input.  So what made you decide on the Felder?  Which line are you looking at (Felder, Hammer..)? 

   Is it true that a representative will come out to your shop to help you install and set up the machine?

   Thanks again!

   Koa

1. 
   Rich14 | Jul 26, 2006 04:10pm | #10

   Koa,I've decided on the Hammer combo machine. The Felder is much more expensive than the $9000 Hammer.The engineering and details of both lines appears to be several cuts above all the others. There are all kinds of "little" details, such as the superiority of roller bearings in the sliding table vs ball bearings, the proximity of the table to the blade, the design of the spindle mechanism for the shaper, the design of the jointer/planer.Get the DVD/Video from Felder for both lines.I don't know about the installation process. At the price they ask, that should be included!Rich

6. 
   RodWolfy | Jul 26, 2006 10:14am | #6

   Koa,

   You can also join the Felder Owners Group (FOG) on yahoo. Do a search on their messages with your questions. I have a Felder. I sold my Jet cabinet saw and other machines and got one 3 years ago. No complaints. Everything is on one machine and there are 3 motors. Each function would be about the equivalent of a high end stationary machine, i.e. 12" jointer ($2.5K), tilting head shaper w/ sliding table ($3K), etc.

   You will need to learn a slightly different assembly process. You have to think things out and cut accordingly ahead of time to avoid the changeover times (only about 1 minute on the jointer/planer, but about 5 to 10 minutes from saw to shaper...)

   Rod Wolfy

    

7. 
   AntzyClancy | Jul 28, 2006 01:35am | #12

   laguna, minimax, and felder?

   That is like saying you narrowed it down to a Honda, a Lexas, and a Ferrari.  All of them are good, and your budget should decide what you buy.  If you have the money for a Felder, then your done.  If want to save, buy the Minimax.  If you want a budget combo, buy the Laguna.  You get what you pay for.

   I have the Minimax.  I am very pleased, but I don't expect it have the same features as the Felder.

   Good Luck,

   Todd

8. 
   CharlieP | Jul 28, 2006 08:06am | #13

   I have the MiniMax CU410 Elite combo (the top of the line until the new machine is announced next month), and consider it in the Felder League. 

   The MiniMax "Smart" series is far less expensive - a great machine, but the Chevy rather than the Cadillac.  Not as heavy a machine, no digital readouts, etc.

   The Felder 700 series is a great set of machines... using the auto analogy, much like a BMW, also built in Austria.  Some of the features make it more complex, just as the BMW is more complex... I chose the MiniMax because it was simpler, and hopefully less trouble in the long run.  The fact that it was $8,000 cheaper for what appeared to me to be a comparable machine didn't hurt either. 

   The Hammer is Felder's cheap line.  It may prove to be good, but is relatively new... little track record.  I expect it will compete with the MiniMax Smart series.

   Laguna has two lines... the Knapp (pronounced Ka NOP), which is an older design, but extremely heavy, solid, and expensive.  Think Rolls Royce.  The cheap line is Robland... every Robland owner I know says nice things about them until they can upgrade. 

   Drop me a line if you want to talk in more detail.

   ________________________
   Charlie Plesums  Austin, Texas
   http://www.plesums.com/wood

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/28/2006 9:12 am by CharlieP

9. 
   BOBABEUI | Jul 28, 2006 07:56pm | #16

   Koa,

   I own a Minimax FS-41 Elite jointer/planer combo, have owned it for about 2 years and think it's great. Machine is made in Italy, weights in at 1100 lbs, has a single 4.8 hp motor and Tersa knives which allow the knives on a 16 inch j/p to be changed in three minutes flat.

   Felder is a great machine made in Austria, it also very very expensive. I would guess that Felder customer service is every bit as good (or better) than Minimax. I know that some of the ex-Minimax salesmen wound up at Felder. Felder offers features that Minimax (used to not) offer, like motorized table lifts and LED height indicators. If money was no object I would buy Felder.

   Cannot offer any opinion on Laguna combo's.

    Best of luck

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/28/2006 12:57 pm ET by BOBABEUI

1. 
   DRinTN | Jul 29, 2006 01:16am | #17

   I own a Robland X31 and would say it is probably the best money I have spent in woodworking.  I could have afforded a Knapp, MM or Felder but, after carefully reviewing the X31, found it best suited my needs.  The X31 is a 5 in 1 and all functions work well and are dead on accurate.  It usually gets "beat up" by the 1) "Laguna Haters," claiming poor service but, they then admit they haven't even really seen one or 2)  MM fanatics, everything is great about MM because of "customer service" and everyone that owns a MM seems to need an inordanant amount of customer service and 3)  it not a true "format" slider in that it is not set up to cut a 8' long segment using the slider.  The slider is limited to about 50" from blade to rear of the slider.  I personally don't enjoy dragging around full sized sheet goods (that's what I have a Festool AT55e and large MFT for plus I use very little sheet goods.