Replies

1. 
   RickL | Nov 19, 2004 09:04pm | #1

   Mount it on the table not the fence. We've made brackets to keep the feeder mount bracket always mounted to the saw and off and under the table so it's always ready to be used just by placing the feeder  pipe in the bracket. Just think about it and experiment.

2. 
   robkelly | Nov 19, 2004 11:17pm | #2

   Not on the fence. On my Unisaw I cut a hole in the left saw wing at the rear, slightly larger than the shaft of the PF. Below the hole I welded 2 parallel supports made of 1/4" diamond plate and welded the mount for the PF to it. It's still solid after 15 yrs, and the approx. 2" hole doesn't interfere with cutting sheet goods. One thing, though. I have a Biesmeyer fence, and heavy ripping with the PF would move/bend the fence at the back because of how the PF was slanted towards the fence.  Now I block the back of the fence by clamping a board the the saw table before using the PF.

   
   

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   Edited 11/19/2004 8:47 pm ET by rob

3. 
   hammer1 | Nov 20, 2004 06:04am | #3

   The light weight power feeders, Grizzly, Delta, etc. all are the same, have a mounting plate that is an extra. I covered the bottom of my plate with some 400 sand paper and clamp it to the saw with a couple of heavy F-clamps. You will find that you will not always want the feeder in the same spot. It must be very securely mounted or it will walk off the table. The so called clamping device that comes with it is useless. The feeders work quite well and can be set up for many processes. There will be times you will want it on the left and others on the right, depending on what you are doing. I found that mine, would not line up in some of the positions I needed. I had to bend the mounting arm ever so slightly at the elbow. I opened the bend about 2 degrees.

   After having worked with industrial feeders, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the unit worked. Much easier to set up than some of those cantankerous 220v models. Of course you may want to use it on your router table or shaper too. I would not go boring any holes in your equipment, they will likely be in the wrong place as you develop your use of the tool. You can make your own plate, even if it is just wood, so you can get a feel for what it can do. Make sure you get the feel of it with the blade below the table before you fire up the saw. The tires have to fit on the stock perfectly flat. Once in awhile, it may need a little help moving the stock. No, you can't mount it to the fence.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

4. 
   Michmesquite | Nov 21, 2004 11:51pm | #4

   I mounted my feeder on my MiniMax just to right of the blade, far enough away to accomodate the larges stock I would use with the feeder. I have a Delta 1/4HP 36-850 (70#) and simply drilled and tapped four holes into the table top.

   _________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   JMartinsky | Nov 22, 2004 05:48pm | #5

   Can you post a pic?Thanks,John

1. 
   Michmesquite | Nov 22, 2004 07:17pm | #6

   JohnI have the machine setup for a job that doesn't require the feeder and I can't break it down until this weekend._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   JMartinsky | Nov 22, 2004 09:09pm | #7

   That's fine, I understand, what MM do you have? I've looked on and off at the 300S. I am curious if you like the machine.Thanks!John

1. 
   Michmesquite | Nov 22, 2004 09:32pm | #8

   I have the CU300 Smart. It is a very high quality unit and does exactly what it is advertised to do, and very well. You'll end up buying the machine for the slider by itself. A totally different way to saw boards.I looked at the Felder, MiniMax and Hammer stuff. Immediately dropped Hammer from the short list for lack of apparent quality. Thought Felder had a better machine but the $6,500 price difference wasn't justifiable. Also, visited both the Felder and MM groups on Yahoo. I developed an opinion on customer service with MM coming out way ahead of Felder.Try to get a hands on with a MiniMax. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MiniMax-USA/ and ask if there is anyone in your area who can show you the machine. If there is anyone close, they'll invite you over in a second._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

2. 
   JMartinsky | Nov 23, 2004 03:29am | #9

   Do you have the 8' or 5' slider? If the 5, do you find ripping sheets a pain? If the 8, do you find the slider in the way much?Thanks,John

3. 
   Michmesquite | Nov 23, 2004 03:50am | #10

   5' slider. My garage, er, shop is too small for an 8' slider. I plan my sheet cutting around the 5' length.If I had the room, 8' definitely. But, a 5' slider is still a slider and you'll learn to live with it. ;>)_________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

4. 
   JMartinsky | Nov 23, 2004 03:56am | #11

   I went on the MM owners forum and one of the fellows there let me come to his shop and check out his 300S. I was impressed. I tend to stack material on the right hand side of my TS, but beyond breaking that habit, it would seem an easy transition to the "combo" machine. The "short" jointer seemed like a downside, but I can live with that. Thanks for the info.John

5. 
   Michmesquite | Nov 23, 2004 04:08am | #12

   The jointer is a jewel. I have jointed 8' long 10" wide Lyptus using the power feeder with no problems. The Tersa blades give the jointer/planer usability beyond normal jointers and planers. If you need to plane really hard material, use the HSS blades (very very sharp but short lived). Need to plane garbage wood, use the chrome blades. Everyday stock, use the carbide blades._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

6. 
   JMartinsky | Nov 23, 2004 04:47am | #13

   That's interesting that you use a power feeder on the jointer. I've thought about that myself. I find that I struggle with long boards and thought that a PF would be an iprovement. My jointer has a spiral cutterhead on it mainly to avoid setting knives. I've seen the Tersas in action and it seems like a slick setup. How is the dust collection?John

7. 
   Michmesquite | Nov 23, 2004 05:31am | #14

   I got the power feeder after firing the puppy up and seeing those 12" knives. Didn't want my fingers anywhere near them. The power feeder is made for that type work.I have a Jet DC1100CK and it handles the jointer/planer very nicely. I have run a couple of hundred lf of board through both the jointer and planer and have had less than a dustpan of shavings left at days end._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell