Buying advice - kity Bestcombi

[Kethry]

Hi everyone

I’ve been lurking on these boards for a while now and I thought I would introduce myself and ask for some advice.

I’ve been thinking of buying a combination machine, second hand as my budget is limited. A friend of mine recommended a kity Bestcombi and there are 2 being auctioned on ebay atm, ending soon, and I was thinking of making a bid.

One is the older model with several small tables at various heights and the other it the 2000 model. From what I’ve read the 2000 is the superior machine but it is much further away for me to go and collect.

Are either of these machines OK, or should I consider something different ? They are both at around the £500 mark atm which doesn’t seem like a bad price. I only need something for hobby use and my space is limited, so a combination machine would suit me best I think.

Thanks.

 

[woodbloke]

I can't comment on the Bestcombi (I think Matt at WH uses one now) but I've owned Kity separates and they're fairly good so I'd expect the combination machine to be likewise - Rob

 

[jasonB]

I changed my K5 (separate tables) one for the 2000 about 10years ago and would strongly suggest the 2000 if they are of similar cost.

The disadvantages of the older machine are having to keep changing the belt and the fact that the small table tilts for angled cuts not teh blade, this makes it very difficult with panel materials and large section timber as it wants to slide off the table, Also the 20mm spindle is hard to find tooling for

They are very capable machines

Have a look through these albums, all done on the 2000 machine

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v156/ ... Furniture/
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v156/ ... Furniture/
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v156/ ... s%20Table/
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v156/ ... amy/Bench/

Jason

 

[Kethry]

Thanks for your advice and the pictures. Really nice work.

I’ll give the older model a miss then, I don’t like the idea of a tilting table instead of a tilting blade at all.

I’m not going to bother with the 2000 either. Sounds like a nice machine and more than capable for my requirements, judging from the pictures of your work. But it’s too far away. It would be an 8 hour drive, there and back, to collect it.

I’ll keep an eye out for one a little closer to home i think.

Thanks.

 

[gasman]

What about the Record universal machines? Several of us on the forum have a C26 (well Shultzy and I do anyway) and they do occasionally come up second hand. I have had OUTSTANDING service from mine for the last 6 or 7 years - it is completely reliable, the planer tables are dead flat, the saw is a real workhorse, extraction is fine and easy to switch between the 3 modes. I don't use the moulder much - when I do it has given perfect service. Switching between the 3 modes takes 5 seconds at most. My only quibbles with it were that Record had to come out to adjust the planer ables when I first got it (could have shifted in transit I guess?) and I wish the table saw had a zero-clearance insert - but that can be worked round.
Just my ha'pennyworth
Mark

 

[matthewwh]

Two thumbs up for the bestcombi 2000, a very acceptable piece of kit indeed. The saw could do with being a fraction bigger but with AW rip and crosscut blades it is deadly accurate and a portable circular fills the gap for bigger stuff. The thicknesser could be wider but again it's good for 95% of what I need it to do. All in all a very good buy indeed.