Combination machine advice needed

[ollie151]

I've found two for sale. A luna w59 and a start rite 310.
The start rite is quite a bit more expensive. Is it worth it?
I've read that you can't get parts for Luna any more (that goes down as a big negative)
Alternatively should I not bother with a combination machine and just get separate machines . I'm really only currently in need of a table saw....
Cheers

 

[beech1948]

Ollie,

The thing to look at is the size of the space the manufacturer says is needed. Imagine feed in an 8ft/2.4m length over the blade say 200mm and out to 8ft/2.4m ++ a little bit to be sure to clear the blade. So you need about 5m to clear the board 2.4m long.

My Felder cf741 combi is recommended by the manufacturer to have a space 5m square around it. It typically works in a space 5x4m dedicated to the saw.

How big is the workshop.

How much space does each combi you are looking at need. Luna I would place second way after a Startrite.

 

[Beau]

Hard to say if it's worth the extra. I have used both brands when training and both worked faultlessly and the Luna PT had a busy life as the only PT in a workshop of 7 makers and students. I really liked the low friction scollops Luna used on their tables but it made setting the planer knife hight slightly tricky.

Will you need spares? In my experience of quality cast iron machines the answer is no if you dont abuse them. Bearings ware and motors and electrics can go wrong but all pretty straight forward to sort out.

I am not familiar with either of their universals so take the above with a pinch of salt

 

[Myfordman]

Mentally go through a few complex operations on the machine and see if it will work for you.
I had a kity CK26 combo when I started out and the saw table only just cleared the spindle table, all the set up on the spindle had to be be broken down and hence setting lost in order to use the saw.
Cutting a batch of mouldings was a nightmare to get them all the same.
prepare a board
set spindle and cut a moulding on both edges
break down the spindle and rip the mouldings from the board edges.
reset spindle and cut a moulding on both edges
repeat.