The Jet 310 p/t is a good sturdy machine with generally positive forum views (especially in terms of value). The table length at 1.4M is reasonable, but naturally can't easily handle longer stuff like (say) the much more expensive 300mm Felder p/t with its 2M surfacing table. F&C (?) had a Felder cover-DVD recently featuring a combo machine probably the weight and price of a small car.....but what about Felder's clip on extension tables featured in the video? These are designed to clip onto (saw and) planer tables, and are available as an accessory (watch the free DVD). The extensions are not a full 300mm wide, but it's very easy to steer the work to gain the valuable extra support with no more need for roller stands.
The most useful pair are a cast iron extension of 500mm which cantelevers (look, no legs!) onto the surfacer infeed, and a 1000mm ali extension for the outfeed. This does have a folding leg, but only needs adjusting once (unless you reset the outfeed table). Both have alignment adjsuters for height and angle, again which need setting only once. Because they're so easy to fit you can hang them up when you don't need them.
The extensions take about 15 seconds to clip on, or off, and when fitted I now have a Jet 310 with 2.9M surfacing tables. Moreover, when surfacing is completed, the cantelevered 500mm table clips onto the thicknesser outfeed (no leg, remember). The cast iron is ground very flat, and the very heavy ali extrusion is also flat. Very pleased with result!
The required tables were aquired on an autumn Felder promotion, and can be found in the Felder on line shop, (acessories|machine acessories|table extensions & supports) along with the substantial 15x30 and 10x 40 lipping (Clamping system "F") they clip on to. Two 6.8mm holes have to be carefully drilled and tapped 8mm into the Jet surfacer table ends for each extension. The Jet's thicknesser table does not have a deep enough lip and this needs extending to 50 mm by bolting on a 310mm length of 10x50mm bright mild steel. The next step is a similar mod to the bandsaw, so I can use the ali extension with that.
If you want to take this further, do get a copy of Felder's DVD from their current ad or website shop, and watch the P/T section where you can see how it all works on some walnut almost 2.5M long. They might well fit other p/ts provided the tables are cast with a 50mm (or more) lip.
Felder parts:
500mm extension table 01.1.001
1000mm extension table 400.104
Calmping system "F" 300mm 01.0.150 (three required)
The most useful pair are a cast iron extension of 500mm which cantelevers (look, no legs!) onto the surfacer infeed, and a 1000mm ali extension for the outfeed. This does have a folding leg, but only needs adjusting once (unless you reset the outfeed table). Both have alignment adjsuters for height and angle, again which need setting only once. Because they're so easy to fit you can hang them up when you don't need them.
The extensions take about 15 seconds to clip on, or off, and when fitted I now have a Jet 310 with 2.9M surfacing tables. Moreover, when surfacing is completed, the cantelevered 500mm table clips onto the thicknesser outfeed (no leg, remember). The cast iron is ground very flat, and the very heavy ali extrusion is also flat. Very pleased with result!
The required tables were aquired on an autumn Felder promotion, and can be found in the Felder on line shop, (acessories|machine acessories|table extensions & supports) along with the substantial 15x30 and 10x 40 lipping (Clamping system "F") they clip on to. Two 6.8mm holes have to be carefully drilled and tapped 8mm into the Jet surfacer table ends for each extension. The Jet's thicknesser table does not have a deep enough lip and this needs extending to 50 mm by bolting on a 310mm length of 10x50mm bright mild steel. The next step is a similar mod to the bandsaw, so I can use the ali extension with that.
If you want to take this further, do get a copy of Felder's DVD from their current ad or website shop, and watch the P/T section where you can see how it all works on some walnut almost 2.5M long. They might well fit other p/ts provided the tables are cast with a 50mm (or more) lip.
Felder parts:
500mm extension table 01.1.001
1000mm extension table 400.104
Calmping system "F" 300mm 01.0.150 (three required)
