power feeder

[johnf]

Thinking about treating myself to a power feeder to go on my combi for christmas.
Am i spending money on something I will seldom use or will it make using my spindle a better experience .

I am looking at the Itech junior from Scott & Sargent as a possible does anyone have one of these.

one of these

 

[RogerS]

I guess it depends on how much you use the machine. Certainly my power feed is a boon and I wouldn't be without it. Check that the range of adjustment on the one you are thinking is appropriate for your machine. Also that you can mount it OK. What moulder have you got?

EDIT: Just read you're sticking it on a combi. Won't it get in the way when cutting sheet material, for example?

 

[ProShop]

Spindle moulder& power feed were meant for each other a marriage in heaven .

You'll never hand feed a finish as good as using a power feeder, period.

The trick to using them is matching the cutter size with the block speed, the timber type and the feed speed all together.

Don't make the same mistake most people do and that is to stick the power feeder on one speed for everything.

 

[johnf]

I guess it depends on how much you use the machine. Certainly my power feed is a boon and I wouldn't be without it. Check that the range of adjustment on the one you are thinking is appropriate for your machine. Also that you can mount it OK. What moulder have you got?

EDIT: Just read you're sticking it on a combi. Won't it get in the way when cutting sheet material, for example?

Hi RogerS
How do i know what adjustment I need . The moulder is a Hammer C331 , It has a fold away mounting so no it won't get in the way also I should be able to use it with the saw & surface planer.
What should I be looking for in a Power feed

 

[ProShop]

Most of the pro feeders are much the same, rebadged in different names.

the best & most popular is the Maggi Steff 100mm 3 wheel. it will easily do a Hammer/ Felder. the Felder version is a slightly watered down version, it usually needs the arm extension to reach the planer (if that's what you want do. (It's not easy setting up a power feeder for planing a lot of trial & error time). personally I wouldn't bother, been there done that .

The fold away for the Hammer is slightly different (not much) from the Felder version I had, but extremely useful, but as I mentioned above because it sits beyond the end of the table it makes some feeder arms to short. Check with Felder how long the feeder arm needs to be for the Hammer combi, or you might come unstuck.

 

[Corset]

As the voice of bitter experince I would be carefull about the power feed you buy. I have a Hammer b3 and the smaller powerfeeds do not have a long enough bar to reach the spindle fence. |This is very disapointing after putting together a big power feeder
I bought an axminster power feed originally and it is just a no go. I would check the type on the felder site and shop around. I got a maggi feed in the end from a supplier in leicestershire it was £75.00 cheaper than felder.#. Because the foldaway mounts it so far back you cannot use the smaller models. If you bolt to the table you will be fine but getting on and off will work the biceps.
Owen

 

[RogerS]

I guess it depends on how much you use the machine. Certainly my power feed is a boon and I wouldn't be without it. Check that the range of adjustment on the one you are thinking is appropriate for your machine. Also that you can mount it OK. What moulder have you got?

EDIT: Just read you're sticking it on a combi. Won't it get in the way when cutting sheet material, for example?

Hi RogerS
How do i know what adjustment I need . The moulder is a Hammer C331 , It has a fold away mounting so no it won't get in the way also I should be able to use it with the saw & surface planer.
What should I be looking for in a Power feed

John, the others have answered this fairly succinctly, I think.

 

[ProShop]

As the voice of bitter experince I would be carefull about the power feed you buy. I have a Hammer b3 and the smaller powerfeeds do not have a long enough bar to reach the spindle fence. |This is very disapointing after putting together a big power feeder
I bought an axminster power feed originally and it is just a no go. I would check the type on the felder site and shop around. I got a maggi feed in the end from a supplier in leicestershire it was £75.00 cheaper than felder.#. Because the foldaway mounts it so far back you cannot use the smaller models. If you bolt to the table you will be fine but getting on and off will work the biceps.
Owen

I think I covered that in my post

 

[johnf]

Thanks for all the info I will call Felder and check how long a bar you need before making a decision. Felder are doing special offers at the moment or posibly this one from scott & sargent

The felder I am looking at is this one do you think either of these would be okay any preference i would welcome an opinion

 

[ProShop]

If it's the standard 308 your looking at, then yes, but just check with Felder on the arm length as I mentioned earlier.

The itech is a clone of the Maggi and should be OK, but again check the arm length.

I have just measured the actual arm length on mine (Maggi 2034)and it's 700mm, and 800mm to the end of the first knuckle joint. I used this feeder when I had a Felder KF700 saw/spindle machine and mounted on the Felder tilt away mounting.

Hope this helps

 

[johnf]

Proshop
Thanks for the prompt responce will do as you say