(05-12-2023, 07:55 PM)jteneyck Wrote: Actually, Tom, Hammer is marketed to well-heeled hobbiests. Felder is their commercial/industrial line. I don't have one, but if I were to buy a new saw it would either be a SS or a slider because both are inherently safer than a cabinet saw. You can't lose a finger if there is technology to stop that from happening, as with the SS, or you don't put your hands near the blade, as with a slider.
Anyway, the smallest Hammer is about $6k, the middle one $6.7 and the large on about $9. If you go over on SMC you'll see that a fair number of folks there have sliders. I guess it's the more well-heeled crowd. Me? I have a Unisaw born the same year I was, which I'm sure is going to outlive me by at least 2X. I paid $0 for it. How's that for a bargain? I'm plenty happy with it.
The main point was sliders are not something most people could replicate. You would only have to use one for a few minutes, or maybe just watch a couple of videos, to see that. But if you'd like to try, by all means, go to it.
John
John,
And I am glad to actually know you first name
I couldn't agree with you more on anything you wrote in the first paragraph, except for the part of a well heeled hobbyist. I really do not think that a lot of woodworking hobbies are wheel healed. Just the other day I mentioned a Forrest WW11 to someone when asked about a good blade. The reply was I would love to have one but I cant afford a blade like that. I hear it more often than not. I said it myself concerning a Saw Stop. and I wouldn't have one today if the government hadn't given the $ 1200 checks during covid shut downs. I sold my General 350 and it helped make up the difference.
I had a friend almost loose his thumb and another one a couple of fingers on a table saw. I have been lucky with a couple of minor injuries with a table saw. I lost the tip of my index finger of my right hand on a jointer. There is an old saying in the Tool and Die making trade which is cover up and protect that what you can't replace.
Even with a slider you could possible have trouble when ripping. So unless you do a lot of cross cutting of large panels I would go with a SS.
Yes, I know that a lot of members over on the SMC forum have Hammers. I never thought much about them. I thought they were jointer over planner combo machines. And since I am not a combo machine person I didn't bother to find out much about them. I do know that there are some over there that kind of look down their noses if a person doesn't have one. But I also know that some of that happens here on this forum.
Even with a slider you could run into trouble when ripping. So unless you do a lot of cross cutting of large panels I would go SS. My disclaimer is I am 77 and I can not afford not to have one.
I have replied that anyone can build something they want to and my wife has replied, no they can't. I like to think in terms like every one can but you reply of not every on can replicate is true and I stand corrected.
And to your last comment, I am a journeyman tool and Die maker of over 50 years. I am a job shop tool maker not a factory tool maker. I have more experience in progressive dies although I have build 4 special machines with PLC's , A PLC is a program logic controller. CNC without excess to the computer. The machine that the program can not be changed by an operator. I still work 15 hours on a tool room of a large CNC production shop. My vanity is showing but, try is not in my vocabulary, do is. Frank Klausz, whom I have great respect for, said you never know what you can do until you try
I like building woodworking benches, I have a Moravian bench 85 % done and just started cutting up for a Michelsen. And am considering a Sloyd. I am also thinking about taking up your change though, and building a slider that the average woodworker can build.
Tom