My 1999 C3-31 had two issues. The first was that the massive cam
clamp, which turned out to be real overkill for the application, moved
up and down on a round post that was also the used by the miter gauge
quadrant as it's pivot. The effect of clamping stock with the cam clamp
was similar to rapping the miter quadrant with a mallet- it always
knocked it a few degrees one way or the other. And because in a threaded
connection the first threads take more of the load the force? of the
cam levered up against the top forward thread and stripped it, followed
by the next thread etc. until the top 6 threads or so were gone on the
forward side so the post and miter gauge could rattle around as they liked.
?Far the worst
design I've seen, I replaced it with an Osborne EB-3 ?
?
For the rip fence I used a NOS Delta unifence, no longer made. An issue is that when you want to thickness plane you start by flipping the
rear joiner table up and it supports the fence rail which is
cantilevered from the joiner table to the saw blade, so the fence rail is beyond vertical when planing. Whatever system you pick will likely have to be front rail only and wants a stout rail.
A discussion of various fence options for the Hammer B3 is here:
http://tinyurl.com/zwnfdxz?
and?
http://tinyurl.com/65y698r
And an installation sequence for the unifence on a B3 is here:
http://tinyurl.com/hybp2al
I like the unifence and it hasn't disappointed me yet. Perhaps this
information will get you started and if you need more just ask.
Brian(J)
