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Hello, this is my first time posting here. I have dreamed of an a3-41 planer jointer for a couple of years. Last week I found a used one at a good price and purchased it. The jointer beds weren't co-plainer, but I have tuned a couple of jointers in the past and thought this would not be a problem. Boy was I dead wrong. I have read everything I can find and watched the one video I could find but I can not get the machine even close to co-planer. If anyone within a 250-mile radius of Laurel, MS has any experience with these machines, I would love to hire them to help me get my machine working. I will pay up to $1000 and bring the machine to your shop if Laurel is to away. I am close to New Orleans, Mobile, Jackson, and will drive to Birmingham. A Felder tech will cost close to 3k and I can't quite swing that. Any help will be greatly appreciated.?
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Hi Chad, welcome to the Forum!!
Congrats on your new machine, hopefully you can get it dialed-in properly soon.?
Some additional information would be helpful, such as:
-- Build year??
-- What have you tried?
-- In what manner are the beds out of alignment (in what direction are they not coplanar)??
I have a 2020 A3-41 and the Felder technician was able to do a pretty good job walking me through the alignment process over the phone, hopefully saving you a tech visit. There are some talented members here with a lot of experience dialing-in these machines, so if you can provide as much information as possible it'll be helpful to guide you on your way.?
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Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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The timing on this could not be better. I also need alot of advise on my 2021 A3-31 Table adjustments I face-timed with a tech and received some help there but I am not making much progress. My goal is to eliminate the sprung joint to achieve a flat, square jointed board on all four sides.? I have been able to get the outfeed table adjusted so far.
Bill?
On Monday, June 27, 2022, 07:45:06 PM CDT, <tom@...> wrote:
Hi Chad, welcome to the Forum!!
Congrats on your new machine, hopefully you can get it dialed-in properly soon.?
Some additional information would be helpful, such as:
-- Build year??
-- What have you tried?
-- In what manner are the beds out of alignment (in what direction are they not coplanar)??
I have a 2020 A3-41 and the Felder technician was able to do a pretty good job walking me through the alignment process over the phone, hopefully saving you a tech visit. There are some talented members here with a lot of experience dialing-in these machines, so if you can provide as much information as possible it'll be helpful to guide you on your way.?
--
Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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Correction I have NOT been able to get the outfeed table adjusted so far (sorry for the missed word and confusion Bill
On Monday, June 27, 2022, 08:08:33 PM CDT, Bill Rosenthal <bcrosenthal@...> wrote:
The timing on this could not be better. I also need alot of advise on my 2021 A3-31 Table adjustments I face-timed with a tech and received some help there but I am not making much progress. My goal is to eliminate the sprung joint to achieve a flat, square jointed board on all four sides.? I have been able to get the outfeed table adjusted so far.
Bill?
On Monday, June 27, 2022, 07:45:06 PM CDT, <tom@...> wrote:
Hi Chad, welcome to the Forum!!
Congrats on your new machine, hopefully you can get it dialed-in properly soon.?
Some additional information would be helpful, such as:
-- Build year??
-- What have you tried?
-- In what manner are the beds out of alignment (in what direction are they not coplanar)??
I have a 2020 A3-41 and the Felder technician was able to do a pretty good job walking me through the alignment process over the phone, hopefully saving you a tech visit. There are some talented members here with a lot of experience dialing-in these machines, so if you can provide as much information as possible it'll be helpful to guide you on your way.?
--
Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
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Hi Tom, thanks for the reply. The machine was built in 2017. The tables started out with the infeed table dropping dramatically at the end where the fence rail attaches. I started trying to fix things by using a dial indicator and leveling the outfeed table to the cutter head. Next, I raised the infeed table to start dead perfect with the outfeed table using a straight edge and feeler gauges. Everything I have read said to start on the hinge side by loosening the four bolts below the hinge and adjusting two set crews on the hinge. One is on the top left of the hinge and the other under the back hinge cover. The problems really started when I loosened the for bolts under the hinge the entire infeed table shifted back. When the bolts are loose the weight of the infeed table moves the entire hinge around in the frame. I have to push up on the outfeed table to shift the hinge back, then try and tighten it while holding the table up. I can look and sometimes the two grub screws aren't even touching the frame. After 12 hours and one busted finger, I'm getting desperate.?
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Hi Bill. Did you have any problems with the hinge moving when you loosen the four bolts below the hinge? This has me dumbfounded.??
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There ?is a small amount of adjustment with those loose. No where near the amount needed. The tech I talked to has me adjusting the hinge mount on the block above those bolts. ?I am making progress but not finished yet.?
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On Jun 27, 2022, at 8:58 PM, Chad75 <shouldercords@...> wrote:
?Hi Bill. Did you have any problems with the hinge moving when you loosen the four bolts below the hinge? This has me dumbfounded.??
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I finally figured out my machine. The four bolts you loosen directly under the hinge have four corresponding nuts on the back of the machine. I loosened both the front and back on the infeed table of my machine. This causes the whole hinge to rock back and forth making the adjustment screws worthless. You might try lightly loosening the back nuts and it will give you more play in the hinge movement. A word of warning though, it could also cause your entire table to shift. My main problem was I had forgotten about the back nuts because you can still tighten the front bolts. After walking away from it for a day I finally figured out the problem and now have it dialed in. Maybe this can help you out.?
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Yes. I thought of that too while I was trying to get adjusted. I made sure the nuts on the backside were loose as well. It did not result in any additional movement for me. Great! That it worked for you.? When I go out there today, I am hoping to be able to move on to the in feed side. Not sure yet but hopeful.
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On Jun 29, 2022, at 4:22 PM, Chad75 <shouldercords@...> wrote:
?I finally figured out my machine. The four bolts you loosen directly under the hinge have four corresponding nuts on the back of the machine. I loosened both the front and back on the infeed table of my machine. This causes the whole hinge to rock back and forth making the adjustment screws worthless. You might try lightly loosening the back nuts and it will give you more play in the hinge movement. A word of warning though, it could also cause your entire table to shift. My main problem was I had forgotten about the back nuts because you can still tighten the front bolts. After walking away from it for a day I finally figured out the problem and now have it dialed in. Maybe this can help you out.?
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Hello Chad and Bill,? I just picked up a used 2018 A3-26 from a good friend when he decided to upgrade to an A3-41. After we moved the machine the jointer tables required some adjustment. As you both know, that's easier said than done. Long story short, I've made a mess of things, and I'm not sure how to get back on track. Felder tech support has been responsive, but I still seem to be missing something.? I've spent a countless hours just trying to get the outfeed table calibrated (more than I want to admit). Whenever I get it just about right,? everything moves when I tighten the bolts. Based on my conversations with tech support, I've been adjusting four points:
A) The two large bolts with locking nuts on the front edge of the machine.?
B) The two set screws on the hinge assembly which require the loosening of the 4 bolts. These are the set screws accessed when the table is in the upright position.?
Are those the only places where adjustments need to be made??
How do I keep everything from moving when I tighten things down??
Any help you can offer would be great. I certainly cannot afford the $2500-3000 for a visit from a technician.?
Thanks!
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The one thing that really kicked my butt were the handles and over-tightening them with the resulting readings all over the place. ?I have since learned to use no more than pinky pressure to tighten the handles, which gave me a consistent pressure and helped eliminate self induced errors. ?
James
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It is not an easy task to say the least. ?I think started over at least 3 or 4 times. I ended up buy a new straightedge and a dial indicator with magnetic base. ?I think I got it close. ?I need to verify it is still set up correctly. I’ve only milled one board since working on it. I will say that Jason from customer service was trying to contact me for several weeks and finally caught when I could answer the phone last week. He clearly has experience in working with these and offered some good ideas as well as a set up manual via email.
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On Sep 4, 2022, at 12:52 PM, fa18frog via groups.io <fa18frog@...> wrote:
? The one thing that really kicked my butt were the handles and over-tightening them with the resulting readings all over the place. ?I have since learned to use no more than pinky pressure to tighten the handles, which gave me a consistent pressure and helped eliminate self induced errors. ?
James
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This is the process for a Dual 51, not a Hammer J/P, but the concepts are almost certainly the same.
David Best https://www.instagram.com/davidpbest/
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On Sep 4, 2022, at 7:51 AM, Micah <micahbornstein@...> wrote:
Hello Chad and Bill,? I just picked up a used 2018 A3-26 from a good friend when he decided to upgrade to an A3-41. After we moved the machine the jointer tables required some adjustment. As you both know, that's easier said than done. Long story short, I've made a mess of things, and I'm not sure how to get back on track. Felder tech support has been responsive, but I still seem to be missing something.? I've spent a countless hours just trying to get the outfeed table calibrated (more than I want to admit). Whenever I get it just about right,? everything moves when I tighten the bolts. Based on my conversations with tech support, I've been adjusting four points:
A) The two large bolts with locking nuts on the front edge of the machine.?
B) The two set screws on the hinge assembly which require the loosening of the 4 bolts. These are the set screws accessed when the table is in the upright position.?
Are those the only places where adjustments need to be made??
How do I keep everything from moving when I tighten things down??
Any help you can offer would be great. I certainly cannot afford the $2500-3000 for a visit from a technician.?
Thanks!
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Hello Bill,?
I too have purchased a new straight edge. I was hoping to avoid purchasing a dial indicator.
I'm curious about this setup manual to which you refer. I assume this is separate from the instruction manual. I was told by tech support that there isn't a guide for calibrating the tables. Is there any chance you could share this manual with the group??
Thanks
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Hello James,?
Thanks for the guidance. When you've learned to not over tighten the locking handles, do you mean during calibration or during normal use?
Thank you
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Micah,
Actually both. ?Even after you calibrate the tables you can still get them out of alignment if you crank on the handles. ?The weight of the tables will keep them down. ?Pinkie tight just secures them. ?Whatever method you chose stick to it so you put the same down force on the tables every time.
If you set up your dial indicator you’ll see you can still move the needle around just with the handle and in my case I ended up chasing my tail until I quit cranking on them. ?I have a dial indicator near by and check the tables every time I close them now. ?Dead flat and a joy to use but took a great deal of patience to get right.
keep at it and you’ll be comfortable and confident to make any adjustments in the future.
James
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James, thanks for the encouragement. The feedback you and others have shared has already been quite helpful. I'm about to get back to work on the machine.?
Thank you!?
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Hello David, Thanks for sharing the album of you adjusting the Dual 51. The pictures demonstrating how you go about adjusting the bolts under the front edge of the table were especially helpful. I'm still a little fuzzy on the correlation between the Dual 51 and A3 when it comes to making adjustments on the hinge side. I recognize that you don't have an A3, but I'm putting it out there in case anyone might be able to chime in. Thus far, I have only made adjustments to the two set screws on the hinge based:  Does anyone know if I should be making adjustments to the two set screws accessed through the top of the table above the hinge assembly:  Thank you!
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Tom Gensmer
David P. Best