Comments on: Hot or Not? Combination Stationary Tools http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:02:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Dusty http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-142084 Dusty Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:47:30 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-142084 Quality always remains an issue for me when I buy power tools. Quality translates to longevity. For what I have invested in my Shopsmith, I could have purchases several standalone tools; however, I could not rely on those tools to last as long as my Shopsmith has. I twenty+ years I have done nothing more than routine mantenance and yet my Shopsmith just keeps on working. The standalones that I could have purchased for that same investment would have certainly been replaced by now. Furthermore, I can still get support from Shopsmith if and when I need it. Most other power tools purchased twenty years ago are no longer supported. If you doubt that, just try to buy parts for your old timer. You can't beat good customer service but these days that is hard to find. Not with Shopsmith. The customer service line is available and is always staffed by qualified technicians. I have spoken to several of them many times over the years. They are friendly as well as qualified. I am more than just satisfied with my Shopsmith. It has provided me with years of dependable service that I don't believe can be matched by any American made power tool on the market today. If you disagree - let's hear what you have to offer. I doubt that you can change my position because it is based on years of reliable performance - not just opinion. Quality always remains an issue for me when I buy power tools. Quality translates to longevity. For what I have invested in my Shopsmith, I could have purchases several standalone tools; however, I could not rely on those tools to last as long as my Shopsmith has. I twenty+ years I have done nothing more than routine mantenance and yet my Shopsmith just keeps on working. The standalones that I could have purchased for that same investment would have certainly been replaced by now.

Furthermore, I can still get support from Shopsmith if and when I need it. Most other power tools purchased twenty years ago are no longer supported. If you doubt that, just try to buy parts for your old timer.

You can’t beat good customer service but these days that is hard to find. Not with Shopsmith. The customer service line is available and is always staffed by qualified technicians. I have spoken to several of them many times over the years. They are friendly as well as qualified.

I am more than just satisfied with my Shopsmith. It has provided me with years of dependable service that I don’t believe can be matched by any American made power tool on the market today. If you disagree - let’s hear what you have to offer. I doubt that you can change my position because it is based on years of reliable performance - not just opinion.

]]> By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Hot or Not Roundup http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-32716 Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Hot or Not Roundup Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:14:33 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-32716 [...] Combination Stationary Tools: Hot. While readers pointed out the inherent limitations in combination rigs — the inability to switch machines while retaining setups and the way many of them share a single motor — most seemed convinced that a quality combination tool represents a good solution for someone with limited space.  Cost, though, can be a factor. [...] [...] Combination Stationary Tools: Hot. While readers pointed out the inherent limitations in combination rigs — the inability to switch machines while retaining setups and the way many of them share a single motor — most seemed convinced that a quality combination tool represents a good solution for someone with limited space.  Cost, though, can be a factor. [...]

]]> By: Art Andreasen http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25410 Art Andreasen Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:41:51 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25410 My father - a Master Carpenter - has a Felder - i think - and had it since we build his house in the 70ies. We made virtually every wooden component of it - except the windows, and he´s really fond of wood: carved ceilings, wooden furniture, bases for his hunting trophys, huge balconies, a wintergarden, you name it, a real tirolean Lederhosenhütte. He uses it almost daily, has tweaked it over time - originally it came with one motor, now it has three i think or four, though it is not selvpropelled yet, despite the fact that his workshop is tiny and he has to move it around when handling large pieces. When we cut long pieces we push it to the door and feed the machine from the outside. I have never heard that anything was broken, except maybe that we exchanged some ball bearings. He's 70 now and asked me if i want it one day, what a question, i have allready placed my name on it. My father - a Master Carpenter - has a Felder - i think - and had it since we build his house in the 70ies. We made virtually every wooden component of it - except the windows, and he´s really fond of wood: carved ceilings, wooden furniture, bases for his hunting trophys, huge balconies, a wintergarden, you name it, a real tirolean Lederhosenhütte. He uses it almost daily, has tweaked it over time - originally it came with one motor, now it has three i think or four, though it is not selvpropelled yet, despite the fact that his workshop is tiny and he has to move it around when handling large pieces. When we cut long pieces we push it to the door and feed the machine from the outside. I have never heard that anything was broken, except maybe that we exchanged some ball bearings.
He’s 70 now and asked me if i want it one day, what a question, i have allready placed my name on it.

]]> By: Michael http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25401 Michael Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:32:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25401 They definitely fit a need for small one man operations or shops. I do know someone that owns a similar Felder and he loves it. He does have a tiny shop though (and come to think of it he's Swiss-German too). I think that their slow acceptance here in the US is most likely do to the fact that most woodworkers here tend to buy one machine at a time as they can afford it. The high price doesn't help either. Fine Woodworking had an article (winter 2006/2007 Tools & Shops annual issue) not to long ago where they set up an entire shop for about $5000. They included a tablesaw, planer, jointer, bandsaw, compound miter saw, drill press, dust collector, shop vacuum, two routers, random orbital sander, drill/driver, belt sander, circular saw, biscuit joiner, block plane, smooth plane, shoulder plane, cabinet scraper, dovetail saw and a set of chisels. That being said, I'm in the process of looking at buying a combo jointer/planer because of shop size limitations. At this point of my life I wouldn't buy a machine like the Robland because I already have most of those tools. I wouldn't mind having one, I just couldn't justify the cost. So I think they're Hot, but not for me at this time. They definitely fit a need for small one man operations or shops. I do know someone that owns a similar Felder and he loves it. He does have a tiny shop though (and come to think of it he’s Swiss-German too).

I think that their slow acceptance here in the US is most likely do to the fact that most woodworkers here tend to buy one machine at a time as they can afford it. The high price doesn’t help either. Fine Woodworking had an article (winter 2006/2007 Tools & Shops annual issue) not to long ago where they set up an entire shop for about $5000.

They included a tablesaw, planer, jointer, bandsaw, compound miter saw, drill press, dust collector, shop vacuum, two routers, random orbital sander, drill/driver, belt sander, circular saw, biscuit joiner, block plane, smooth plane, shoulder plane, cabinet scraper, dovetail saw and a set of chisels.

That being said, I’m in the process of looking at buying a combo jointer/planer because of shop size limitations. At this point of my life I wouldn’t buy a machine like the Robland because I already have most of those tools. I wouldn’t mind having one, I just couldn’t justify the cost.

So I think they’re Hot, but not for me at this time.

]]> By: Rob http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25339 Rob Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:37:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25339 Paul makes a good point. You can't keep setups on one tool if you changeover to another tool so you have to plan your work accordingly. That's not a terrible trade of if you are hard up for space but separate dedicated tools will allow you to work faster. Of course what do I know, I have 2 lathes so I don't have to change setups while turning things. Paul makes a good point. You can’t keep setups on one tool if you changeover to another tool so you have to plan your work accordingly. That’s not a terrible trade of if you are hard up for space but separate dedicated tools will allow you to work faster. Of course what do I know, I have 2 lathes so I don’t have to change setups while turning things.

]]> By: nrChris http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25281 nrChris Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:40:48 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25281 The single motor setup of the Shopsmith seems to be a deal breaker. My dad has had two different SS models. Currently his only acts as a lathe--all of the other components have been replaced over time with better standalone versions. The tool mentioned above certainly showcases a more diverse set of powertools though. The single motor setup of the Shopsmith seems to be a deal breaker. My dad has had two different SS models. Currently his only acts as a lathe–all of the other components have been replaced over time with better standalone versions. The tool mentioned above certainly showcases a more diverse set of powertools though.

]]> By: Paul http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25255 Paul Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:35:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hot-or-not-combination-stationary-tools/#comment-25255 This machine sure looks to me like it'd be a solid foundation for any serious woodworker. I worry that these all in ones end up doing just one task after a while. That, and if something goes wrong with one element of the machine it could impact other functions also. Though these do look well made so I find that highly unlikely. I cannot tell, and the article stated that everything had its own motor, but if there was any reconfiguration between operations that would make me somewhat hesitant too. Then dedicated machines would have a decided advantage over this style. For anyone that wanted an integrated shop though this sure looks like the modular package to me. Woodshop in a box. This machine sure looks to me like it’d be a solid foundation for any serious woodworker. I worry that these all in ones end up doing just one task after a while. That, and if something goes wrong with one element of the machine it could impact other functions also. Though these do look well made so I find that highly unlikely.

I cannot tell, and the article stated that everything had its own motor, but if there was any reconfiguration between operations that would make me somewhat hesitant too. Then dedicated machines would have a decided advantage over this style.

For anyone that wanted an integrated shop though this sure looks like the modular package to me. Woodshop in a box.

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