Felder AD 941: Two Years On
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- Опубликовано: 12 дек 2023
- It's been a couple of years now since I received my Felder AD-941 Jointer/Planer. See my previous review of this machine for a more in-depth look.
The reason for this video is not only to share my thoughts after more experience on the machine but to go back and check the flatness of the tables for stability.
Some thoughts on the flatness. In the video I stated the accuracy of the Lee Valley straight edge to be .002 - I checked, and it is actually .003.
In my original video I found the flatness to be within .002. Last week I confirmed it to be the same. BUT - as you will see in the video this time around that number increased to .005. That's a difference of .003 - within the margin of error of the straight edge. I suspect hoverer, there is more variables at play here. My methods are not based on any training. If there are any machinist out there that would like to comment on this - I am all ears.
Given the tolerances and variables at play it is difficult to know if the tables have moved (warped) . If they have - it is very very little!
The machine has proven to be very reliable with only insignificant issues arising. One time there was need to adjust the heigh of the outfeed table (quite easy to do) and on another occasion there was a screw that came loose inside the cowling of the motor- another easy fix.
Incredible as it may seem the onboard DRO has not needed re-calibration since my last video. This is much different than the experience with the DRO attached to my old Powermatic planer - which required calibration so often as to make it unworkable.
I rotated the cutterhead inserts for the 1st time about a month ago. It was easy to do - just took a little time.
Felder likes to advertise that the cut from their spiral heads is so smooth as to require little or no sanding afterward. I don't buy the notion of no sanding - but my need to sand parts has been greatly reduced. Tear-out on figured woods is at a minimum - it still exists to a small degree but is much better when compared to other spiral heads I have owned.
I still get a thrill when I walk into the shop in the morning and see this machine - it's been all I hoped for! 
Хобби
Merry Christmas Darrell. Last year I sold my 2005 model AD741 and it provided excellent performance through the time I owned it. Around the age of 15 or so, moving the planer bed became quite noisy so expect to pull the lower panels off and apply some PTFE lubricant to the guides and chain drive assembly. The digi-drive I had on this machine always kept its calibration. Steve
Merry Christmas Steve! On the 2005 model AD 741 did the planer bed have a single center post or one at each corner (4) ?
@@DarrellPeartFurnitureMaker The 2005 AD741 had 4 posts one at each corner. I am not sure when they changed it. Steve
@@extremewoodworker thanks
We just got our new machine 3rd week of Nov 2023. Was 95% sure we were going to go with the Hammer A331 because it was 122 the price but after doing some research, including the review Darrell did 2 years ago, we went with this machine.
Two biggest factors, the power table instead of the crank, and also the 4 post compared to the single post on the Hammer.
Have only used it for just a small job so far, but very happy with the choice.
Good to pass on the Hammer machine and go directly to the Felder. The Hammer was a good machine but the Felder is so much nicer!
Excellent update...and what I kinda expected. Good tools last
Thanks Jim, Yes - it doesn't pay to buy cheap tools.
I AM waiting for this
You have one on order?
I have AD741 with PD as yours. I'm very pleased with it. If I had the money and space now AD 951 would be a no brainer. Before I had Hammer A3-41 and after 8 months my tables warped, I sent it back to Felder.
I also had the A3-41 - I like my AD-941 much better! Same with me - if the money and space were not a problem I might be thinking of the AD-951. I am quite happy with the machine I have though.
What a great machine! Thanks!
You're welcome Willy - thanks
I too have been very pleased with my AD941, as to the slight dip on the jointer table, perhaps the temple bolts that it rest on need a slight adjustment. I was told during the commissioning of my machine to beware that over time the temple bolts could slightly dimple the cast iron if you were not gentle in lower the tables and/or clamp down too tight.
thanks, Patrick - I will be careful when lowering the tables
Great review, great machine! have you needed to rotate the cutters yet?
Hi Ron,
Yes - I rotated the cutters for the 1st time last month.
I just bought one … it hurts