I’ve been using the wrong table saw for years

Spilling the beans after 6 months of woodshop romance with the Hammer K3 Sliding Table Saw! Join me in this candid video as I spill the beans on my experiences, quirks, and revelations working with the Hammer K3. From precision cuts to unexpected challenges, I'm laying it all out – the good, the bad, and the contriversial truth. Whether you're eyeing this powerhouse for your own workshop or just enjoy some honest tool talk, this review is your backstage pass to the nitty-gritty of living and working with the Hammer K3. Get ready for a no-nonsense, sawdust-filled conversation about the real deal behind the sliding table saw game!

#slidingtablesaw #woodworkingtools #toolreview

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These videos are for entertainment purposes only. Bent's Woodworking is not responsible for any viewer trying to recreate something demonstrated in this video. Attempting any of the techniques shown are at the viewers own risk.

[johnhuelsenbeck]

I have exactly the same machine, down to every specification. I think this was a nice introductory video, one I would have appreciated three years ago when I was obsessed about table saws and which one to buy. You spent a lot of time on the dimensions and the space requirements. I have a _way_ smaller workshop space and I've been able to make it work. For me, the main attractions for the sliding table saw were: (1) Safety. You use a slider differently. Instead of standing directly behind the blade, and in the path of any kickback, you stand to the side and away from kickback. Moreover, there is no need to get your hands near to the blade. If you find yourself doing so, you're doing something wrong. For small pieces, you can make or buy a Fritz & Franz jig which pinches small pieces when running the wood through the blade. (A F&F jig is also really useful for rip cuts on narrow pieces.) (2) Precision. This machine is probably the cheapest machine you can buy that has precision better than wood deserves. If you get a few 1-2-3 machinist blocks, you can dial in the scales to less than a mm. The precision also extends to the cross cutting ability on this machine. I dialed mine in so that error is evenly distributed around zero. (I'm a statistician and did replicate cuts using the 5 cut method.) This means that you can count on 90 degree cuts really being 90 degrees. Finally (3) Crosscutting: I was used to the idea of a normal North American style table saw. In fact, I started my research with the idea of getting a Saw Stop saw. But, then I started to think about the things I would need to make in order to use the saw to its fullest potential. Minimally a crosscut sled. If you think about it, it's silly to think that you need to make a bunch of jigs to use a saw to its potential. This saw, out of the box, can cross cut like nothing you've ever seen. It's a dream!

Bedrosian sells an excellent Fritz & Franz jig. Ramon Valdez makes zero clearance inserts for this machine.

[ApexWoodworks]

I purchased a Felder K700S which has a 9' slide nearly 10 years ago and cannot imagine ever working without it. And for the record, mine is an 1, 100 sq ft basement shop.

[pkwoodworking]

I have had your enthusiasm for sliders for the last 20 years. I started with a Laguna TSS and now have a Format 4 kappa 400 x-motion. They are such a joy to use. Excited that some of the "influencers" are finally coming around the the light!

[vernonrichardson]

Love it, love it, love it….!!!! I love seeing people wrap their heads around a slider. You are 100% correct saying you will never go back to a traditional saw. Please let everyone know about the riving knife, brings an element of safety that you do not get with anything else. I used a big SCMI for the last 12 years in a commercial setting and it was the most satisfying tool I have ever used! A great deal of my work was with lumber although one would think it’s mainly for sheet goods. Once you re-train yourself from pushing everything between the fence and blade everything opens up!
Love it

[nealwalden]

Glad to see another promotion for a slider video. We are a commercial cabinet shop, so we have multiple Martin brand sliding saws and would never use a "cabinet type" saw. We fixture most things on the carriage for best precision results etc. I have a Robland combo machine at my house, for personal use.

[rodsheridan]

Great review, thanks for doing the work involved in making this video.

I have a Hammer B3 that I custom ordered in 2010, so that I could have the 51” slider with outrigger.

The B3 has the tilting spindle shaper in it which I use a lot as I mostly make solid wood furniture.

The outrigger on mine spends most of the time hanging on the wall, I only use it for large panels or Timbers.

I added the folding handle with built in angle gauge for the saw, shaper elevation also has the added digital gauge.

I have a power feeder on mine on a flip up bracket, it gets used on the saw and shaper.

I noticed that your riving knife is too far away from the blade, and your guard isn’t installed, 2 big safety issues, as well as missing the over blade dust collection which works very well.

Since I mostly work in solid wood, I often use the edging shoe on the slider for straight lining and ripping rough timber slightly oversized before jointing and planing.

I had most of my blades bored when I bought the B3, it’s about $20 per blade, any tooling manufacturer can do that for you, I used FS Tools because they’re in my neighbourhood, I also have a 6” dado from them.

Thanks for a great review, Regards, Rod

[DEVINREYNOLDS]

That was a great video bent and u are a great woodworker just like my dad aka I miss hanging out with u and always will sir and can’t stop ever sir!!

[AndreBoysen]

Hey Jason, I love your channel. As you predicted some in your audience would copy your decision to get a Hammer. I have a Sawtop JSS and was considering the large Sawstop saws. I decided the slider was a much better route, it has the safety benefit of keeping my fingers far from the blade and has the 'sled' built in as you said while keeping my position out of line with the blade. My K3 Winner arrived and I am still putting it together. For others considering this I would say it is worth considering getting the mobility kit. I put the wheels on while it was on the pallet. Getting it off was a breeze - no pallet jack or tricky balancing. Thanks again for the great content.

[JSC]

I agree 100% with Jason on the slider review. Sold my Sawstop 2 years ago and bought a C3 41, 16" jointer/planer, shaper combo and have never looked back. Was a tad hesitant but took the jump and just wish I did it sooner. The Fritz and Franz accessory is awesome, I could cut thin strips all day with complete confidence, and with total safety. I use only Forrest blades and have the Forrest dado stack. I now do most of my cross cutting on my slider instead of my Kapex as well. And cutting plywood, as Jason demonstrated, is so much easier for this old man. Oh and this saved me space in my two car garage setup, by also selling my DeWalt 13" planer and Powermatic 6" jointer. I also find Felder's support to be top notch. Thanks Jason, really enjoy your overviews.

[Mr.Snowboard]

Thanks so much for the review! I break down a ton of Baltic Birch sheets goods and have wanted a slider for a while now. I thought they were out of my grasp financially but I see now this one may not be. I've regretted buying my 52" Harvey Alpha from the first day I used it, they are junk. Thanks for showing breaking down a sheet of BB, my mind is made up, now time to save and sell the Alpha!

[rjustison]

I live and Delaware and always wanted a Felder saw. I recently purchased the Hammer C3 41 Combination machine. It saves a lot of space in my garage. I had the same problem with the three position switch on the back. I was devastated when it wouldn't turn on. I guess I'm not the only one who missed that. I'm very happy with my purchase and would recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade.

[davidwilson]

Thanks for this video, the dimensions of the saw was really useful. I am just a hobbyist where I work out of a garage, but still park my cars in it when not working. My question is, can the outrigger be taken off when not using the table saw as I would need to remove it for parking, and then put back on when I need to make a cut, without having to dial in the accuracy each time?

[judsonpitt]

Love it! This video confirmed every suspicion I had about a sliding table saw. I couldn't think of a single reason (other than space maybe) why I wouldn't want to move from a standard saw to a slider. I loved your other video about breaking down sheet goods using the track saw and I incorporated a lot of those techniques into my process for breaking down sheet goods but still think a sliding table saw would be more accurate, easier to navigate larger sheet goods, and safer for that task than a track saw and especially a regular table saw.

[jimshields]

I have the FELDER K700S…. Which I got because it seemed the safest option (even vs the Sawstop). As you demonstrate - You can hold an 8x4 sheet (portrait or landscape) on the sliding table with the fence and a single clamp and never be within feet of the blade, or at the other end of the scale you can cut 1/4 inch off a 1 inch long dowel using the Fritz & Franz jig also without coming within feet of the blade….. and all without the need for a push stick because you are always so far from the blade

[jpatrickrice]

I started out with the Felder K500 Pro and like you was totally sold on using a slider. I too decided I wanted more and I upgraded after about 1 year to the Felder Kappa 400 X-motion. Went with all digital stops and totally love this machine. I had it commissioned by Felder and it has been a pleasure to use. My advice would be to not settle for less on your next upgrade as years later you won’t have any regrets.

[nobdyspecial]

I got my C3-31 Perform 5 Function combo machine 18 months ago and absolutely love it. I even manage to fit the whole thing in a 2 car garage (although it's tight!) As for your discuss about the mitre slot - just use the sliding table! When I'm cutting miters, especially for smaller pieces, I shift my outrigger fence to the back and flip the fence around (so the fence is pushing the work through). Gives me a 1300mm capacity and the ability to use the miter indents on the outrigger.

[williamparker]

A few comments, when you got your saw it the last piece I needed to convince me to purchase the exact saw. I replaced a Powermatic 66 with a Beismyer 50" fence. I loved this saw but my new Hammer is a giant upgrade. The Hammer actually has a smaller footprint. Using a sliding table saw as you said, is infinitely safer to operate. My hands are never near the blade. I too love my Hammer saw!
Thank you for the video. Your channel has been a great help for me!

[branchandfoundry]

Thank you, Jason, for this great comprehensive walk through! I'm with you on the saw stop opinion. When I needed to replace my JET cabinet saw a couple years ago, I never considered paying an extra $2, 500 for a saw stop. And I did run my hand through a table saw many years ago. I did that being careless/brainless cutting 120 identical parts late at night. That changed the way I work and I've not even had a near miss since. I'll never understand the saw stop bandwagon. It all comes down to paying attention.

[DirkfromDayton]

I think this is one of your best and most informative videos. Thanks for going into so much detail. I have the Felder K500S and I absolutely love it. I agree with so many points in your video and I feel completely safe using my saw.

[WelshRabbit]

I've been lusting for an Altendorf, Felder (Format 4), or Martin for a long time. As soon as I win the lottery jackpot, it will show up in my garage. Congrats on your fine acquisition, JB.