Strength required to convert a Hammer A3-31 Planer/Jointer???

[Mo Ghotbi]

Hi Elle, I have the Hammer A3-31 and it requires very little strength to move the table. It takes a while, as the table moves very little with each rotation, but it is smooth and nearly effortless.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi John, probably 1.5 or 2mm deep cut..........Rod.

[Randy Hermann]

Getting it off of the pallets, etc. is definitely a bit of work and if you don't have a couple of strong friends to come help it will take some time. I was able to do mine by myself without too much straining by using lots of the wood from the packing to build "cribs" and slide the machine onto the cribbed 2x4's, remove the pallet and replace with a slightly lower cribbed 2x4, slide, repeat. Lots of time...

I built my own mobility kit simply because I wanted to keep it as non-Chinese as I could, for less than the Felder kit. In this case everything was made in the USA, I think except for maybe the first item:

$7 Qty 2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...2?ie=UTF8&th=1
$12 Qty 1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...2?ie=UTF8&th=1
$24 Qty 2: https://www.amazon.com/RWM-Casters-U...WWB7BNFTK2ZJZT
These are not the wheels I used and are not made in USA. The USA ones are out of stock.
$5.30 Qty 1 pkg (includes 3! bushings, need 2): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$90 Qty 2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Total ~$140

You will need a 1/2" tap to clear the holes at the front of the base of the machine for the Footmaster bolts to fit through or some way to get at them with a 1/2" drill bit from the bottom- maybe doable while still on the pallet? Tapping can be done later if need be. If you want to go that route let me know and I will check which tap you need. Alternatively you could take the castor to a hardware store and match it or ask the manufacturer. I think it was a 1/2" coarse thread: https://www.amazon.com/Century-Drill...2F2+tap+coarse
No need to get the special wrench but it is handy. A mechanic friend may have one you can borrow.

You can save quite a bit by using the knock-off FootMaster casters.
The 8" wheels make the machine very close to level with the footmaster casters and they really help it roll around. I can literally move mine with one finger on a basement concrete floor that is about as smooth/rough as a concrete driveway.

I built a wood storage rack using some cheap casters (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and I can barely get it moving/change direction when it is sitting still. There may be 500 pounds on that rack. The nice casters are absolutely worth the money.