Ok, boys and girls...I am pleased to say that the MiniMax FS-350 14" jointer/planer combo has finally made it into the shop. The only thing that made the wait palatable was the fact that I was traveling on business all week anyway. It was on my friend Russ's lift-gate truck all week as his wife needed emergency surgery--and trust me, that was much more important than any tool or woodworking activity. I would have cheerfully waited for however was long necessary. He arranged for me to get the keys this morning, but decided to drive up himself...I guess he needed to get out for a few minutes. (His wife needs a second surgery at the beginning of the week--your thoughts will be appreciated)
It took a couple of hours to clean off the remaining cosmoline (or whatever) that wasn't taken off by MiniMax prior to the show, fit up the electrical connection and put it in place where it will probably reside in the shop. The fence needed minor adjustment to bring it exactly 90º to the tables, but that is to be expected.
Initial Impressions - Positive
1) Very well made machine with great fit and finish
2) Very heavy...this tool isn't going to walk away by itself
3) Easy operation and change over from jointing to planing
4) Fence adjusts easily and precisely
5) Parallelogram table design insures that the lip of the infeed table is always exactly the same distance away from the cutter head
6) Tersa knives are extraordinarily easy to change and never need "setting"
7) Mobility kit makes placing and moving the tool easy, yet is designed so that the machine sits on the floor, rather than any wheels, when it is stationary
8) Motor and cutter head noise is very reasonable...it's not a screamer like the portable planers are!
Initial Impressions - Negative
1) Dust collection hoods are 120mm and will not mate with "standard" US hose and components. I had to order two adapters from Oneida to hook up to my 5" hoses
2) The front cutter head safety guard is made from lightweight plastic which is inappropriate for such a fine piece of machinery. For what these tools cost, this guard should have been metal like the guard that follows the fence in the rear. "For shame!"
3) The manuals are in a difficult to read format with five languages spread horizontally across the pages. The translations from Italian are not necessarily "the best" or clear on some things, too
Pictures
1) From the front in jointer mode
2) From the end in jointer mode...note that this tool cannot get right up to the wall due to the fence support design. For size reference, the DC duct on the wall is 5" in diameter
3) In order to get the tool closer to the wall, I use a hole-saw to open up the OSB paneling to give 2" more clearance when the fence is fully retracted to the back of the bed. The post goes right into the wall...
4) From the front in planer mode
5) Somebody is bound to suggest that this tool may have other purposes...
Reply With Quote
Sheeesh...I though I was doing pretty good keeping up with the Jones's, but this whole keeping up with the Becker's is a losing battle! Oh, do I sound just a tad envious? Jealous? No-o-o-o-o-o-o, NOT a chance of that! 
'Scuse me while I go give my mini-tools a hug. They're feeling just a bit neglected right now. 
I think that I will show this to the LOML when I want to make another purchase for the shop monster. Maybe she will be a bit more understanding (or maybe not.) Good luck and let us know how it works. 
Originally Posted by Charles Wintle
And they're no Greenshirts to be seen!
