10 Australian Wood Review
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT- Cutterheads on the Rikon and Woodfast
are the same configuration. The only
difference is that the Rikon offers 5500rpm
compared to 5000rpm on the Woodfast. - Point of difference: the Rikon has an
accessory outfeed table fitted to the
thicknessing table. - The machines had same-size aluminium
extrusion fences that were nice and
straight along their length.
Converting over to thicknessing mode
was an identical process, although
I found the Woodfast machine required
significantly more effort to physically
lift the tables. Once converted the
machines have good safety features in
that there is a locking toggle to prevent
the tables from tilting back over without
direct intervention, and once flipped over,
the dust shroud also had a nice little
spring-loaded pin to prevent it from being
inadvertently flipped when not desired.Feed speed is identical at a respectable
7m/min and the Woodfast has a slight
advantage in maximum thicknessing
width at 307mm compared to 305mm
for the Rikon. Both have a thicknessing
height range of 4–225mm.The Rikon does have two distinct
advantages in thicknessing mode. First, it
has a counter-style readout to indicate the
table height and it also has an accessory
outfeed table fitted to the thicknessing
table. The thicknessing table on both
machines is locked with a rotating kip-lock3
4
5
handle, however the Rikon offered a more
solid lock in this regard.Lengths of sapele, some Tasmanian
blackwood with a distinct change in
grain direction along the length, as well
as the figured Qld maple were used to
test cut quality. The results from both
machines were great, with the only
tear-out happening right at the change
of grain direction in the blackwood,
which would have happened on this
piece of wood with just about any
other machine as well in my opinion.There are now a good number of options
in this class of machine for woodworkers
to choose from, and these two are
certainly well positioned to take on
their competitors. Most home-based
woodworkers would be well served
by either of these machines. Whilst
extremely similar in so many regards,
I found the Rikon to be just that little
bit better a machine, with the additional
0.3hp power, the height readout and
the outfeed table on the thicknesser
helping it to stand out for me.
Damion Fauser is a furniture
designer/maker who lives in Brisbane
who also teaches woodwork.
Email: [email protected]
Review machines provided on location
at Woodwork Machinery...Plus, see
http://www.woodworkmachinery.com.au
See also http://www.woodfast-group.com
and http://www.rikon.com.au