The right starter machine

[Mike B]

Hi to all,
I am looking into buying a combination machine to produce box sash windows, I am a bit of a novice in making them (fitting and buying them for years)
I've been looking at the SICAR fox 260 along with SCM mini max lab 260, can anyone recommend 1 or both as a good machine/Precise etc?
I joiner I know mentioned he once bought a machine with a planer table that was not exactly true/straight.
It would be a bad start to my venture if the machine I buy is not really suitable. Not interested in making doors for now.
Thanks,
Mike.

[JonR]

As with me looking at panel saws buy the best you can afford, so what your max budget ?

[timbly]

Hi Mike
Difficult to advise not knowing your budget. Of the 2 you mention i’d go with the minimax.
Many moons ago i moved from my startup gear which was Scheppach (not that good but got me going..) to a Felder BF6 combi and my wood working life never looked back. Suddenly all my cuts and joints were straight and true. Personally i think Felder are the kings of the combi.. Look out on Ebay - they do come up now and again and the prices can be reasonable. Another possibility is to look out for the saw/spindle option (i’ve seen these come up regularly again often at good prices) then get a separate planer/thicknesser. If it were me starting out again i’d avoid the heartache of second rate new gear and look for decent gear second hand. We still run a second hand Felder saw/spindle KF700 and it's spot on every time.. One day we'll possibly upgrade to a Martin/Altendorf but for now the Felder does all we ask and does it well!
Good luck with it all..
Tim

[thekarter]

I bought a second hand Mini Max some ten years ago on eBay. It's a super machine and spares are readily available.
Alan