Hammer A3-26 experience

suds

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Joined
Aug 25, 2008
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I’m debating purchasing the Hammer A3-26 and wondered if any of you fellas have had recent experience with Hammer and the machine. I spoke with them and it will fit in the small space I have left over in my garage that’s crammed with too many tools and 3 cars. Can’t seem to get anyone to give me a price on shipping from their location to the west coast. Anyone have a ballpark figure for shipping? How has the A3-26 worked for you?
 
I'm almost ready to order the A3/31.  I was quoted $385 for shipping from Sacramento to Monterey CA. 
 
Is Hammer on the West coast?  For some reason I thought they were back east.  Wish I had the extra room for the A3-31
 
I get the impression that the main office is on the east coast, but they do have an office in Sacramento as well.  They told me I could get a machine sooner if I had it shipped from the east coast, but the shipping cost was quite a bit more (nearly $700).  I decided to wait a few more weeks for one to get to California. 
 
$700 shipping is a deal breaker for me. Hope they have the A2-26 on the West coast.
 
Hi I have the Hammer A3-26 P/T it's a great machine leaves a lovely finish, I too wish I'd had the room for the A3-31 but the 26 has met all my needs so far. The build qaulity on these machines is excellent I also have the bandsaw and panel saw be careful Hammer is as addictive as Festool  [scared]
 
I just received a n3800 bandsaw I ordered back in November. it was ready for delivery early January, but I held back on having it delivered for a number of reasons. The sales staff is awesome. I deal with the Delaware office, from what I understand is also the main US office.
 
Don't mean to side-track the thread, but I'm curious about your first impressions on the bandsaw.  Have you had the chance to use it yet?  With more companies out-sourcing, I'm also wondering if the N3800 is made in Austria or some other place.  Does it show country of origin? 
 
Did you get some sort of mobility kit with your A3-26?  I know the Festool "addiction" and can see that I will be needing the bandsaw but maybe a Laguna Italian version.
 
They do have a mobility solution. However it is not very well designed in my opinion. The axel and wheels that fit on the back of the unit work well. The lifting bar setup for the front works well if you are young and strong!! A real back killer if you are not!! I made a video on a decent fix for their poorly designed lifting bar setup. I use a hydraulic bottle jack instead with my lifter to save the only back that I have!!!
 
Video link? I like the one on my Sawstop which was the upgraded of the two offered.

 
Max Fracas said:
Don't mean to side-track the thread, but I'm curious about your first impressions on the bandsaw.  Have you had the chance to use it yet?  With more companies out-sourcing, I'm also wondering if the N3800 is made in Austria or some other place.  Does it show country of origin?

I was just speaking to  a felder  rep in the UK  and all felder/hammer  machines  are  manufactured  in Austria  bar  some parts  which are outsourced. The final quality control  approval  is  given by the engineers  in the Austrian factory.
That's the info I was given anyway.  Hope that helps.

 
Thanks for the "made in" info.  No problem with some outsourcing, but I like the idea that the machines are made in and QC'd in Austria.
 
Max Fracas said:
I'm almost ready to order the A3/31.  I was quoted $385 for shipping from Sacramento to Monterey CA.
For that much Id just rent a trailer and go pick it up myself. I bought my N4400 from their Sacramento dealer and used a UHaul flatbed trailer to get it home. They loaded it on and it only took two of us to slide it down the ramp and into my garage at home. Im planning on buying an A3-31 sometime this year and will do the same for that.
 
suds said:
Did you get some sort of mobility kit with your A3-26?  I know the Festool "addiction" and can see that I will be needing the bandsaw but maybe a Laguna Italian version.

Yeah I bought the rolling carriage with the machine and all the parts are good quality and it works fine but in my opinion if you see yourself needing to move the machine around a bit (as I do, small shop  [sad]) it's not much good, best to get a steel angle frame fab'd up with good quality swivel locking castors fitted to it as I have now done and it makes moving the machine a breeze and is perfectly stable I found it raised the machine height by around 100mm which is of no inconvenience to me I have done the same with my K3 panel saw. I'l get a couple of pics up for you in a bit.
 
I have an A3-31 with the Hammer lifting bar. It is a bit of a pita to move about even in my reasonable sized workshop. I have thought about getting a proper heavy duty rolling carriage for it, but have been a bit concerned about unwanted movement of the machine when in use.

It is a good quality machine and has performed just as I would have expected for a Hammer.

I would be interested in seeing what options others have come up with for moving it about the workshop. [wink]

Tim.
 
Distinctive Interiors said:
I have an A3-31 with the Hammer lifting bar. It is a bit of a pita to move about even in my reasonable sized workshop. I have thought about getting a proper heavy duty rolling carriage for it, but have been a bit concerned about unwanted movement of the machine when in use.

It is a good quality machine and has performed just as I would have expected for a Hammer.

I would be interested in seeing what options others have come up with for moving it about the workshop. [wink]

Tim.

The A3-31 was the first JP I purchased back in 2008, its long gone but I put 4 Zambus A300 casters on it, worked great. Then they were $35.00 each, still well worth the money today.

John

John
 
[member=11290]TomGadwa1[/member] , could we get a closer shot of your setup.
Taking delivery TOMMOROW for my A3-26, K3 & N4400, i'd like to do something like that.

Think it could work on the K3 ?

Here's the video

I need sleep today. Morning delivery.  [tongue]

TomGadwa1 said:
They do have a mobility solution. However it is not very well designed in my opinion. The axel and wheels that fit on the back of the unit work well. The lifting bar setup for the front works well if you are young and strong!! A real back killer if you are not!! I made a video on a decent fix for their poorly designed lifting bar setup. I use a hydraulic bottle jack instead with my lifter to save the only back that I have!!!
 
Not the best pic but you can see my custom rolling base I have on my k3 and have exactly the same on my A3 i'v not had any stability problems and my floor isn't in the best condition
 

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