Hammer Bandsaw?

M

Mac

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Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
729
Esteemed gentlemen,

I'm teetering on the edge of placing an order for the Hammer N4400 bandsaw. Austrian made, part of Felder.  It looks like a lovely machine, and here in the UK it's about ?1000 which I suppose would be about 1700 of your funny little dollars.  Have any of you had any experiences of this steely beauty, or of Hammer in general? This will be my first major purchase for my shop, once I smuggle it in past my wife. I'm tempted to use the 'it's for your birthday darling, you can't see what it is yet' routine, which will give me until January to find something approximately 6 feet in height to put in the box which she'll like. A new husband, perhaps.

Regards,
Rick 'the hammer' Mac
 
Mac said:
I'm teetering on the edge of placing an order for the Hammer N4400 bandsaw. Austrian made, part of Felder.  
Click to expand...

Mac, I believe the Hammer N4400 is made Italy by ACM, and the motor and controls are added by Felder in Austria. ACM builds fine saws, and the N4400 is no exception. I'm not sure if they still do, but ACM use to build some of the Laguna models.

As for smuggling it past your wife, I'll give no advice. I've been caught WAY too many times.  :D
 
I don't have a Hammer N4400.... yet.... but give it a week or two and I hope to.

The Hammer A3 31 Combo Planer / Jointer is a great machine and I am very proud to own one. Wouldn't trade it in for the world unless you were going to throw a Felder AD 741 my way  ;)

Dan Clermont
 
Dan Clermont said:
...Wouldn't trade it in for the world unless you were going to throw a Felder AD 741 my way  ;)
Click to expand...

The AD 741 is a beautiful machine.
 
Dan Clermont said:
I don't have a Hammer N4400.... yet.... but give it a week or two and I hope to.

The Hammer A3 31 Combo Planer / Jointer is a great machine and I am very proud to own one. Wouldn't trade it in for the world unless you were going to throw a Felder AD 741 my way  ;)

Dan Clermont
Click to expand...

Ok, I think it's time for me to hop into the ferry to come and visit you!
 
From what I've picked up, that'd be a hell of a visit, if only to have a go in the forklift...

Well gents, if it's good enough for D and J, it's certainly good enough for me.

J, I'm disappointed that a man of your stature would have been caught in your clandestine smugglings. Maybe you need to rethink your strategies?

Mac.
 
Mac said:
J, I'm disappointed that a man of your stature would have been caught in your clandestine smugglings. Maybe you need to rethink your strategies?
Click to expand...

Mac, let's face it, Festool products that come in Systainers are easy even for amateurs, they all look the same. Unless of course you wife takes frequent counts of the Systainers. A 3000 mm guide rail is of course a bigger challenge.

But when it comes to bandsaws, sliding table saws, jointer/planers, and the like, you're reaching a level of very professional smuggling skills.  :D
 
So what you're saying John, is that the bigger it is the more she'll notice it?

;D
 
Hi Mac, i bought a hammer n4400 about 6 months ago. Geat bandsaw, for the money (In Australia) is cant be beat.

I've heard some people complain about the fact that it wont tilt to 45 degrees, but i hasnt effected me at all.  The only thing i personally dont like it that there isnt much table before the blade, if that makes sense....

joez71
 
It does make sense, yes. I don't think that would be a big enough reason for me not to go for it though, would you agree?
 
Mac said:
Well gents, if it's good enough for D and J, it's certainly good enough for me.

Mac.
Click to expand...

Rick,

Just wondered if you ever ordered and received your Hammer Bandsaw.  I have been looking myself.  I have been trying to keep it under or around $2,000 US.  So I have been considering the Hammer or one of the Lagunas.  Hammer does not seem to be too forthcoming with their machine specs, delivery details, etc. without contacting a sales rep.  In addition their website seems to want to talk to me in German.  Starts out in English but when I switch screens it switches language.  I am also having trouble because the website does not seem to always be accessible.

I have also thought about the Powermatic 14".  Until the end of the year it can be had for $999 US including a 6" riser.  If purchased out of state there is no sales tax.  The distributor is also offering residential delivery with a lift gate at no charge.  The Powermatic normally gets high marks for performance and ease of use.

Considering that I am just a hobbyist, this may be all I need.  I know that the other machines might be better for resawing but I don't know how much of that I will really do.  Maybe, if I had the capability.

Anyway, let me know if it is Hammer time yet.

Neill
 
Neill,

I'm still Hammmerless, but still decided on getting one. Since I last posted on this, I spoke at length to a sales guy at Hammer/Felder here in the UK and was really happy with their service. As I'm quite far from the nearest showroom he said he'd see if he could find anyone near me who'd recently bought the bandsaw for me to go see. this he did, found someone about 4 miles away, but this chap was moving home and his equipment was all packed up. I said I'd give him some time to get settled in his new place before I came over, and haven't arranged to go see it in action yet. I must get onto that, actually, as I'd love to see it in the cold, steely flesh.

It's actually worked out pretty well as I'm expecting a new baby in three or four months so I've been spending money like you wouldn't believe on new baby stuff. Wife has decided she needs the most expensive pushchair available and to my astonishment used Festool against me:

Wife: I think we should get that one.
Me: I think not, sweetest. It's more expensive than a car.
Wife: That means it's going to be good.
Me: No it doesn't, it means they have a good marketing team.
Wife: Then why are those festools you buy so expensive? Is that just the marketing?
Me: What colour would you like it in, Darling?

So anyway, I've had to sell a kidney already to pay for that.  I'll get my own back though, I plan on selling one of hers to pay for the bandsaw.

Soon, it will be Hammer time. Oh yes. But not quite yet. I'll let you know when it happens.

Rick
 
Rick,

I think  there's not a day that goes by that I don't read one of your posts and laugh outloud.  ;D ;D ;D

I think you outdid yourself this time.

Neill
 
I'm pleased to oblige.

I, however, am not laughing. Far from it.

Let me elaborate.

Until you find your beloved partner hoovering up soiled cat litter with your festool Midi, laughter comes easy. After that day, as I found out yesterday, the world seems like a darker and more cruel place. I ask you to imagine me, a tear sorrowfully running down my cheek,  picking nuggets of cat excrement from the midi with a pair of tweezers (from her make-up bag....ha! Who's the joker now, my adored one?), whilst planning a dreadful revenge. 

Me: What the hell...what are you doing, light of my heart?
Wife: Just cleaning this stuff up...the cat must have knocked it out of the litter tray.
Me: No, no no no, what are you doing? Why are you using that? That's for my tools.
Wife: It was handy.
Me: (starting to sob) No. No no nononono. Tools. Mine. No no.
Wife: It's only a vacuum, stop being a baby.

See, just remembering this is making my blood pressure rise. I have, on the plus side, discovered just how sharp my new Two Cherries chisels are. Now all I need to do is explain to the kids why the cats have gone on a very long holiday.

Rick
 
Rick,

If you really did this, you had best keep an eye (so to speak) on your own two cherries.

O' O'

Neill
 
Neill said:
Just wondered if you ever ordered and received your Hammer Bandsaw.  I have been looking myself.  I have been trying to keep it under or around $2,000 US.  So I have been considering the Hammer or one of the Lagunas.  Hammer does not seem to be too forthcoming with their machine specs, delivery details, etc. without contacting a sales rep.  In addition their website seems to want to talk to me in German.  Starts out in English but when I switch screens it switches language.  I am also having trouble because the website does not seem to always be accessible.
Click to expand...

Neill,

Try: Hammer USA. I've never had any problems with their site. I placed my order for a N4400 earlier this month (or was it last month??). I don't get to take delivery until I get my A3-31, which is going to be mid-December (more have to come over from Austria). Freight is way cheaper this way, but kind of painful waiting for it....

One thing to note is the freight....i want to say freight separate from my A3-31 would have been very high ($300 or so I think). That might sway your decision...PM makes good saws and you can buy them locally. Don't be afraid to call and talk to Felder...the sales guy I spoke with was very nice and very helpful. If I can't find something on the website I email him and I've got it in very short time.
 
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