Thread: Hammer N4400 and N3800 - costs

The N4400 is around $3k not sure about the N3800

The N4400 is almost exactly $3k and the N3800 is only about $200 or so less than that. Unsurprisingly, it seems that they sell about 10 N4400s for every N3800 as a result of this very small difference.

Thanks guys.

Does the 3 phase machine come with a cord ready for a plug?

Originally Posted by qwertyu

Thanks guys.

Does the 3 phase machine come with a cord ready for a plug?

My experience with Hammer says no but make it a part of the deal and see what happens. I've got a few plugs laying around so I have never pushed the point.

Oh I dont expect the plug, just want the cable. My experience from chinese 3 phase machines has been that they have come with a cable.

Fence Furniture had this discussion with Hammer a few years back, that was interesting to say the least and all documented in the archives somewhere. My experience is they leave the terminal box on the machine ready for the electrician to hook up too, that was FF's experience also.

Around $4800 in NZ inc GST. Somewhat more than the prevalent exchange rate would infer from the $3k Ozzie price.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Fence Furniture had this discussion with Hammer a few years back, that was interesting to say the least and all documented in the archives somewhere. My experience is they leave the terminal box on the machine ready for the electrician to hook up too, that was FF's experience also.

Im at work and just had a quick look at FF's thread re planer/thicknesser. I am shocked to read that he had to pay for nuts and bolts separately!

Was this your experience with your panel saw?

Originally Posted by djeddy

The N4400 is almost exactly $3k and the N3800 is only about $200 or so less than that. Unsurprisingly, it seems that they sell about 10 N4400s for every N3800 as a result of this very small difference.

Hmm, that's very surprising. Must be one of the few tools where a Felder/Hammer is cheaper than a comparable Laguna. Although I guess you have to pay extra for the Ceramic guides.

So is this Bandsaw considered a clear step up or clear step down from something like the Laguna 18 LT3000 / 18BX or is it a strongly debatable comparison?

I guess the advantages on paper of the Laguna are ceramic guides, larger resaw capacity, larger max blade width, and more mass. Is the Hammer likely to have a higher level of fit/finish? Tolerances on stuff like wheel balance / dimensions? Stiffness? Better motor or bearings? Or just brand name?

Cheers, Dom

I have both an A3-31 combination machine and the slider. The combination machine would have been a Minimax except at that time they did not supply a segmented head so the Hammer got the nod. Both buying experiences have been good, in fact I paid for the slider and had them store it for 12 months so I got that for free. The reason for the storage was at the time my shed was full of Clearvue cyclones and it took me 12 months to empty it and organise a place to park the saw. The electrical connections were not an issue for me as I already had numerous plugs and the connecting wire I bought from a garage sale that an industrial electrician held. I think the whole lot only cost me $20 or something close to that and I still have some left over.

Originally Posted by DomAU

Hmm, that's very surprising. Must be one of the few tools where a Felder/Hammer is cheaper than a comparable Laguna. Although I guess you have to pay extra for the Ceramic guides.

So is this Bandsaw considered a clear step up or clear step down from something like the Laguna 18 LT3000 / 18BX or is it a strongly debatable comparison?

I guess the advantages on paper of the Laguna are ceramic guides, larger resaw capacity, larger max blade width, and more mass. Is the Hammer likely to have a higher level of fit/finish? Tolerances on stuff like wheel balance / dimensions? Stiffness? Better motor or bearings? Or just brand name?

Cheers, Dom

Is this saw European sourced, I know some of the Laguna top end saws or at least one comes out of Europe. Laguna have periodic problems with customer service from comments I see about their products. I know of one Felder machine that was recently returned due to unfixable problems but every brand has at least some problems sooner or later.

I've purchased three Hammer machines from Felder in Perth over the past 8 years. The first was the N4400, and about 18 months ago the K3 slider. The other machine is the A3-31 (with silent head and digital gauge).

My experience with Felder has been excellent. They delivered on time, commissioned (installed and set up) each machine, and follow up has been as good as it gets. For example, I contacted them a week after the K3 was in service, because I felt that the slider was 0.5mm too high at the front. They came out and adjusted it. Also checked the N4400 and tightened the belt - without my asking.

Here's the thing: Felder run on European rules. That is, everything is extra (check what you have ordered), and they charge for everything (even when it came to replacing the stop for the crosscut fence on the K3 with an "upgrade", when the original part needed the upgrade as it was a poorer design). You sign a contract, pay a deposit a head of time, they build exactly what you order (do not take anything for granted), and most equipment is not upgradeable (for example, you cannot install a silent head if you have straight knives). The ceramic guides look fantastic, and they are retrofittable, but the cost is high (about $600, I believe). I am not sure if they now come standard. My N4400 came with the Euro guides, which have been OK.

I am not sure what the cost of a new N4400 is now. I paid $2100 for mine 8 years ago. It is 4 hp (I believe that the new ones are 3.5 hp) and runs on a 20 amp plug (budget for that!). The cost of the N4400 was higher than the equivalent Laguna at the Perth Wood Show last year. The cost of the A3-31 was around $6500 4 years ago, and the recent K3 (with 1250 slider, professional rip fence, but nil else) was around $8500. $3000 for a N4400 seems low - a relative "bargain".

Regards from Perth

Derek

Yeah the Hammer bandsaw does seem like a bargain compared with other Felder/Hammer machines. I assume it's made in China or Taiwan?

My Laguna Lt3000 18", chinese made bandsaw set me back $4200- including a resaw king blade, driftmaster fence, and veneer fence - but still about $3200- for just the saw from memory. No complaints - it's a great saw. I was just very surprised that a Hammer would cost the same or even a little less given that I always considered the Brand a tier above stuff like Laguna, Jet, etc.

Maybe it's because on paper it has less capacity, features, mass etc? Or maybe it's manufactured in China/Taiwan or similar.

Cheers, Dom

Hammer make all their stuff in Europe, rumours to the contrary have never been proven and there have been a lot of them over the years. The European Laguna is I believe the equal of any other European brand. Minimax BS's are stupid money in this country, the one I have has doubled in price in less than 5 years and when I bought it I paid about $500 less than the Hammer 4400.