Thread: Do you own a Hammer N4400 bandsaw

Originally Posted by FlyingDuck

Blogs, just had a look at your post about your bandsaw, what a bewdy. How much did it cost, and how much was the shipping? Do you have a link to their web site at all?

I am also after a jointer & tablesaw & notice you have the Jet stuff - any comment here? I can't deicde over the Carbatec CTJ-350, Jet 8CS and Powermatic 60A jointer. Instinct would tell me to go with the Powermatic, but have read a lot of reviews from USA, and the Carbatec (ie. Delta 37-350A) seems to rate higher than the Powermatic.

What are you impressions of that Jet jointer & supersaw you got there?

Flying duck,

The model of bandsaw is a Rapid 600 ( or 24") in the old book. It was only a couple of hundred extra than the 21" at $3.9K plus $450 in freight. This was the three phase 4hp model. I'm not sure if these guys have a web site, they had to send me a brochure by snail mail.

With regards to the Jet gear, the little 6" jointer does everything I ask of it and was ready to go pretty much out of the box. It too is accurate, holds it's settings and has not given me any grief.

As far as the super saw goes, it is a good saw, accurate fence and my only 2 complaints are that dust extraction whilst ok is not fantastic ( I could improve it but have to find the time) and also you have to slow down a bit when ripping big pieces of hardwoodat the limits of the saw. I do most of my big ripping on the bandsaw - I find it easier and safer.

I f I had to buy again, I'd still buy the super saw but would probably upgrade the 6" jointer to 8" - mainly in case I ever needed it in the future but for what I am doing it is fine.

As far as reliability of the Jet gear, I have had 1 breakdown in 2 years and that was a broken drive sprocket on my thicknesser which Gary Pye air bagged a replacement next day.

Hope this helps

HI blogs, thanks for the feedback. Very interesting.

Treading softly, softly......

Obviously everyone here knows I have a barrow to push. I have abstained from posting in this thread as I believe it would be improper of me to start spruiking the merits of my particular band saw when Flying Duck is asking for opinions from those who have nothing to gain from offering their opinions. It is only because of this comment;

Originally Posted by FlyingDuck

The Hammer & Felder machines advertise themselves as being 100% made in Austria, but an interesting question does "made" mean just assembled in Austria, and parts from elsewhere. Perhaps Felder can answer this one.

that I have decided to join in to clear the air. I have contacted Flying Duck by PM to make sure that is OK with him, and he is fine by it.

So enough of the disclaimers.....

All Felder and Hammer band saws are actually made by a reputable Italian company and built to Felder / Hammer specifications. They are then sent to the Austrian factory where they are quality checked. The latest advertising material for the band saws now state that they are "100% European Made" rather than "Austrian Made".

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by FlyingDuck

Potter, I think you may have confused what I was talking about. I was not talking about the blade size, but rather the vertical & horizontal clearances between the blade and the machine.

If you re-read my post, you will see that I did understand what you were saying (I thought the same thing when I started looking), but I read in several places that the most important thing about a big wheel is that it puts less tress on your blade, allowing for wider blades. They said that this was a higher priority than a wide cutting throat as most of the time you only need to cut one side of the board (and this can stick out the other side).

I just thought that would be something to keep in mind. I found a really useful PDF on a review of many of the different bandsaws, but I can't find it any more. It came from an American woodie magazine. It said everything to look for.

Cam

Hi Cam, that's an interesting idea - placing the workpiece on the outside fo the saw rather than inside - never thought about doing that.

Let us know if you find that pdf

Here is a link to a review on the Agazzani machine I found.

FlyingDuck and others:

I have investigated bandsaws at some length and read with interest the discussions about the various options for bandsaws. As it often does, price is really the differentiating issue when it comes to deciding on bandsaws. But here is my two-cents worth:

The Carbatec and Jet bandsaws are extremely good value for money. They perform reasonably well and I have used the Carbatec 18" extensively. But I have always wanted a heavier, more precise machine, with more grunt and better blade guides.

Thus, I just bought the FELDER FB540 Industrial bandsaw with a 3phase 3hp S1 rated motor. It cost $5000 and is NOT good value for money. It is too expensive. However, I bought it because it was the best bandsaw I could find, that would fit in my 2.4m high shop, for any amount of money. The serie 700 FELDER FB500 is their non industrial saw which sells for the same price as the Agazanni Rapid 600 (about $4000). It is a magnificent saw and beats Carbatec and Jet anyday, in my humble opinion of course!

FlyingDuck, no one has mentioned the Meber saws which were my second choice. The SR600 is a beautiful machine, and also made by the same unnamed Italian company that makes Felder saws (a.k.a. SCM group). But the Meber is not as well designed; the upper blade guard is not as beefy; the cast iron table is not as heavy; the motor is not as highly rated; etc. etc. I beat the Meber guys down to $3900 but this was not incentive enough to purchase it.

Unfortunately I could not see the Agazanni Rapid (none in Brisbane that I know of) and so have no opinion on them.

The new woodfast, in my opinion, is nothing compared to the old ones (the ones we had in high school). But I have not seen the new ones in the flesh. Does anyone have one? What is it like.

So it comes down to money... warm regards, LuckyDuck

Hi Lucky, this is Flying, duck that is. Are we related?

Thanks for your input. Do you or anybody else know of anyone selling the Meber, Woodfast or Agazzani bandsaws in Brisbane? I am finding it very hard to get any info on these European bandsaws. If it wasn't for this forum I wouldn't have even known that they were available in Australia at all. Maybe they advertise in Australian wood magazines, but being based overseas at the moment I don't get to read any of these.

Hey Flying,

I just had a look at Gregory Machinery and they still have a Meber 600 for sale see http://esvc001273.wic005u.server-web.../bandsaws_.htm. This machine was for sale earlier on in the year at the same price so you may be able to beat them down. They did mention it was refurbished. You'd be able to compare it with the Jet gear if you go there as well.

Hope this helps.

AD

Hi bloggs, thanks for the link, but unfortunately I only got single phase in my shed.

FlyingDuck,

Mebers do come in 1 phase... but I guess you would have to order it that way...

LuckyDuck, sounds like you have experience with both the Hammer N4400 & the Felder FB500 - would you pay the extra $1600 for the FB500?

there is a conversation box on the market that allows you to run 3 p into 1p supply.have a look around you will find it
cheers

Originally Posted by A192K

there is a conversation box on the market that allows you to run 3 p into 1p supply.have a look around you will find it
cheers

J &M Ruatner in Melbourne sell them - look up Holz Profi in the Yellow pages.

cheers

Originally Posted by FlyingDuck

LuckyDuck, sounds like you have experience with both the Hammer N4400 & the Felder FB500 - would you pay the extra $1600 for the FB500?

I've not actually turned on either machine and used them. As I said previously though, I have had a fair amount of experience on the Carbatec 18" saw. Having said that, I have been researching bandsaws for months, including the N4400 and the Felder FB500, and I have inspected both closely.

Regarding specifications, and inspection, the Felder FB500 is absolutely worth the extra money. The size and finish of the trunnion, table, fence, upper and lower blade guides, etc. are superb. And the FB500 has a much better motor.

If you are interested in the FB500, I know that FELDER queensland had a "shop soiled" machine in storage at Springwood, as of February 2006. I looked the unit over several times and didn't buy it only because I stepped up to the FB540 industrial unit. Derek Wagner, the Queensland Felder rep, was able to give a significant discount on the machine. I don't know what they mean by "shop soiled" as the machine I looked at was in near perfect condition (ok, I could imagine some very light rusting on the table)...

Derek's number is 0407 447 964 (mobile); 07 5543 5599 (office). Regards LuckyDuck (and no, I don't have any FELDER connections!)