Thread: Hammer/Felder 4400 update please

Originally Posted by jimbur

Five or six years ago Derek bought a Felder/Hammer 4400. I would be interested in hearing how it has coped over the years and whether other owners are still happy with theirs.

Jim

I have a N4400. Generally very happy with the saw especially the quality and motor power. I have managed to get it tracking perfectly without skewing the bar that the fence rides on. Don't forget that the table can be adjusted to bring the table square to the blade. To me the weakest link is the blade guides. The thrust bearings run in bushes not bearings. the upper guide post rotates when loosened or tightened. This can push a closely adjusted guide into the blade. The workaround that I use is to back off the guides when adjusting the resaw height and readjust when the height is set and the post locked.

Originally Posted by mat

Jim

I have a N4400. Generally very happy with the saw especially the quality and motor power. I have managed to get it tracking perfectly without skewing the bar that the fence rides on. Don't forget that the table can be adjusted to bring the table square to the blade. To me the weakest link is the blade guides. The thrust bearings run in bushes not bearings. the upper guide post rotates when loosened or tightened. This can push a closely adjusted guide into the blade. The workaround that I use is to back off the guides when adjusting the resaw height and readjust when the height is set and the post locked.

Is this the recent incarnation of this model? Single or three phase. 3.5hp? The guides are now the same size on all their models, I think.

Cheers,
B-D

Hi BD

The Hammer 4400 is a 4 hp machine, whether single- or three phase.

To repeat what I wrote to you - for others to agree or disagree about: This is a very solid machine. I believe it is designed in Austria and built in Italy. About 3 weeks ago I took possession of the Hammer A3-31 combo, having sold a Carba-tec 8" jointer. Felder installed the A3-31 (as they did the 4400). They removed one of the panels when setting it up. I hefted this panel - it was heavy. About 2-3 times the thickness of the panels on the Carba-tec. The 4400 is built the same way. The installation of the A3-31 just offered a way to appreciate the construction of the Hammer machines.

The 4 hp motor is really powerful. It's scary. I had a Chinese 14" machine that came with a 3/4 hp motor. It was underpowered and I replaced it with a 1.5 hp Chinese motor. There is no comparison between the 1.5 and 4 hp motors. I could still get the 1.5 to stall on thick Jarrah. The Hammer cuts through everything like a hot knife through butter.

The depth of cut is about 11 - perhaps 11 1/2". This seems small these days compared to some machines. This is not an issue for me, and will not be an issue you others if you resaw at or below this board width. To add to this, the depth of cut of a bandsaw needs to be linked to the width of cut of a jointer (if you do not use handplanes or have a sanding machine) - there is not much point in a deep re-saw unless you can flatten it afterwards. The A3-31 has a 12" bed, so this combination suits me down to the ground.

Blade changes are really easy. The blade goes in straight. I use a 3 tpi 1/2" bi-metal blades for everything. Set up is straightforward and the only time I experience drift is when the blade dulls and I start pushing harder.

The guides are easy-enough to set up. They are large and solidly built - there is nothing flimsy about the 4400. A brick watsit comes to mind. Could it have better guides - very likely, but I have not felt let down so far.

Power is a consideration. The 4400 requires 20 amps. I have heard some say that it starts and runs on 15 amps. You may need to budget for that.

What else? Oh yes, Felder offer a wheel kit that is not part of the basic price. I was not aware of this when I purchased it - they do not tell you these things. It is about $200 extra. Is it important? I bought the wheels for the A3-31 because it would be moved around. I made my own wheels for the 4400, and am very happy with that arrangement.



The fence is a basic affair. Very solid again. It can be adjusted for drift. It also can be set for different heights. However it does not have a fine-adjuster, which would be nice. I use a tap from a hammer.

The standard mitre gauge is cheap and flimsy. And it fits into a non-standard (shallow) groove. I made my own and it is better than the factory version. Happy to share the construction details.



This has been a reliable machine that has never skipped a beat over the past 6 or so years sawing hard Australian timber. I would buy it again.



Hope this helps.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks Derek. Exactly what I/we wanted.
Thanks Mat also. Can't find anyone who isn't happy with them.

The motor on the single phase is 4hp 13.5A the plug is only rated for 16A
The machine will run perfectly on a 15A circuit.
The machine will come without a power lead. So factor in the cost of putting on a lead as well as a 15A socket if you do not already have one.
What I didn't say in my previous email is that if I had the choice again I would make the same decision.
After a recent trip to Austria I can confirm that the N4400 is now made in Hall, Austria just outside Innsbruck and the motor made just outside Vienna.

Interesting Mat. I checked my machine - it also says 13.5A

However the website states that the current motors are 3.5 hp (2.5 kW), while mine is inscribed with 3.0 kW and is a 4 h.p machine. I wonder if the power has been downrated, and why I (and others at the time I purchased mine - 2008) were told it was 20 amps? As mentioned in another thread, my A3-31 runs very happily on 15A, while Felder stated it needed 20A.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have been given to understand that the drive now is by poly v rather than v belt and this allows them to drop the horsepower.

Originally Posted by jimbur

I have been given to understand that the drive now is by poly v rather than v belt and this allows them to drop the horsepower.

Jim not quite sure why they would want to drop hp and how this explains the different power requirements.

Mine is a poly belt drive 3kw 4 hp 13.5A

Derek it is possible someone looked at the blue plug saw that is says 16A and assumed that you had to cover at least that and rounded up to 20A. Only a wild guess.

I think Felder play it very safe with electrical including their repeated statements about only using authorised electricians for all cabling.

The current specs 2.5kw (3.5hp) do not apply to machines sold in Aust.

Thankyou Derek and Mat.

Most helpful. Unless Minimax made me a splendid offer on the MM16 they've got on the shop floor, it looks as if it'll be Hammer time!

Cheers,
Gav.

Mal, the story BD was given is that the polyv is more efficient less slippage etc and so you can get the same results with a lesser powered motor.

Jim, I brought my N4400 in November last year. Do I like it, yes. Does it have compromises, yes. Will it last me 40 - 50 years, yes. Is it worth it, YES!!!!

Pro's: Build quality, solid dependable, heavy, reliable. Mobility kit. Extension Table.

Con's: Power Cable, luckily for me, I have a mate whom is a sparky. Upper guide post rotating on locking, annoying, but easy work around. Mobility kit, interesting to attach solo, use blocks.

Accessories are here, with prices ESHOP

Originally Posted by jimbur

Mal, the story BD was given is that the polyv is more efficient less slippage etc and so you can get the same results with a lesser powered motor.

But the motor is still 3kw 4hp

Originally Posted by mat

But the motor is still 3kw 4hp

Single phase 3.5hp - http://www.hammer-australia.com/au-e...equipment.html

I had a good chat to the Melbourne showroom today, and the move from v to poly-belts was the explanation they gave for the drop from 4 to 3.5hp. They also upped the maximum blade width from 21 to 25mm at the same time. All the bandsaws in the range, big to small now have the same blade guides.

Cheers,
Gav.

Originally Posted by Blue-deviled

Single phase 3.5hp - http://www.hammer-australia.com/au-e...equipment.html

I had a good chat to the Melbourne showroom today, and the move from v to poly-belts was the explanation they gave for the drop from 4 to 3.5hp. They also upped the maximum blade width from 21 to 25mm at the same time. All the bandsaws in the range, big to small now have the same blade guides.

Cheers,
Gav.

That spec of 3.5hp has been on the website for some time, well before I bought mine. To the best of my knowledge all single phase machines sold have been and are 3kw 4hp
Our local woodcraft guild recently bought a N4400 it is also 3Kw 4hp
From memory my invoice said 2.5kw 3.5hp but the machine is definitely 3kw 4hp