Thread: Hammer N4400 Bandsaw Fence issues

Acquired my new Hammer N4400 Bandsaw a few months ago, and I'm looking for others' experiences with the FENCE
. The fence slide assembly (which runs along the round bar at the table edge) is clamped by way of a LARGE handled lever, which runs a threaded bolt into the outside edge of the round bar. The two open-ended & round "claws" which run along the round bar are made of cast iron...and are thus on the brittle end of the "malleability spectrum". Re-sawing some silky oak a few weeks ago, I clamped the fence on the bar, which resulted in a loud "ping" a few minutes later: the right hand claw had snapped its lower arm off!! (I have to say that FELDER in Emu Plains had absolutely no hesitation in replacing the fence slide assembly!)

I was thinking that any flex in either of the claws (by way of their being forced open as the clamp pulls the claws' open ends against the round bar) would result in the previously measured gap between fence and blade being altered. A further factor in this happening is the fact that the OTHER END of the fence is not locked in position on the table: the fence is simply "floating" at this end.

Hence, perhaps two suggestions:
ONE: be very careful not to over-tighten the fence slide assembly when positioning it along the round bar.
TWO: when the fence is set in position, perhaps one of those magnetic clamps placed BEHIND the fence at the "floating" end would be a necessary final safeguard against any fence "flex" away from the blade, particularly during a re-sawing operation, when you want to ensure a snug proximity for the work piece against the fence.

Like i said, if anyone has any further comments on the Hammer BS fence, they would be gratefully accepted!