review of hammer N4400

**Zed** · 14th October 2006, 07:15 PM

DIY Dans M&G gave us an opp. to play with the Hammer N4400 2.5hp 17" bandsaw.

My initial thoughts was that 2.5 horses weren't enough but it ripped very accurate flitches to about 1mm with the factory fence & blade on 9 inch iron bark - note the tension was wrong but it did not markedly affect the accuracy - once the tenson was adjusted it improved the accuracy nicely. I would still like to see a 3 or 4 hp motor on this unit like they have in England & Europe, Brendan tells me Fleder will fit an after market motor of your choice should you wish more horses and take 2.5 Hp motor back as a trade in. Additionally the ripping was done with the factory fitted blades - a nice bimetal blade from Henry Bros with deep gullets would improve the machine markedly for ripping purposes. the machine is supplied with 3 blades of various sizes so "out of the box" you could be up and running in very short order.

The safety panels are bright red and well placed for safety. they are also easily moved if required and all doors have micro safey cut out switches.

the upper and lower guides are screw adjusted and very small increments are available to fit any blade. the thrust bearing is of the "on the face of the bearing rather than the side" variety - I feel this is a good approach.

Only one speed is available on this unit.

Only one dust chute is built into the machine - it is placed at the bottom of the unit - if another chute was fitted directly under the table dust retention would be much better.

the wheels are cast iron and well balanced - the rubber coat on the wheels are a canary yellow so your blade tracking/adjustment is easy to see - Felder tells me he has never seen a return for refit of the rubbers so i expect the durabilty is good.

The table tilt mechanism is on a geared lever and locks into place - far better than the chinese varieties that require the user to screw a bolt up and down....

Again the livery is grey / red - a welcome change from the banana green.

priced at 2.6k inc GST it is a tad more expensive than opposing brands but it is MUCH MUCH better engineered. A welcome improvement to any workshop.

If I had the money , it had another dust chute and 4 horses It would be mine!

**craigb** · 14th October 2006, 07:24 PM

Yes a serious bit of kit allright and a fair review.

I notice you didn't mention that you just managed to dimension up some iron bark for a box while you were reviewing the BS and jointer/thicknesser.

**Zed** · 14th October 2006, 08:24 PM

wel.. I had to do Something with it - or were we just gunna stand around eating sausages and go "oohhh.... pretty..":confused:

**craigb** · 14th October 2006, 08:33 PM

No. There was beer that had to be drunk as well.

**Auld Bassoon** · 14th October 2006, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by craigb

Yes a serious bit of kit allright and a fair review.

I think (and hope!) that I'm going to enjoy this addition to the shed!

**craigb** · 14th October 2006, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

I think (and hope!) that I'm going to enjoy this addition to the shed!

Lucky you!

**Auld Bassoon** · 14th October 2006, 09:04 PM

I'll post a review next week-end, depending on how I go setting the machine up...

Felder: are you listening - I want (need) some expert advice here....

**Zed** · 15th October 2006, 08:46 PM

posting this reply to get it to get the thread to the top of the list as a favour to Felder for letting us have a play.

**Bodgy** · 15th October 2006, 09:58 PM

Steve

Brendan Felder always comes along with the delivery to help us paisan set things up.

He did say, on Friday, that everything BS was already put together, excepting the table, on delivery.

Nevertheless, I'm sure he'd love a trip down to the Rust Belt, just to say Hello.

There's a few Syd-Melb Jetstar returns in one Hammer 4400.

Sorry Brendan, not up the sharp end!

**Gumby** · 15th October 2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Zed

DIY Dans M&G gave us an opp. to play with the Hammer N4400 2.5hp 17" bandsaw.

And your excuse for not taking a video for us all to watch is what ?

**craigb** · 15th October 2006, 10:37 PM

Young Mr Felder told me that he was piloting the show truck that was going down to Melbourne next week. I dare say that Steve's BS will be in the back too.

All you Vic members make sure you go and say g'day to Brendan, he's a good bloke.

**craigb** · 15th October 2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Gumby

And your excuse for not taking a video for us all to watch is what ?

Gumby, I'm pretty sure I saw DAN with a video camera. Watch this space I guess.

**Bodgy** · 15th October 2006, 10:41 PM

Gumbo

It does everything its cracked up to do - easily.

Strangely, I don't find this terribly surprising give the price point.

I would agree with Zed's minor criticisms regarding the single, low dust port. Electronic speed variation would be nice too. But thats about it.

Also I didn't notice whether the fence could be changed to compensate for drift. Felder???

**Groggy** · 15th October 2006, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by Bodgy

Also I didn't notice whether the fence could be changed to compensate for drift. Felder???

If it can't then it may be only useful for cutting meat

- what say you Brendan, I vaguely recall seeing an adjustment at last year's WWW show.

**eddie the eagle** · 15th October 2006, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Bodgy

Gumbo

I would agree with Zed's minor criticisms regarding the single, low dust port.

Also I didn't notice whether the fence could be changed to compensate for drift. Felder???

Gumby,

The fence alignment is via two allen key bolts that hold the thing to it's locking cam - you've got about 20 degrees of play in the fence.

As I told Felder, dust control is the only real issue with this saw - it really needs a second port.

Cheers,

eddie

(who's intrigued by the fact that the only on-line reviews of the saw are one UK-based magazine and Australian sources, predominantly this forum - do a google search on Hammer N4400 bandsaw and look at the results.)

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