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Delta 28-475X X5 14-Inch 1-1/2 Horsepower Woodworking Bandsaw, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase | List Price: $1,662.74
Discount Price: $899.00
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Brand: Delta
Binding: Tools & Hardware
Features: - 14-inch band saw with closed stand; quick-release tension lever; 9 spoke wheels
- 1-1/2-horsepower induction motor; blades move at 3,000 surface feet per minute
- Cast-iron trunnion assembly; platinum blade
- Includes saw, stand, blade guides, wood blade, manual
- 16 by 16-inch table; 65-1/2 by 25 by 17-1/2 inches; 275 pounds; 2-year limited warranty
VERY nice saw, but come on Delta!!! [Posted on 2006-07-11]
I bought this saw after comparing it to the comparable Powermatic and Jet models. Upon getting it home and constructing it I found that the dust port, table, trunions, and all related hardware were missing (just like an earlier reviewer). I immediately called Delta for the parts. They sent the table and dust port (after two weeks of waiting) but neglected to include the trunions and mounting hardware. Another two weeks the parts showed up...still minus one of the trunions! Upon this discovery I all but swore off Delta tools ever again. However, as luck would have it a trip to the local tool store resulted in a new trunion (at no cost). Ah, instant gratification (if you can call it that after a month of waiting). Finally, I got my new saw up and running and WOW! I've used Jet, Powermatic, and Grizzly bandsaws, but nothing like this. Combined with a Kreg fence this is one heck of a nice saw. It cuts strait and fast. Blade tensioning is a breeze! I'll be adding the riser block soon and hope that projects goes smoother. I agree that there could be more adjustment on the top wheel to help center the blade a little better. Still, it's acceptable as it stands. I may look into adding a small spacer to the upper wheel to gain the clearance I need for better alignment of the blade. In general I'm delighted with this piece of equipment...and would buy it again. However, I'm still a little PO'd with Delta and their quality control. Missing nuts and bolts are one thing, but a missing table and trunions...come on Delta! No matter how you look at it that's not acceptable! I'm not a brand weenie. If the machine is good, it's good...ant this IS a good saw. Still, I'll think twice before buying another piece of major equipment from Delta. The moral of my story is this. Be careful if you choose to buy this saw. If it all comes together the first time then you'll be happy you bought it. It's a very nice saw. However, if things don't come together you may be in for a test of patience. In the end, it's like a pot of gold...work to find, but worth the wait and effort.
High Quality Saw but Poor Quality Control by Delta [Posted on 2006-07-22]
For some reason the top wheel on my saw scraped the rear metal hood both on the top rear and near the middle. I corrected this by buying another washer and putting it behind the wheel. There were also a few bolts missing and the rear (plastic) blade guard was warped due to sloppy assembly at the factory. I took this off and straightened it with heat.
Bottom Line: Now that these headaches are out of the way I'm very pleased with everything about the saw and have no reason to doubt that it'll outlast me by many, many years. I highly recommend this saw but only give it 4 stars because of the problems mentioned above.
OK for a beginner [Posted on 2006-09-07]
I won't make this too long. I read everything possible about bandsaws before selecting this one. There is an excellent online review at American Woodworker, October, 2004. You should read this before making any decision - goes over pros and cons of all saws from least expensive to >2K, 110V, 220V, etc.
First, Amazon had this on sale with free shipping and included free mobile base (highly recommended). I agree with other reviewers about assembly - took about 4 or 5 hours, heavy, etc. However, I was able to use a cheap hand dolly to get the big parts downstairs before assembly and did the whole thing myself. Like others, I had to drill new holes for the switch because their cord is too short to accomodate the riser I bought. (annoying) The assembly book is adequate in pdf format. I also recommend the Lonnie Bird book for tuning tips and use. I bought a set of timberwolf blades - talked with one of their advisors to pick out a "package" of 4 - they seem to work great.
The saw performs well enough. I may need to shim the riser to get the blade exactly centered, and as indicated in reviews, the tuning of the blocks seems harder than it should be, especially on the lower one. I am a rank beginner (never had or used a bandsaw before), so I have nothing to compare to. BUT - it works well and I have easily made 5mm thin resaw "veneers" from a cedar post I bought at Home Depot to use for planking salmon, so I am looking forward to more complicated projects and would buy this saw again. I have a strong impression from friends that getting a "real" bandsaw on its own base and with adequate power is way better than a cheap benchtop model, so if you can afford it, don't waste your money on a lesser model.
best of the 14 inch saws [Posted on 2006-09-16]
Bought this saw after comparing to Jet and overseas Deltas. This saw definitely has beefier castings and more solid feel. Assembly and tuneup went very quickly, except for the motor mount, which tends to let the motor skew so that the drive and pulley are not square. This make a _lot_ of difference in the smoothness of the saw, so work to get drive & pulley aligned and coplanar. I resorted to a band clamp around the motor and a pipe under the base to hold the tension while I repeatedly check the wheels with a straightedge.
There is a bit of vibration from the driven pulley, as it is die-cast and not perfectly round, but the saw manages the Standing Nickel Test on the table for smoothness, at least after start up. The motor without a belt runs so smooth you barely know it is on. Mine was shipped with a 2HP, which cuts through anything with ease, given the right blade. A link belt helped a little, but probably wasn't necessary. Add Timberwolf blades for real cutting enjoyment.
Depends on what you want [Posted on 2006-12-09]
I've had this machine a year now. Arrived with no problems. Checked tolerances on all aspects and all was okay. Start with the fact that band saws are cantankerous machines -- need a lot of TLC. If you are not familiar with them, beware that it takes time to learn how to set it up right. That said, this machine is an antique and belongs in a museum as they haven't improved a thing in 50 years. OTOH, it is amazing that this could be sold for around $1,000, so that is my perspective. This is the best of the low end machines, fine for hobbyists but not so fine for pros.
Wheels are balanced and track well. Note that vibration is usually the result of poor set up. After six months of learning how to tune it right, mine now runs perfectly smooth. Cheap blades and bad guide adjustment will make a terrible noise and vibration. I'd take the vibration complaints with a grain of salt. The problem is likely the operator and not the machine. I still use the old steel blocks that work well once you figure out how to adjust them properly.
On the postive side, all components are heavy duty stamped steel and cast iron. My machine got knocked over with a horrible crash onto concrete floor and suffered only minor damage to motor housing. The mobile base is nice, but makes it more likely to fall over.
A major negative are the lower guide controls that have "pencil" knobs and require the use of pliers to adjust them because they are very stiff. I haven't noticed other low end machines with anything better. The Jet seems an exact copy.
The blade guides are crummy but serviceable. Not sure ball bearing guides are worth the cost. Once I got used to adjusting them, it's not a big deal. You can spend a lot of money upgrading with aftermarket parts but by the time you're done you might just as well have bought a better saw from the get go.
My tension adjuster crapped out after 6 months. The standard threads couldn't handle the stress. I bought the machine wheel upgrade from Highland Hardware which is a 6" wheel (not a finger-breaking 2" knob) with Acme threads. I highly recommend it. Worth every penny of $60. I also bought the Kreg fence which, with these two items makes it a decent machine at additional cost of about $200.00. Another $200 for bearing guides and this'd be a fine machine. It's probably no coincidence that all the negatives are upgradable!!!
Set up right, it performs reasonably well. I routinely saw 1/16 x 6" wide veneers accurately with little strain on the motor. Using the right feed rate and sharp blades is critical. If you buy this machine be prepared to spend some time learning to adjust and use it right and it will perform well for you. If you think you can just start jamming pieces of wood thru it without knowledge, you'll be disappointed and end up writing nasty reviews.
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