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24/05/2004 12:16 AM

worn out band saw?

I have decided to buy a used 14" band saw. (probably a delta) Not
only that but I sold my wife on the idea too!

I am fairly handy and have always fixed my own cars, dishwashers,
lawnmowers etc. so I will look for a great deal on a saw that needs
some TLC and then put a few bucks into it to make it puuurrrr. I am
wondering how to tell if I am looking at a good bandsaw that I can get
back into great shape or if I am looking at a money pit who only
want's to break my heart.

I like to do woodworking, not fix equipment. I am trying to find a
strong machine that will let me do a bunch of re-sawing without
breaking the bank.

I really apreciate the great advice I get from this group.

thank you

Russ


This topic has 11 replies

Nn

Nova

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

24/05/2004 10:19 PM

russ wrote:

> I have decided to buy a used 14" band saw. (probably a delta) Not
> only that but I sold my wife on the idea too!
>
> I am fairly handy and have always fixed my own cars, dishwashers,
> lawnmowers etc. so I will look for a great deal on a saw that needs
> some TLC and then put a few bucks into it to make it puuurrrr. I am
> wondering how to tell if I am looking at a good bandsaw that I can get
> back into great shape or if I am looking at a money pit who only
> want's to break my heart.
>
> I like to do woodworking, not fix equipment. I am trying to find a
> strong machine that will let me do a bunch of re-sawing without
> breaking the bank.
>
> I really apreciate the great advice I get from this group.
>
> thank you
>
> Russ

A 14" bandsaw is okay for occasional resawing. If you plan on doing a
"bunch of re-sawing" I'd suggest something larger.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

Gg

"George"

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 9:40 AM

Interestingly, the round rod fits into an upper guide casting with an
obvious hex ancestry on mine.

"Unisaw A100" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> russ wrote:
> >Is it true that the delta 14" band saw sets the standard in this size
> >range and has remained almost unchanged for the last 30 years or so?
>
> More like, the last 64 years or so.. The Delta 14" first
> appeared in the early/mid 30's but was re-vamped by the end
> of the 30's to basically what is the same saw as sold today.
> The major changes (from the late 30's saw) consist of
> hinging the upper and lower wheel covers, a round rod to
> hold the upper guide and the stand.

UA

Unisaw A100

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 9:20 AM

russ wrote:
>Is it true that the delta 14" band saw sets the standard in this size
>range and has remained almost unchanged for the last 30 years or so?

More like, the last 64 years or so.. The Delta 14" first
appeared in the early/mid 30's but was re-vamped by the end
of the 30's to basically what is the same saw as sold today.
The major changes (from the late 30's saw) consist of
hinging the upper and lower wheel covers, a round rod to
hold the upper guide and the stand.

Most every other 14" on the market today
(Jet/Grizzly/Powermatic) are clones of the
Delta saw (but built by children in a third
world country).

UA100

b

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

24/05/2004 9:54 AM

On 24 May 2004 00:16:30 -0700, [email protected] (russ) wrote:

>I have decided to buy a used 14" band saw. (probably a delta) Not
>only that but I sold my wife on the idea too!
>
>I am fairly handy and have always fixed my own cars, dishwashers,
>lawnmowers etc. so I will look for a great deal on a saw that needs
>some TLC and then put a few bucks into it to make it puuurrrr. I am
>wondering how to tell if I am looking at a good bandsaw that I can get
>back into great shape or if I am looking at a money pit who only
>want's to break my heart.
>
>I like to do woodworking, not fix equipment. I am trying to find a
>strong machine that will let me do a bunch of re-sawing without
>breaking the bank.
>
>I really apreciate the great advice I get from this group.
>
>thank you
>
>Russ



things to watch for:

broken castings. unless you can buy several machines to mix and match
parts this could be a deal killer.

bad bearings. not too expensive or hard to replace

bad motors. figure a hunnert bux and a half hour.

damage related to blades getting out of hand. if the saw has been used
hard and seldom adjusted you could be looking at damaged guides, tires
table inserts, wheel covers.... open the saw up and look it over
inside. follow the path of the blade and look for shiny metal...

rr

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

24/05/2004 6:15 PM

>
>
> things to watch for:
>
> broken castings. unless you can buy several machines to mix and match
> parts this could be a deal killer.
>
> bad bearings. not too expensive or hard to replace
>
> bad motors. figure a hunnert bux and a half hour.
>
> damage related to blades getting out of hand. if the saw has been used
> hard and seldom adjusted you could be looking at damaged guides, tires
> table inserts, wheel covers.... open the saw up and look it over
> inside. follow the path of the blade and look for shiny metal...


Very helpfull thankyou.

Is it true that the delta 14" band saw sets the standard in this size
range and has remained almost unchanged for the last 30 years or so?

russ

ML

"Murray L. DeVore"

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 2:47 PM


"Unisaw A100" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> russ wrote:
> >Is it true that the delta 14" band saw sets the standard in this size
> >range and has remained almost unchanged for the last 30 years or so?
>=20
> More like, the last 64 years or so.. The Delta 14" first
> appeared in the early/mid 30's but was re-vamped by the end
> of the 30's to basically what is the same saw as sold today.
> The major changes (from the late 30's saw) consist of
> hinging the upper and lower wheel covers, a round rod to
> hold the upper guide and the stand.
>=20
> Most every other 14" on the market today
> (Jet/Grizzly/Powermatic) are clones of the=20
> Delta saw (but built by children in a third=20
> world country).
>=20
> UA100

So just how old would one without hinged doors and a hexagon upper guide =
rod be? Other than needing new tires, it works great.

PB

Pat Barber

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 8:55 PM

Call Delta with a serial number...they can tell you
when mm/yy it was built and probably where it was built.

My 1979 does not have the "hinged doors"....

Murray L. DeVore wrote:


> So just how old would one without hinged doors and a hexagon upper guide rod be? Other than needing new tires, it works great.

UA

Unisaw A100

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 9:45 PM

Murray L. DeVore wrote:
>So just how old would one without hinged doors and a
>hexagon upper guide rod be? Other than needing new
>tires, it works great.


Oh Hell, that's easy. Got a serial number?

UA100

tB

[email protected] (BIG JOE)

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 10:11 AM

>
> Is it true that the delta 14" band saw sets the standard in this size
> range and has remained almost unchanged for the last 30 years or so?
>
> russ


I have the Jet knockoff. I would not buy it again. I've already had
to replace the tensioning assembly after a few hours use, and the
motor access door likes to pop open whenever I move it around (its on
a mobile base). My neighbors USA Delta (careful, they make a cheaper
Chaiwanese version) appears to be much better constructed, and I've
used Delta 14" band saws in high school woodshops that were older than
me.

I have plenty of Pac Rim equipment, but this is one piece of equipment
the good ol USA still wins out on in the price/quality trade-off.

Joe

jj

jo4hn

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

24/05/2004 2:45 PM

russ wrote:

> I have decided to buy a used 14" band saw. (probably a delta) Not
> only that but I sold my wife ... too!
Wow. Aren't you special. :-)

You didn't mention how much this thing is or its intended use. I assume
you are not doing production 8 hours of resaw work. I also assume you
have priced new and used saws of this type and feel that this one is a
good buy.

Seriously, if the motor and the bearings in the wheels are good and the
guides are sound, you shouldn't have to do much with it. Get a good
resaw blade (e.g. Woodslicer from Highland Hardware, Timberwolf from
Suffolk) and you're off.

mahalo,
jo4hn

UA

Unisaw A100

in reply to [email protected] (russ) on 24/05/2004 12:16 AM

25/05/2004 9:44 PM

George wrote:
>Interestingly, the round rod fits into an upper guide casting with an
>obvious hex ancestry on mine.


Yahbut, the hex, it's way more cool.

UA100


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