A Delta bandsaw review for model #28-280. Delta has discontinued this model, but they now sells a similar 1-hp saw as model #28-206. See the manufacturer specs below.
The bandsaw is a versatile tool that rips, resaws, crosscuts, and cuts curves. And when the table is tilted, it makes all kinds of angle cuts, too. Plus it can be used to cut tenons, dovetails, and various other joints. The 14-in. size is good for most small shops, so we decided to test nine popular models on the market, evaluating them for wheel roundness, alignment, blade tension, and table flatness.
The Delta is a saw built for everyday use and the standard by which all other 14-in. bandsaws are measured. In one form or another, all of the cast-iron saws in this review are clones of this one. Several important parts, including the frame, wheels, trunnion, and table, are the beefiest of the bunch. The fence is our favorite. The test cuts were acceptable, with the motor showing less tendency to bog down when resawing. But it had a below-average score on the tension test. And it carries, by far, the highest price tag.
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You’ll need help to get this heavy unit onto its bracket, but if you’re looking for a central dust collector that won’t gobble floor space, this may be the unit for you.
The gauge has a quick and easy method for fitting the guide bar precisely to your tablesaw’s miter slot. This means the gauge can be recalibrated if necessary for continued accuracy. The face of the protractor head can be adjusted square to the table and also square to the guide bar. This ensures accurate cuts, and it, too, can be readjusted if the need arises. The protractor head has stainless-steel knobs and fittings and high-contrast, easy-to-read white numbers and increments.
Regardless of the board’s grain, this jointer produced excellent results. Its fence was totally flat, worked smoothly, and locked well, staying in place even after jointing multiple edges. Getting the fence to 90° was very easy, but the 90° stop was a little tricky to set and the fence did not go back to square when using it. For those who would use it, there is also a digital depth-of-cut scale.
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