As I try to get my big hoss delta bandsaw a new resaw blade, my little 14″ crapped out from age and use. No surprise just bad timing. The small bracket that holds the guide blocks on the top side of the table just bracket(pot metal). I JP welded it 6 months ago and got the last drop of life out of it.
Looking on LV and Rockler for some guide blocks, I found the ceramic blocks for a whopping 17.00/block. – that’s crazy.
Feedback request:
1. Are the urethane tires worth the cost?
2. Are cool blocks really all they are cracked up to be?
3. What is a good source for parts on older rockwell equipment?
I am hesitant to replace my steel blocks. Talking to an engineer friend of mine after a little tennis, I asked him to look at the saw and give me his evaluation. He felt the resaw blade experiences lots of friction and heat in the wood as it cuts deep and wide boards. Looking at the guide blocks I asked him if I should replace the steel with ceramic or another non-heat conducting material. He was surprised a little by my thoughts and asked me: why would you want to remove the steel blocks that were acting as a heat sink for the blade. We ran the saw and checked the heat on the bearing and the guide blocks and they were undoubtedly cooler than the back of the blade. So… any heat wear experts out there send word.
thanks ahead of time for any assistance
Dan
Replies
Danmart,
http://www.woodworking.org/WC/GArchive99/2_24matband.html
BG
This is the kind of article I wish all could read in the power tools section and consider carefully. I don't mean to be a stick in the mud but I don't like feeling like you have to go out and buy the latest toy to get impressive results. Like Mattson, I feel strongly the quality of the blade and a good tracking line are the best way to get nice results. Like I said to another person in reply, I have done as much resaw cutting as an amateur can expect to do realistically. Unlike Mattson, I use the heck out of a bandsaw. I have 2 in the shop and they are used everyday to cut heavy timbers down to wood grain patterns that are important to my projects.
Thank you very kindly for this information. I will pass it on.
photos: some stiles and rails for a raised panel project. All of the wood was cut on the bandsaw and planed to final dimensions.
danmart,
I have the cool blocks on my 14" Delta, and they work great. I would'nt hesitate replacing the guide system and equipping it with cool blocks.
I do have a question though; how in the devil did you break the guide mechanism?
Bob, Tupper Lake, NY
Bob
If you would like, I will send you a picture of this beauty. The saw is one of the early generation 14" rockwell/deltas with a solid cast base. No open legs. Its an older one.
Having said that, 12 years ago, I did a minor rebuild on her and she has been a work horse for me ever since. The tires have been replaced with the original black rubber ones because I had a box with a dozen of them. As you can imagine, the longer I waited to change them the drier they got in the box but they were still good enough for the time it took to change them. Now I'm empty and I feel its time to try the next generation upgrades. So urethane tires are on the list.
The guide bracket on the top and bottom of this machine are made of cheap cast pot metal. They shouldn't have a very tough life but I have found several guys that had the same problems on their old machines. Additionally,when I talked to the guys at Highland Hardware a few years back they told me its a common break and a repair is next to worthless. I tried anyway and had luck for about 6 months.
I have cut strakes for dories and guideboats for hours on end. Literally. I can't believe the original motor is holding out. If it died, I would go out and get another motor without batting an eyelid.
I think I'll try the upgraded "cool blocks" as the ceramics are just too expensive for my taste.
Blades for the little guy. For years I had a guy who welded blades up for me so I was buying them by the dozen. The old timer retired and sold his equipment to a guy who is not interested in selling blades.
Lenox looks like the direction I am going in for mail order stuff. Its a leap for me since I don't have anything but a thumbs up from others on this site. Suffolk Machine looks good too. I'll have to make a cut this week.
Funny thing hearin' from Tupper Lake. I used to come off Paradox Lake and go across Essex Co. to get rte 30 into Tupper Lake. A nice ride thru Essex, Hamilton and Franklin. Hope you're ready - winters coming.
photo: latest project. Workin' right to left. I hog off some of the bulk on these stocks with the little bandsaw. So guess what is on hold?
Dan
PS: I owe this edit note to Steve. I wrote left to right in the first draft. He caught it in less than a ... .00002 second. He must be an engineer. Watch out now.
Edited 11/11/2007 5:18 pm ET by danmart
Edited 11/11/2007 5:29 pm ET by danmart
"Workin' left to right."
Do you take all the hardware off before you add the additional wood, or do you just bury it in the blank?
-Steve ;)
Steve
You are faster than greased lightning. I don't think anybody else would catch like that. I had to go back and change it from "right to left" to get my act together.
Its a hoot. I'm writing tonight cause my 2 bandsaws are down and I had other stuff that needed final touches being done. For once I completed all the last minute stuff without a problem. I'm just waiting on a couple of deer hunters coming by to get their muzzleloaders for next week's effort.
Dan
"You are faster than greased lightning."
I'm sitting here working on a large software project. Every 5-10 minutes, I need to recompile the code, and that takes about a minute or so. While that's going on, I check the forum to see what's been posted.
-Steve
I used to be that fast. At one time.
just a couple from the old days... I mean manana is Vets Day and I'm celebatrating tonight.
Dan
Are you the driver or the passenger?
-Steve
Front seat waitin' to pass gas. Thats an E model. Most of my time is in the C model(one seat).
Going to enjoy the slow pace on the ground today.
later
Dan,
You may know about Iturra Design, but if you don't, they do have some parts for Delta/Rockwell 14 BS.
Phone # 888 722 7078, no web site.
Pat
Dan,
I just got an old delta/rockwell bandsaw (casting was done in '73), and I've been needing to replace some stuff on it as well. I came across http://www.owwm.com which have the old manuals, and forums as well where you can usually find this stuff. I was able to call up delta, give them the model number of my saw, and they still carry a lot of the parts, just with newer part numbers. You may want to check it out.
Brian
Thanks Brian I'm checkin' everybody these days. I'm gettin' lots of good information and learning some new stuff. When it all boils down to it, I am reconditioning a 14"delta and a 20" delta. Its a pretty basic learning curve so I have to "just do it" soon.
Dan
1. Are the urethane tires worth the cost?
They get a lot of hype in some circles, but I don't think you'll get any reasons that hold water. Usually it's nonsense like "transfers more horsepower to the band" Rubber tires offer more material for crowning but that seems minor to me.
2. Are cool blocks really all they are cracked up to be?
Also overhyped, but some people like them because you can bury small bands in them completely. Don't buy any of the sales pitch about reducing heat or increasing band life. Steel does the job and you've already got a pair.
3. What is a good source for parts on older rockwell equipment?
I've used Ace Tool Repair (http://www.acetoolrepair.com) For parts that are no longer made, you have to go to auction sites or improvise. The OWWM site has a wanted/for sale area also.
Pete
Edited 11/20/2007 7:39 pm ET by PeteBradley
I put a set of Carter guides on old Delta 14" and couldn't be more pleased.
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