Replies

1. 
   highfigh | Feb 02, 2005 12:58am | #1

   I would keep calling Delta till they knuckle under. Squeaky wheel and all that. This sounds like either a shipper or packaging issue. What condition were the boxes when they showed up?

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   MikeMD | Feb 02, 2005 04:26am | #2

   Amazon is being very courteous, they're sending me another so if I'd rather not deal with Delta I don't have to.  It just bothers me how low our standards have dropped.  The first box was mildly damaged (not enough to prove damage) possibly a drop that didn't damage the box but "shocked" the internal components enough to break?  The second box appeared totally fine and the location of the defect was clearly a manufacturer flaw.  To break the casting that holds the motor to the I-post would require so much force that the box should be unrecognizable.  These flaws came out of a factory/corporation where the consumer is regarded as just a hint above scum.

1. 
   highfigh | Feb 02, 2005 04:42am | #3

   If the box is damaged, you have a case. If it's undamaged but the contents are, you then check the box marked "concealed damage". Either way, if the contents are packed properly, the shipper company usually pays. With the series of bad units shipped to you, there's something weird going on. It shouldn't be that hard to ship a unit like that. On the other hand, it could be a bad run. The mortisers from a lot of companies are made in only a couple of factories in Asia, just like the saws, planers, jointers, drill presses, etc. They're spec'd a certain way and if that's unable to stand up to use or shipping, they need to change it.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   douglas2cats | Feb 02, 2005 05:29am | #4

   I dont think it's a shipping problem. I have the older version of the Delta Mortiser and not too long after the warrantee expired, it too developed a crack in the motor support casting just through normal use. The casting is too thin and doesn't seem to be able to withstand the torque put on it during normal use. I suspect the crack in your second one means someone at the factory actually did a spot quality check on your machine. Hard to say why they bothered testing it since they shipped it broken anyway.

   I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.

3. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 02, 2005 05:36am | #5

   Hell, yell at me!  I'm mellow....

   I hear you.. Really frustrating with some of the stuff you get these days.. I guess the way to cut expenses is to fire all the quality control engineers and inspectors.. No wonder the USA hardly has any manufacturing any more..

1. 
   highfigh | Feb 02, 2005 08:49am | #6

   But it wasn't made here in the first place. I think the quest to save a few pennies on each one is the main factor here. We all know that it can be made to last years and never break.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."