Hello. I have been looking for a while to buy a band saw. I am looking for a 14 inch saw that I would be able to put a riser on and do up to 12 inch resawing. I cant spend the type of money required for a Laguna or anything to fancy (range is up to 900 or so), and as I have been checking for the last two months there aren’t a lot of used ones in my area (Northern Utah).
The model I have been looking at most is the Steel City 14″ bandsaw, as it has a riser available and 1 1/2 hp. The Delta 14″ is nice as well, but is right around the max of my price range. The other day, however, I found a used Delta platinum 14″ bandsaw, model 28-263 for about $500 (its about 5 years old). Has any one used this saw? Is this a good deal? My understanding is that it only has a 1 hp motor, and that the blocks on it constantly need to be tuned. Should I look more seriously at this saw, go with the Steel City, or look at a different alternative?
My intent for this saw is to use it to resaw boards, and occasionally do curved cuts, etc. Any advise would be appreciated.
Replies
I have the Delta Platinum and have been very happy with it. I had the riser block on it and used it for resawing until I got the Delta 18". I had no trouble with the guides and very seldom have to adjust them. I use cool blocks in place of the original steel blocks as I like to be able to bury the blade for scroll work. I never felt the need for a bigger motor. I ran a 1/2" 3tpi blade for resawing.
"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."
-- Daniel Webster
Virtually all of the 14" saws with cast iron frames are nearly identical with each other. The Delta's have more complicated lower guides and stiffer trunnions than the Asian made copies of the Deltas, but the difference isn't significant in terms of performance. Keeping the guides adjusted on any of these saws is pretty much the same.
John White
There is an advantage to Deltas lower guides in that they are very close to the bottom of the table. I also like the micrometer type adjusters on the Delta better than I do the adjusters on the clones."There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."
-- Daniel Webster
I've tested the Delta band saws, side by side, against the Asian clones and I never once found that the Delta's more complicated lower guide system made a bit of difference in the quality of the cut. Most of the clones now also have micrometer adjustments, and thumbscrews on all locks, both of which are improvements.Besides offering no cutting advantage the lower guides on the Deltas are harder to adjust and typically they need to be taken apart, cleaned, lubed, and often filed and otherwise reworked to correct for poor machining.John White
With all due respect to your testing use, I use a bandsaw several hours a day and have used the delta and the clones. I agree that the clones are a good value, but for a guy who uses the saw for a lot more than testing I can tell you that the added blade stiffness from the guides being close to the bottom of the table translates into a lot less sanding. Your mileage may vary obviously."There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."
-- Daniel Webster
If your plan is to use the saw pimarily for resawing you should save a little longer, and keep looking for used.
A 14" will do it, but not well. My 20" jet will resaw a 12" piece of hard maple about at fast as I can push the board, and the cut is nice and clean and flat.
You'll have to feed slow and keep a sharp blade on a 14", The backs will flex causing the blade to bow in the cut if you don't do it just right.
Also if you look for used I paid less than your looking at spending on my 20" and It is in new condition. I looked for 2 years for one before I found mine, So keep your eyes open.
And I'm not knocking the 14" saws they are great, but they are not intended to be heavy duty machines.
If your set on buying a 14" get that Delta. I prefer the blocks like it has. I think they do a better job guiding the blade. And if you don't like them you can always retro fit Carter guides. And being a Delta you should be able to get parts for it for a long time.
I bought a 14" Steel City bandsaw a couple months ago (with riser block) and have been very happy with it. Good attention to detail on the castings, etc. and required very little in terms of adjustments during setup. I opted for the Steel City over the Delta, General, etc. because of the extra half horsepower. It might still be on rebate, which knocks a hundred bucks or so off the price.
We'd all like larger bandsaws, but if you think a 14" can do the resawing you need you won't be disappointed with the Steel City. Just my 2 cents.
Pete
Personally I would save up for a larger machine that does not need a riser block.You say you do a lot of resawing,the larger machines have the hp and the cutting height you need.
mike
Why not check out the Grizzly line, I just went to a large cabinet and customer fabricator shop. They had a total quantity of four band saws of different sizes. Two of them were six years old, one was four years and the last one year. The floor supervisor said they have had zero problems with the saws and were very happy with them. He mentioned that he bought a 14 inch for his own personal use three years ago and was very pleased with it. Hopefully this will help with your decision.
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