Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 18, 2007 10:21pm | #1

   Bill,

   If the Delta was made in Taiwan or China the block kit from Grizzly will probably fit. However a riser block kit also contains a longer bar for the upper blade guide and new front and rear blade guards that also need to fit. All of the parts will probably fit if both saws come from Asia but it is impossible to know for sure. The Asian parts won't fit an American made Delta.

   John White
   FWW Experts column contributor

1. 
   BG | Oct 19, 2007 12:50am | #2

   JohnWW,
   I think the delta high riser has an index pin(shaped like a dropplet that slips into something) that is absent in other models. I have always wondered if I could buy the Grizzly riser kit and live without the index. Any thoughts?

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 19, 2007 01:08am | #3

   All of the riser blocks have a pair of pins, about 1/4" in diameter, in one face and holes in the other face that match a pair of holes and pins that are already in the faces of the two main castings. Occasionally if the spacing of the holes is off by even a tiny amount the castings won't come together. In those cases I have pulled one of the two pins and assembled the machine without a problem.If there were no pins to hold the alignment it is possible that there could be alignment problems if the castings slipped, but you could drill through the flanges of the castings and drive in a couple of roll pins to keep the alignment in that case. The pin size and diameter on all of the Asian machines appears to be standardized, mostly because only one or two factories actually make the machines, so it is usually possible to use the riser kit from any brand without a problem. I believe the pin size and spacing on U.S. made Deltas is different from the Asian clones.John W.

1. 
   Jimurock | Oct 19, 2007 01:52am | #4

   I bought a Delta 14" BS made for the Canadian market in China at a time (around 2001) when US machines were still US made.  I had to order the riser block kit from the US, and as far as I can tell it was the same kit that had been used for years -- the manual was dated 11-20-92, and the parts supplied were as advertised.  I had no trouble fitting the kit, even though the BS had metric bolts and screws.

   Jim

2. 
   bilyo | Oct 19, 2007 02:53am | #5

   I also sent a message to Grizzly and they responded saying, not surprisingly, that they didn't have the specs on other machines (ha) and couldn't guarantee that the parts would fit. However, they said if I would send them dimensions they will verify if they are the same or not. I'll do it and let you know. No problem with most of the parts. However, without taking it apart, I won't be able to determine size and location of the pins and holes in the block itself. Can anyone help with this? BTW, my saw is about 10 years old. So, I suppose it could be US made. When did they stop making them here?
   Thanks for the input.
   Bill

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 19, 2007 05:55pm | #6

   The plate with the serial and model numbers will also tell you where the saw was made. If the saw is ten years old it is probably American made.John W.

2. 
   bilyo | Oct 30, 2007 05:09am | #7

   I sent a complete set of dimensions of all the components in a riser block kit to Grizzly. They responded only with the size of their guide bar stating that they did not recommend the use of their kit on a Delta machine (not surprising). My 14" Delta (made in US) guide bar measures 15/16" diameter. Grizzly says that the one in one of their kits measures 3/4" and the other 7/8".
   Bill

3. 
   Jimurock | Oct 30, 2007 03:47pm | #8

   For what it's worth, I think it's a mistake to assume that all Chinese made bandsaws are clones of each other.  My Chinese (made for Canada) Delta 14" as far as I can tell is identical in most of its features with US models.  For example it has the heavy cast trunnion that used to be unique to Delta, the same adjustment controls, the same slanted guides, etc.  It accepts Delta's US riser block, not surprisingly.  The only real difference is the metrical bolts and screws,  but they're probably there because Canada is officially metric.  (I'm not.)  If Delta was able to ensure metrical for a small market like Canada, then the Chinese must have been very willing to accommodate individual companies.  I don't know what the basic HF type saw is like, but I would doubt if it's a clone of a machine with a cast trunnion.

   Jim

4. 
   colebearanimals | Oct 30, 2007 07:43pm | #9

       You might just want to get the riser kit from Delta. Then you know it will all work together. It could even be cheaper in the long run.

                                               Paul

5. 
   bilyo | Oct 30, 2007 08:28pm | #10

   No doubt you are correct.  The only reason I was looking at Grizzly is because their kit is about 1/2 the price and looked very similar.

   Bill

6. 
   colebearanimals | Oct 30, 2007 09:51pm | #12

       Maybe someone has suggested this already but could you get the kit from Grizzly and see if it fits? You could measure and compare the parts without actually installing them so that it could be returned " unused " if it didn't fit.

                                               Paul

7. 
   bilyo | Oct 30, 2007 08:37pm | #11

   Jim,

   Sorry.  I'm sure what your point is.  I wasn't making that assumption at all.  Only trying to see if the Grizzly riser kit would fit since it looks so much the same.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

   Bill

8. 
   Jimurock | Oct 30, 2007 10:30pm | #13

   I was referring obliquely to a comment made earlier by John White, which seemed to offer some encouragement to treat all Asian models alike.

   "If the Delta was made in Taiwan or China the block kit from Grizzly will probably fit. However a riser block kit also contains a longer bar for the upper blade guide and new front and rear blade guards that also need to fit. All of the parts will probably fit if both saws come from Asia but it is impossible to know for sure. The Asian parts won't fit an American made Delta."

   I wouldn't assume, from my experience, that parts from any other Asian saw would fit any Delta, unless somebody knocked off the Delta specs. Stranger things have happened.  Before I bit the bullet and bought the riser from Delta , I had a quick look at the offerings of Busy Bee, the Canadian equivalent of Grizzly (though their machines are not always the same).  None of their machines was identical with the Delta, and just to confuse the issue they offered 2 different riser kits for two different Asian bandsaws.  So I gave up and got the official version. 

   It's cold comfort, but the outrageous price they'll charge you will still be less than what I paid.

   Jim

9. 
   bilyo | Oct 31, 2007 07:30pm | #15

   Jim and Bob (Salamfam),

   Thanks for the input.  I guess one day soon I'll bite the bullet, swallow hard, and shell out the bucks for the Delta kit.  Lots of tools are over priced, but this kit is rediculous.  I bid on one on Ebay the other day.  The winning bid (not mine), with shipping, was almost what a new one costs.

   Bill

10. 
    BG | Nov 01, 2007 02:47am | #16

    bilyo,
    I've been waiting several years for a deal on the Delta riser kit. I paid $400 for my 206 about 3 years ago delivered. Paying $125 for a riser kit is ridiculous...and I really haven't missed it at all.

2. 
   | Oct 31, 2007 02:49am | #14

   hello bilyo,

   I cannot comment on the Grizzly riser kit but, I recently purchased the Delta kit for my Delta 14" (about 18-20 years old) along with a couple of Starrett 1/2" 3tpi hook blades. I set up to re-saw some 9" quarter sawn red oak (home made tall fence) and, I am happy to say, all went really well. I re-sawed six 9" x 1.5" x 24" pieces of red oak that finished out (including planing) at 7/8" and 3/8", I was impressed. It is definitely a good investment in my opinion.

    

   Bob, Tupper Lake, NY