Replies

1. 
   notDusty | Dec 13, 2005 10:08am | #1

   Heya  kitchenguy ,

                          If your " needs have out grown the machine" then continue its use as a router table and consider a shaper . Perhaps depending on if you make a living off your work or more hobby type . Shapers are like big router tables with big tables and solid fences and more power then the routers . The first few kitchens or sets of doors or jobs you use your shaper on will probably pay for itself .

                      good  luck            dusty

1. 
   red_grandis | Dec 13, 2005 07:28pm | #2

   Hey Dusty,

   Thanks so much for the reply. I have left the kitchen business after learning the hard way.... So, my use is for hobby/personal only.  I had hoped there was someone out there who had "Tricked Out" this machine with a better table and more accurate fence. I am timid to tackle the project without talking with someone who has already been there. Thanks again for the reply.

2. 
   BossCrunk | Dec 13, 2005 07:36pm | #3

   I had that machine and loved it.  It'll do what it'll do.  We set up some stock rollers on the infeed and outfeed side of the little bugger.  Don't waste your time building something.  If you need to run some long pieces across the unit, decent roller stands work fine.

   We never found the split fence to be a limitation in search of a solution.  It ain't no Bies.  don't treat it like one.  What, particularly, is giving you heartburn with the fence?

    

1. 
   red_grandis | Dec 13, 2005 10:02pm | #4

   Thanks so much for the reply. The big heartburn I have with the fence is the lack of precision and repeatability. Any adjustment is done by nudging the fence back and forth - not very precise. Also, the miter gauge slot does not seem to want to hold onto feather boards meant for that purpose. Any ideas?

1. 
   BossCrunk | Dec 13, 2005 10:16pm | #5

   We overcame this by cutting some pre-measured plywood spacers to register the fence for common runs on this machine.

   We clamped some shop made hold-downs to the fence with spring clamps.  No biggie.  Not pretty, but reasonably effective.

   I've been through the growing pains.  This machine was a little doozy for a lot of little runs but a full-blown shaper with stock feeders it is not.

1. 
   red_grandis | Dec 15, 2005 04:37am | #6

   Here is my real question, I guess. Instead of buying a router table with a high quality fence and table, or making my own table suing one of the dozens of plans available, I would like to customize this machine for that purpose. In other words, replace the table and fence with either shop made or after market high quality replacements. Does anyone have any thoughts/advice/ideas??

1. 
   BossCrunk | Dec 15, 2005 04:42pm | #7

   I guess you could remove the guts from the machine and mount it into a shop built cabinet and top assembly.  Basically take a Norm Abrams or some other router table/cabinet plan and do whatever re-design needed to be done to accommodate the working parts of the Delta unit you have.

   Sure, that can be done.  You'll ultimately have to be the judge about whether it is worth your time.