All,
Jetboy brought to my attention that Rockler will be selling the 14″ 28-206 Delta Bandsaws for net $409 starting Jan 5. The normal price $559 with a $100 discount and a $50 rebate….I went over to Rockler today and confirmed what Jet Boy had received in the mail.
Replies
BG
Is that where you're going with your BS purchase? The price is right. Does that one have 1 HP or 1 1/2 HP?
Happy New Year...
sarge..jt
Proud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Sarge,
The Delta 28-206 is the 1hp model, and, yes, I'm buying it from Rockler....but getting a bit concerned. I read some reviews on Amazon...not exactly all 5 star reviews. It seems this model has some great features....16x16 cast iron table, quick release lever, etc....but it is also made in China and fitting the parts is a crap shoot. As last year, I was really tempted to go for the 16" Jet but just could not convince myself that I need a machine that big...and price. By the time I'm finished with the 206...riser block, mobil base, fense....not sure which is cheaper...sigh.
BG
Have you considered that Grizzly 14"? I have not kept up with the reviews on it recently with all the various projects I'm tied up with. If you don't want to push the economic package, it would seem to be an option.
What have it's users had to say? Or is there a reason you are not considering it an option. From what I've seen of the Delta's the newer one has potential, but I always felt the older ones came up a nickel short on the dollar amount they were priced at. Just my opinion and probably most are satisfied with them. I just had a bad feeling about the way they approached the market until recently. I feel it was ante up or get out of the game. They seem to have bit the bullet and decided to play.
I think you are wise to be at least reluctant and look at all the angles. Us "po folks" can't afford to take any other approach other than a well thought out one.
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Sarge,
As you may recall, I did a heavy investigation last year on Bandsaws. Then the question was Bandsaw or Cabinet saw...it was you who made a subtle suggestion that maybe the cabinet saw would be a better choice( Hey BG, fatso, what are you nuts?..get the cabinet).
I was ready to buy the Grizzly 0555 last week...appears to be a terriffic saw at a terriffic price( $375 + $55 shipping, $40 riser block, $59 shop fox base=$529. I took one last look at the Jet 16" which is on sale for $750+ tax= $785about...not sure a base is needed...put wheels with posts thru feet. As you know, there is a world of dfference between the Jet 16" and anybody's 14"..except maybe Minimax..or something in that league. Anyhow, given the fact that I did buy a cabinet saw last year, I kinda figured the 14" would be sufficient for my needs.
Another aspect from last years analysis was local support. I've read enough here (knots)about peoples issues with bandsaws to place a rather high value on the availability knowledgeable people in the flesh. It's all well and good to get support form Grizzly or Delta over the phone...as long as you can correctly determine/identify the issue. I personally feel a little guilty buying elsewhere and bringing my issues to John over at Woodcraft. My point is, it's a two way street...
Along came this deal on the Delta 206...net $409+tax= $430about, $70 htc base, $80 riser=$580 with local support from Rockler...my other hangout. The support from Rockler not as knowledgeable, mostly form kids attending NBSS, but very very energetic and anxious to figure it all out....lol. They may kill me, but at the wake everyone will notice how nice the bandsaw is running...
So Sarge, master of subtley, what would you do....lol The comments on Amazon (6-8 i think) were mostly about assembly issues and what did not fit....one person still has a smoothness issue. A couple were okay. As grizzly has done, Delta will eliminate these issues once the ISO stds kick in at the manufacturing facility in China.
Happy New Year
Edited 1/1/2004 7:49:04 AM ET by BG
BG
Given what Charlie said and the local price, I think I would lean with local. As long as you accept the fact that no 14" 1 HP is going to be a 16" 1 1/2 or 2 HP. With the riser block there, you have the capability of getting re-saw done if you are patient. All BS's have their quirks. Nobody makes one that you bolt down to the base and never have to touch it the rest of your life. Too many moving parts and variables to allow for that kind of perfection.
The lower power can be finessed to do what you expect as long as your expections are within the limits of it's peak capability. The cut will probably be rougher. You have the time and patience as a hobbyiest to live with that as deadlines are not an issue. The rougher cut can be corrected with your ability and love of hand planes and related hand tools. That is a plus that some don't enjoy. In your basement, dust might be an issue. I believe that the older Delta's had less than desirable dust removal. Are you prepared for that as it can be improved with modification.
IMO bottom line is if you want to keep cost low and enjoy the personal touch of local support, you are capable of circumventing the other issues. It sounds to me that you are a perfect candidate for that Delta with funding the major issue.
So what the h*ll are you waiting for, New Years? If you had ever gambled professionally, you would know that most of the time you keep risk to a minimum. But when the odds swing in your favor, you put the money down. Opportunity doesn't come knocking every day. You either jump on it or it becomes an after-though of "I wish I had of -----".
Times a wastin'...... and good luck with your decision!
Regards...
sarge..jt Proud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Sarge,
I ain't waiting...it's just that those silly people at Rockler are taking the whole damn day off...gees. Yes, your right, whatever the issues Delta will make it right. ...as Grizzly would. Tomorrow morning I pick up the unit and start wrestling it into the basement. I was going to wait till the 5th so the $50 Delta rebate would coincide with the Rockler sale...but I see now that Delta has the rebate on the web and as long as I buy after Nov and before Feb. its good.
Last year when I really wanted the 16" Jet it was primarily because the bandsaw would be my TS as well as BS...and the power would be necessary for ripping at a decent pace. Now I'm looking for power to shape wood and resaw for draws....and if that means I have to buy more planes....lol...oh well...
I am curling up with the bandsaw book and watching some football.....With my boys from Purdue doing so well ....gonna learn a lot about bandsaws....sigh
BG
Your boys from Purdue almost got lucky or the boys from Georgia almost got un-lucky. ha.. ha..
What you said makes sense to me. Unless you do a large amount of re-saw with really hard and big stock, you should be fine. And yeah, getting it to the basement is gonna be a bear unless you got help. I went out an bought my wife a large screen TV this afternoon. Getting it up 12 steps on the stairs by myself was a "mans job". Not and "old mans" job, a "mans job". Well it's sitting over there as the hoist, fulcrums, levers and pulleys gave the "old man" an assist.
I may not be as young as I used to be, but I'm still breathing and a h*ll of a lot smarter than I used to be when I would just "man-handle" it. ha.. ha.. ha..ha..ha..
Enjoy the new DBS...
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Sarge,
I think Georgia almost lost it because they did not want to run up the score when they could have....once you slack back it can sometimes be very difficult to get back up again. All in all, proud of the way Purdue hung in there...and the best team did win.
When I was a kid I delivered plumbing and heating supplies...always the cast iron tubs had to go to the third floor.....I've learned how to dance with cast iron. Those TV's, on the other hand, are terribly off balanced..a 27" is a challange because the weight is in the back.... Sounds like you had plenty help from the neighbors..hoist. lever, pully, etc....lol
BG
If I didn't have good neighbors, my wife would be out in the drive-way watching it now. ha.. ha.. ha..ha..ha
Agree that it will come in two boxes with top in one and base in another.
Have fun with the purchase...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I suspect the bandsaw will come in two boxes, one with the base and motor (60-70 lbs) and another with the upper frame and wheels (110-120 lbs). To make it easier, Jet premounted the blade, which is discovered by touch in the middle of hoisting the wheel unit onto the base. =8-O You might want to pull it off first.
I got my jet14 delux model with a woodshow 10% discount and the green tag from another piece for a net price of $440. It does have the rapid tension release which is a nice feature, IF, you remember to retension the blade before using the saw the next time.
Jet boy,
I set up the HTC mobil base today and might put the BS together in the garage tomorrow. Fortunately I've got no stairs to deal with, our basement is half garage, quarter storage and a quarter shop. I did the cabinet saw that way and the only real issue was fitting it through the door way. Thanks for the heads up about the blade...and the heads up on the deal.
Nope, it comes in one box. But nobody says you can't open the box and take it down in several trips. The entire saw excepting the base is pretty much assembled on this model, so that is still quite heavy. The manual says to get help placing it on the base, and like an idiot--with my legendary lack of impulse control--I went ahead and did it by myself. I don't reommend that, though--I nearly dropped it. Now, how much would that have sucked?
CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
CharlieD,
Yes, the 28-206 comes in one box..one heavy, bulky, off balanced box. Everything in there was surrounded by styrofoam. I slipped it out of the box in the garage (it was snowing) and took it piece by piece into the basement....and, yes, all but the base was assembeled. Went together okay...cept for that last screw....there has always got to be one....there does not appear to be a screw for the top of the pully cover?
Tomorrow I set it up...fine tune
Nope, no screw for the top wheel cover. Just that little clip under the wheel on the right, near the blade. Have fun! And upgrade to a real blade ASAP--the difference is quite noiticable.
CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
FWIW, I dearly love my 206. Now, I'm no expert on the BS (ha, ha, very funny guys) but it went together great, is completely reliable, low vibration, riser block installation was a snap, and given careful blade selection, seems to have all the power I need. And I paid significantly more than you're looking at paying. By all means keep looking and learning--I just wanted you to hear from one happy guy about that saw.
CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
CharlieD,
Thanks, that really does help. I don't have that much money sunk into this deal at this point...($50 deposite, $70 HTC mobil base from WWW)...but as I review the features of the 206 it seems like a hell-of-a deal. I just don't want to end up making a career out of trying to assemble the bandsaw so it runs properly. Your comments are timely.
Go with the Jet 14" w/ the riser block. Mine is about 5 years old now and performs like a champ.It may cost a few more bucks but very well worth it IMHO.
Brian
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled