Popular Woodworking 2002-08 № 129, страница 22
Endurance Test Delta's 14" Band Saw Practically an industry standard, we take this quality 14" machine way too much for granted. The band saw is a strange machine in the American woodshop. British woodworkers often build their shops around the band saw the way we do a table saw. We tend to use a band saw infrequently, and then for a couple of minutes and for an ever-changing variety of reasons. It may be trimming the tails on some drawer sides one moment, then shaping a cabriole leg the next. It's a versatile machine that sits in the corner of our shops patiently waiting for its next task. Whenever a reader asks for a recommendation on what type of band saw to buy, we heartily recommend a 14" stationary machine with a 1 hp motor and the ability to add an extension block to increase the resaw capacity. It's what we use every day, and our Delta 28-280 has never let us down in the four years we've owned it. This solid, stationary machine offers good blade capacity (1/s" to 3/4" widths) for fine curves or heavy resawing. The 1 hp motor has proved powerful enough for most tasks, though you should take it easy when resaw-ing dense or particularly wide wood. The table is solid and easily adjustable, locking tightly at any angle across a 48° arc. The table is also pre-milled flat and tapped for screws on the infeed and outfeed sides. This makes attaching accessories (both shop-made and aftermarket) an easier task. Changing blades on the Delta 28-280 is straightforward, with relatively easy access to the blade. The dust collection hook-up on the unit is correctly placed, and does manage to collect a reasonable amount of dust. The only annoyance is the size of the port, which doesn't seem to fit any of our hoses. Though it seems to be a mantra with many woodworkers, we haven't seen any reason to replace the blade guides on this saw. The guides are easily and independently adjustable to a very fine tolerance. While we have replaced the stock steel guide blocks with ceramic blocks, the guides continue to function admirably and precisely. An inconvenience on this saw and most band saws is the blade-tension-ing knob that requires strong wrists and too many revolutions to release and engage. This could be improved. Another improvement we'd like to see is the addition of a rack-and-pinion adjustment mechanism for the blade guard/guide assembly. While the friction-fit system does the job, we've startled ourselves by accidentally letting the mechanism drop to the table loudly (and this is probably not great for the guides, either). Though not a huge concern, many band saws now offer wheel-cleaning brushes that reduce the chance of dust buildup on the tires. Most of these systems are short of perfect, but they do keep the tires cleaner so the blades track easier to the center of the wheel. One accessory we highly recommend is the 6" extension block kit. While the standard saw is a solid performer, by adding the accessory kit you immediately increase the resaw capacity from 61/4" to 12". That extra height has come in handy many times. The kit adds $90 to the cost of the saw, and you'll have to order different length blades (105"), but the money is well spent. One of the upgrades offered on select models of this unit is a rip fence. We've made a half-dozen different fences for this saw throughout the years, and they've all done exactly what we wanted them to. But if your machinery dealer offers you the stock fence (a $100 value) for very little increase in the price of the saw, then go ahead. So, while we have a few things we'd like to see added to the 28-280, we continue to use it frequently (though sporadically) with little fuss and much success. Our sources at Delta indicate that some of our wishes are being addressed on their new 14" saw (model 28-293) in the near future. PW — David Thiel SPECIFICATIONS Delta 28-280 14" Band Saw Street price: Under $800 Motor: 1 hp induction, 1,725 rpm Capacity depth: 133/4" Capacity height: 6V4" Table size: 14" x 14" Table tilt range: 45° right, 3° left Blade capacity: V8"-3/4" width Weight: 224 pounds Nice features: Solid performance, power and capacity for almost any task, optional riser kit to extend capacity. Recommended modifications: Add ceramic guide blocks and wheel brushes as standard items. Spend the money to buy the height extension kit. Available at: Delta dealers nationwide. Contact Delta at 800-438-2486 or www.deltawoodworking.com ABOUT OUR ENDURANCE TESTS Every tool featured in our Endurance Test column has survived at least two years of heavy use in our shop here at Popular Woodworking. |
