Delta Reviews

I have to say that it took me some time before I used my new Delta drum sander. I DID NOT get the "limited edition" model. I read on several woodworkers chat forums about how the learning curve on drum sanders is really steep, and that the sanders are very hard to adjust, etc. I wondered numerous times if I should have bought a Performax instead.
Well I finally wired up 220 volt for my new Jet canister DC (I read that you can't use a drum sander without a DC hook up). I found some scrap pieces of oak, maple and cherry and started playing around with it. The drum sander worked like a charm. I got no snipe (one of the many complaints I read about), no burn marks, and the sander never stalled. I then changed the pre wrapped paper, and started swearing until I figured out I was starting from the wrong end of the drum (no jokes about guys never reading the directions please). The sander seems to be built like a tank, does what it is suppose to do (it is not a planer) and was easy to put together. I recommend it.

I've had this machine for about 24 hours, and I've already gotten great results. Since it is still brand new, I'll restrict my review to shipping, setup and initial results.

SHIPPING

I actually received the machine about 4 days before I expected it, and the box was in premo condition, so I give shipping 5 stars.

SETUP

I expected to spend about 4 hours setting the machine up and getting it fine tuned. It actually took about an hour and a half, including installing the pneumatic drum sander. The instructions were clear and very easy to follow. After assembling the sander, I ran the tests recommended by Delta to make sure the drum was parallel with the table and the in-feed belt tracked ok. The folks at the factory did an excellent job because no - and I mean no - adjustments were necessary. The drum is perfectly parallel with the table and the in-feed belt tracks true. I give assembly and factory settings 5 stars.

FIRST RESULTS

I build hammered dulcimers, which require a trapazoidal soundboard that is about 20" deep, 1/4" thick and about 40" at its widest. The soundboards are made of Western Red Cedar, which is soft and shows every imperfection. Since the soundboard is deeper than the drum sander, I need to make two passes to sand the entire surface. I was concerned that the soft wood would show a ridge at the overlap. No problem. The soundboard (which is going on my latest dulcimer) is flat as a table top and looks great. I couldn't be happier.

My only gripe is with one of the retaining clips that holds the sanding belt on the drum. One of the clips is almost impossible to open with my fingers, and I have to use a pair of pliers to squeeze the clip and insert the belt. The other clip is just fine. I'm going to contact Delta about it. Because of the clip problem, I rate first results at 4 stars.

Would I recommend this machine for the small shop? You bet!

I got the sander and while assembling it noticed that the support for the power feed assy was bent and the screws holding it in alignment were overtightened causing the lock washers to spread.This would not let the feeder set down flat. The lockwashers had to be removed. The shaft for the free accessory drum sander was badly bent and caused the machine to vibrate very badly. I have emailed Delta and await their reply. I did get the main sander working and it seems to be smooth and does a fine job. Seems like Delta can still design a good tool. They just have trouble building them.

Spreader seems to work fine after you get it lined up with blade. That is a matter of trial and error. Since Biesemeyer is owned by Delta, and Delta makes the Unisaw, one would thing the spreader mounting braket could be designed to self align with the bade. For the price it should.

After reading many articles on table saw kick back, I decided I did not want to be the next victim so I bought the Biesemeyer 78-431 T-Square Anti-Kickback Snap-In Spreader (For Delta Left Tilt Unisaw). I removed the original blade guard and kickback device after one day of use. The blind spots were distracting and aggravating. When it came time to install my dado blade, there was the factory splitter. Aggravating to remove and more aggravating to install and align. Without completing the re-installation, I worked for a few weeks without both. MUCH nicer and no aggravations!

My conscience told me over and over to install a splitter so I bought the 78-431.
Over priced? Yes. Worth it? Yes! What is the cost of a finger or hand? Much more in many ways than the cost of this splitter/ kickback device. DO NOT order the wrong unit. Right tilt and left tilt saws require their own order number.
Installation was non-complex, bigger hands than mine might have some grief but that goes without saying when working in tight spaces. All of the original blade guard hardware must be removed. If you already installed and auxiliary out feed table, you may have to loosen a bolt or two and readjust it when you're done. No big deal.

Keep in mind that the splitter/kickback device is removable and replaceable in seconds; also keep in mind that this splitter is for 1/8" blades only. Thin kerf blades will not work with this unit. A three horsepower and higher saw does not require a thin kerf blade. They are meant for lower horsepower contractor and bench saws since the thin kerf allows for easier cutting pressures.

Some of the earlier Biesemeyer overhead blade guards came with a removable splitter that sold separately for about $30.00. The 78-431 is about $130.00 and more meaty than the thirty dollar freebee.
I use this splitter/kickback device faithfully and never had a problem. Here's to all my fingers!! Thank you Biesemeyer!

This splitter with built-in anti-kickback wings provides great usability, while providing the maximum visibility in the cutting area, something the standard blade guard reduces substantially. I think it's a great compromise between usability and safety, and never use the standard guard any more.

The only downside is that, while the 78-431 is easy to mount and dismount, it requires it's own hardware under the saw table, so switching between it and the standard blade guard requires a fair amount of work and realignment.

I bought this saw almost three years ago for home improvement projects. At the time, my workspace was limited to � a stall of a 1 � stall garage and the size of the saw was a major factor in my decision. I immediately purchased the optional Delta outfeed table brackets from Mike's Tools dot com and made my own table out of MDF. This added an extra $50 to the price of the saw but it gave me nearly the table space of a normal contractors saw in a foldaway format. My first use for this saw was to rip a pile of one hundred 10 foot pine 2/6's s to match the old dimensional lumber of our house and it's been getting heavy use ever since. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:

*The saw is fairly heavy and definitely not a toy, vibration is minimal when placed on a solid, level surface.
*Set-up was fast and easy.
*Table and wings were very flat after assembly.
*If you're not careful The saw will bog down in heavy cuts but has adequate power for most cuts if you pay attention to your feed rate.
*The fence is simple and easy to adjust to a good level of accuracy. It doesn't flex at the end and is easy to use with shop made jigs and auxiliary fences.
*Odd motor / belt design gives some advantage of a belt driven saw without a motor hanging out the back of the saw and taking up shop space.

Cons

*My biggest pet peeve is the power switch. It's small and in a bad spot. After 3 years, I still have to feel around for it at the end of almost every cut. I should install an after-market switch.
*I don't like the plastic handwheels.
*I wish the throat plates had full 4-point adjustment instead of just two screws.
*The blade guard - as with so many table saws - is barely useable.

If you want a "big" saw and have limited space, this would be a good choice. If space and money aren't an issue, look elsewhere. I've since moved to a new place and my home improvement projects have lead to furniture and cabinet making. As a result, I have outgrown my 36-600. But because it's such a nice saw, I plan to keep it as a back-up for cutting smaller parts, tenons, etc. If you choose this saw, you should also by a mobile base, a quality rip and a quality crosscut blade, some zero clearance inserts (you can find them if you look online), and ear and eye protection. BTW - after 5 years of looking and researching, I've decided that my next saw will be a Powermatic 64.

This is a good entry to mid-level grade saw for the occasional hobbiest, but MAKE SURE you shop around! You should be able to get the 36-600 for much less than what Amazon lists it...$401.95!!! That's ridiculous! It is an older version of the new Delta Shopmaster Model TS300, which Amazon lists for $379. Amazon also lists the Delta TS350 (which is a step up from both the Delta TS300 and Delta 36-600) for less than either the Delta TS300 or 36-600. The TS350 is listed for $369! The Delta TS350 has better features and costs much less than the 36-600 on Amazon... it would be my recommendation. Nevertheless, see my full review of the Delta 36-600.

This is/was my first table saw, and I was thrilled with the results I achieved immediately. Compared to a circular saw, table saws are the bee's knees. Easy to assemble. Accurate even for a beginner.

As my knowledge and experience have grown, I've fussed over the saw a little more. The throat plate design is downright MYSTIFYING. As someone else mentioned, it's not a standard size, and adjustments are made only on one side (left) of the blade. Additionally, being designed for a steel throat plate, the ledges are of odd dimensions, requiring planing and glue-up to construct a zero clearance insert. Very difficult. I'm on my third attempt to construct a useful one.

But, other than that, I have been very happy with this saw. I ripped some fairly sappy doug fir 2x4s at a 45 degree angle, and though I feared for my fingers, the saw kept right up with me.

Oh, and don't even bother putting the blade guard on when you assemble the saw. Bad design, as others have said, and IMHO you're safer when you can see the blade.

based on the reviews, there seems to be two completely different schools of thought on this product. My vote goes with "junk". Everything is very loose, the chuck is not true, so it turns in an eliptical motion (instead of a circle) and while I haven't had problems with the chuck falling off, the method of installation called for in the instructions "pound it in with a rubber mallet" --seriously!-- makes me certain it is only a matter of time. Also, you have to tighten the chuck with the key extremely hard and the bits still slip nearly every time.

I purchased the Delta 11-990 drill press for small commercial shop use about two months ago because of very limited space and previous experience with a similar model. The newer model DP300 was temporarily out of stock and the distributor was offering a discount on the 11-990 because technically this model is two years old, even though both have exactly the same specifications. They are the low priced "Shopmaster" grade, manufactured in China, supposedly at Delta owned facilities. The drill press came with a tool tray and magnetic mount worklight. The tool tray was unnecessary for me, so it went in the recycle bin to be reincarnated. The worklight is much more useful when stuck to a 4-11/16" square junction box cover and hung from a hook on the pegboard at the edge of the workbench than on the drill press itself. I have this drill press mounted to a mobile base I made from a Makita 2703XL table saw stand, 3/4" plywood and 2" locking swivel casters. This works great because it gives the proper height and stability for safe operation and it doesn't take up valuable bench space.
The 11-990 was easy to assemble and even came with the bolts to mount it to a stand. The thick oily coating on the parts wiped off cleanly with a rag dipped in regular paint thinner.
I cleaned the spindle and chuck taper bore with acetone before mounting the fully opened chuck with a wood block and mallet and have had no problem with the chuck falling off while in use. The chuck is not a Jacobs or other name brand but the geared collar turns easily by hand without binding for initial bit insertion before tightening with the key. Runout is minimal and I have had no problem with bits slipping in the chuck jaws after tightening.
The drill press runs smoothly and quietly with no vibration or spindle chatter. The motor is a 1/3HP, 1720 RPM, capacitor start.
Delta says the maximum hole size in steel with an HSS bit is 3/8" but I have used it on several occasions to drill 1/2" holes in 3/8" thick mild steel plate in low speed [620 RPM] without stalling or any sign of motor overheating. It has also been used with a 1-1/2" spade bit to bore holes in 2X and a 3-1/2" hole saw in 1X and 3/4" plywood. Changing the five belt positions is simple and only requires loosening one thumbscrew. The speed range is 620-3100 RPM.
The table swivels 360-degrees and tilts somewhat easily by removing the locking pin and loosening a 3/4" hex bolt. Rockler sells a ratcheting handle for about five dollars that supposedly fits this table and replaces the bolt, eliminating the need for a 3/4" socket wrench. I think I will probably try it.
The 4" Delta 20-622 vise is also a nice accessory if you drill metal frequently. I have it permanently mounted to the table with 1/2" bolts at a slight angle to the chuck.
Overall, I feel the 11-990 is a good value. For less than two hundred dollars, it seems surprisingly well made and should be able to meet the demands of most small shop or home use.

I am impressed with this drill press. I think it operates very well. It is quite and smooth during operation. I agree with one review that the light is a good idea, but it slides and won't stay in place. The others that commented and said that everything is loose, "You better check your manual" you must have done something wrong.

I have not used product yet but the features are easy to understand and very accessible.

I bought this jointer for my shop a few weeks ago from Amazon. The price was excellent and, with the free shipping and [...] offered at the time the net cost to me was about [...] No way to beat this machine at that price.

The box arrived about 10 days later somewhat battered. I opened it over the weekend and all the parts were there and in good condition. It too me about 2 hours to assemble (I did it alone - the jointer itself allegedly weighs about 180 pounds but I was easily able to lift it onto the stand myself). The table was easy to clean, but I used quite a few paper towels and a few terry shop towels between scrubbing it clean and waxing it (using Johnson's wax). About 2 hours after opening the box I ran my first cuts. The table still needs to be fine-tuned (the machine has quite a few adjustments on it) but the cuts were smooth. I agree with several other reviewers - this machine is quieter than I expected and does not vibrate at all. I was easily able to run a 7' test board as my first cut (ambitious and stupid, but what can you do).

I am very happy and excited about the machine. It may not be a professional quality jointer (a friend of mine has a 12" jointer built in the 1930's that weighs something like 800 pounds, and that is a much more production type machine) but you cannot beat this machine for the home woodworking hobbyist. A few notes: 1) The machine IS manufactured in China, if that matters to you. 2) My table has some light cosmetic scratching on it. You can't even feel them with your finger but they are visible. I suspect I'll scratch it worse myself over time, but there you go. 3) Based on another review I expected the thing to arrive on a pallet. It did not. The box was probably about 6' high, and 30"x24" in section (it's not right here so these are guesses). A single person can easily move the machine in the box with a dolly.

I read reviews on several different brands of jointers for about a week looked at them at a few stores and decided that this was the one that I wanted. For the price, you will not find a better jointer, maybe not even at $200 more. Delta makes real good tools in all price ranges, (besides Norm uses one) so when I found this one on Amazon for the lowest price around and FREE shipping, all the others became second choice. Amazon delivered within 7 days of placing my order FOR FREE! (I can't emphasize that enough). EXCELLENT!
I got the jointer out of the box and went to town assembling it with the help of my son and had it together in about 2 hours (An air rachet will speed up the process alot). I checked the tables for defects like cracks, chipped surfaces, flatness and checked the cutters to make sure that they were flat with the tables and started running wood over it. Sweeeeet! No the tables are not PERFECTLY flat, but are within about .003-.005" over the length of each one. I've read reviews on more expensive and larger machines and hear the same gripes, c'mon people, were working with wood for crying out loud. (I used to remanufacture engines and the tolerances weren't much tighter) The belt that came with it was coiled and kinked and will need to stretch out straight, but in general doesn't seem to vibrate much at all. As a matter of fact I didn't notice much vibration what so ever, which is amazing, considering it is on a metal frame base that is bolted together. And the thing is QUIET, not near the noise level that I expected. It produces nice flat cuts that you couldn't see daylight through between the boards that I just laid together. It didn't take that long to clean the tables, fence and cutter head of all the grease that was applied for storage and shipping. One quick note, remember the cutters are SHARP! I had to remind my son of that, and then preceeded to cut my own finger, I guess to prove my point....
This is a serious piece of equipment, but it is NOT a professional production machine. But for the person that enjoys building cabinets and other furniture in his own shop it is near perfect.
I didn't know how I would like the lever adjustment on the infeed table, but after using it a while, I like it. It's quick and not difficult to get accurate adjustments with, besides, how often do you really adjust the either table, I usually want to take about 1/32 of an inch at a time as a general rule.
In case anyone else out there is curious, the fence is cast iron, I wasn't sure, some of the cheaper and more expensive are aluminum.
The only ding I would give this jointer is that the upper bolts on the motor are a bit difficult to get to, especially the one towards the front. But then again, how often are you going to change the belt or even adjust it?
This thing delivers, it does what they say it does.
I compared this jointer to the Jet and Grizzly 6in jointers.
Hope this helps anyone that is considering one.

The Boss Bench Oscillating Sander is a smooth, quiet operation, with hardly, if any, vibration. The cast iron table provides an adequate work surface and great support and stability of the workpiece. I did not have any trouble with the spindle being square to the table. This sander works wonders on the curved and scrollsawed pieces, with no burning of the edges, and a smooth finish.

The dust collection system works okay. The dust port is an odd size, 1.5", but the dust collection fan blades built into the base of the spindle draws the dust down from the table into the bag. The bag is a little tricky to install, but once it is installed, it works great.

The only negative I have, and thus only 4 stars, is the fact there is not a spindle lock. This makes changing the spindles not as easy as it should be. I have created my own "spindle lock" by placing the allen wrench in between the dust collection fan blades and the dust port, this "locks" the spindle in place while I change out the spindle sleeves. I'm sure this is not good for the fan blades, but it works, so far.

A great running machine, has met all my expectations and then some for edge sanding curved pieces. It has a permanent place on my work bench !!

I bought the BOSS after the price dropped and I have been extremely happy with it's versatility. You get a [...] Spindle kit free to get started and the different sizes of spindles are readily available almost everywhere (unlike my Jet power tools). The vibration is a lot less than I expected making it very easy to shape wood rough cut shapes from my scroll saw and my table saw.

One of Delta's better efforts!

Sander works great but, dust bag is hard to get on and off. The extra spindle set you get is all the sizes they make for sander that is not included with standard sander. Extra set comes with drums and one sanding drum per rubber drum. Great value because, at a national hardware store they will charge you [alot] for just the sander plus ... extra spindle set which is encluded at amazon for nothing.

I procrastinated and debated on my selection of a DC for my new workshop. Based on Amazon reviews, price and features I selected the 50-760. I found the unit very easy to assemble. Even the bags went on easy. The unit initially made a racket when powered up for the first time, but after I removed the the dented motor cover and pounded it out (apparently a common shipping mishap for this unit...attention Delta!), the unit was very quiet. Compared to my old shopvac, the low hum was a relief over the previous high pitch. Hooked up to my Unisaw it immediately drew large quantities of sawdust out of the motor chamber. The only surprise was the size of the 50-760. Compared to the Delta unit sold at Home Depot, this stands about 2 feet taller. I assumed it would be only slightly taller. Otherwise, very pleased. 4/5 stars for minor damage and missing "large" flat washer that is used in fabric bag hanger.

I've had the 50-670 for over a half year and I'm very pleased with it. It is very easy to move around and moves a lot of air. I remember turning it on for the first time and having my hand sucked into the flex hose; I said "Daamn!"

Sorry. I couldn't resist the pun. Ordered this dust collection system from Amazon last week and it arrived yesterday in perfect condition.

It works as advertised. Plenty of suction power and it's not as loud as my shop vacuum. It's also fairly light and it's easy to wheel around my small workshop.

Something to note... Delta isn't kidding when they say you need a separate electrical circuit to operate this thing. Don't plan on plugging this into the same outlet as your table saw.

I've never bought a zero-clearance insert before. . .I've always made them myself. Since I just got a new saw, I thought I'd go all the way and get a commercial insert. There's actually a lot of play (compared to the standard insert that came with the saw) that must be corrected with the set screws. It's fine, but not exactly as precise as I expected. But, it works just fine. In the future I will continue making my own. Use the original insert from the saw as a template, rough cut the plywood or hardwood on the band saw, use double-stick tape to stick the original and the wood insert together, and use a flush trim bit on the router to finish it off.

Adding a zero cleareance substantially increased the quality of my cuts. I was cross-cutting plywood with my old Delta blade. The tear-out was surprisingly bad considering that the blade was sharpened recently. I dropped this insert in place and the tear-out was nearly gone. In other words, this thing really works.

I love tools that work. Couple of other notes: The set screws work really well but they are really tight. I had to use my cordless drill to adjust them. Second, the bright yellow color is nice because it is a stark reminder of the danger zone.

By the way, if you experience a lot of noise, the directions state that it is probably the blade rubbing on the insert. The solution is to widen the kerf slighty with a bit of sandpaper. I haven't experienced any noise.

A lot of experienced woodworkers make their own zero clearance inserts. I can't be bothered. I don't do this for a living, so for the hobbyist, this is the way to go. If you make your own, you need to drill leveling screws, use a bandsaw and a router, and if you rely on wood, you run the risk of it warping. This one was dead on and was configured in my saw in no time at all. Totally flat and a great product.

This was a lot of saw for the money so I dove in. Had it a month, used it twice, the fence broke where it clamps to the rail. Bought a 50 inch fence that doesn't shift an eighth to the right when set. Running with dado blades, saw stopped. Wasn't motor. The arbor seized up. Could spin it backwards but not forwards. It tightened like a screw. Maybe there's something I don't know but it seems that that is one thing a table saw should never ever ever do. Unimpressed and worried what's next. Should have spent the extra for the 2hp General.

I've owned this saw for three years now and love using it.

Pros: Great price for a belt drive, contractors saw! Extremely accurate rip fence! Plenty of power for the hobbyist. 30" rip capacity. Came fairly true right out of the box (needed little adjustment). Durability (mine's been in my garage for three years and no problems with climate change, etc.). Switch placement (I can turn off the saw with a bump of my hip or leg without having to reach for it. Greatly improves the safety of operation). Can be wired for 240v.

Cons: Rip fence flexes a little. Miter gage not extremely accurate.

Many people have complained about the splitter and blade guard. I've found that, once you get the splitter aligned properly, it works just fine and only takes two bolts to remove.

Buying a quality saw blade is a requirement with any new saw. I'd bet I'd still want to buy a few nice blades even if I bought a Unisaw.

You absolutely cannot beat this saw for the price. I will be upgrading the fence and the miter gauge and then I have no doubt that this saw will be with me for years to come!

I purchased this saw because it looked like a good saw for my money. Assembly was a breeze as well as alignment. Saw cut extremely smooth until one day the locking handle broke on the fence. Apparently it is made of a very poor quality Chinese cast metal. Upon calling for a warranty replacement I was informed that it would be at least six weeks before I could get a new one. That is not what a professional woodworker likes to hear.

This machine handles it's work load very well. It's only draw back is a poor dust collection system. The enclosed stand makes this machine rate a 5.

I bought this a few weeks ago. Set-up was surprisingly simple and I did it by myself in about an hour or so. All adjustments were dead-on right out of the box. The steel stand is very sturdy. I do want to get a mobile base, as this thing is very heavy to move around the shop.

I was missing one minor part - the handle & knob on the fence. I called Delta on Monday morning and got the part via UPS on Wednesday.

I've used this to edge several boards already. Usually, one pass at 1/16 inch gets me a glue-straight edge.

This is a great little jointer. It works well, is easy to set up, with one small exception (the belt which I upgraded to link belt), and is small enough to fit into my garage workshop. So far it has handled cypress and red oak, making my jointery perfect. If you're interested in a small jointer, this is the one.
I purchased this jointer in July '04 as a floor model clearance sale and saved a bundle. They're not hard to find and a little talking saved me $150 on the jointer and wheeled stand.
Don't wait!