Early 1980's Delta-Rockwell Bandsaw questions

I have an opportunity to purchase a Delta/Rockwell 14" bandsaw that was made in the early 1980's for $375. It has a new poly tire on it, and looks, to my untrained eye, to be in good shape. The retailer has an excellent reputation in town as well.

It's a one-owner saw, and was sold to the original purchaser by the same retailer offering it now some 20 years later.

It is an open-stand model, and it has the original 3/4 hp Baldor motor on it. Yes, that's right...it's the original motor. The retailer in question used to buy them from Delta without the 1/2 hp Marathon, then install 3/4 hp Baldors instead.

I remember reading somewhere that Rockwell equipment started to go downhill sometime in the 1980's, though. Maybe a fiction of my imagination.

Can anyone talk to the (potential) quality of this saw? Were they still good models back then?

Thanks in advance.

Reply to
wood_newbie
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As far as it may have sunk in the imagination of some, it's still the same machine that was produced here until a few years ago. Price is up there, but just compare it to one of the new JET, Ridgid or clones, and you'll take it if it behaves in a normal fashion under test.

Reply to
George

Before discussing age and price you must first determine whether the saw is adequate for your current and future needs. What type of cutting and/or resawing to you plan to do with it? Then you need to know something about what the previous owner did with it so as to rule out abuse of the tool.

Otherwise it should be a solid machine and motor. I presume that the store you're buying it from has looked it over and perhaps reconditioned it for you in some way? That might justify the price.

J.

wood snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote:

Reply to
John

The line hit a little bump or was somewhat neglected just prior to the time that Delta was sold to Pentair by Rockwell. This was in

1984. But the machines were still good during that time frame.

If it has new tires (the old natural rubber tires were subject to osmositic cracking and variable durometer), and it tracks well, and the wheels are coplaner, and it runs without vibration, and the guide post goes up and down, locks and does not lose its relationship to the blade, and the table split is not mismatched badly as it approaches the insert, and the table trunions lock appropriately, it is a good machine. The base and overarm castings are the same as those of the U. S. version today, and a little heavier than the far eastern imports.

Of course the domestic versions today are up to 1.5 hp. But 3/4 was the top motor for years and tens of thousands were build with 3/4 hp.

Reply to
Frank Boettcher

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