In the market for a Bandsaw...Delta vs Powermatic

Sometime ago someone on thsi group replaced his NEW DELTA with a Powermatic and I can not find out why? or what the problem was with the New Delta...?

Anyhow after almost 40 years of use my Crapsman 12 inch bandsaw has reached the point that I really should replace it... I do very little resawing (naturally because I own the above machine) and do not see a lot of resawing in my future... but I imagine I would "pop" for a raiser kit ...

Which Delta is considered the best...and how does it match up with the

14 inch Powermatis... Color makes no difference since I paint all my tools blue anyway... lol

Would like to keep the price under a $1,000 ...

Bob Griffiths

Reply to
Bob G.
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Bob, the Powermatic IS under a grand. It is smooth, well constructed, has a light, a cut-line blower, lower wheel brush, large table, better guides, Carter release, serpentine style belt. I've had a Delta and didn't like it due to lack of features and smoothness. Can't fathom why anyone seeing the two side by side and then asking the salesman to plug them in, would choose any but the Powermatic.

Dave

Bob G. wrote:

Reply to
David

I have the X-5 Delta model which is really the 28-248 with a few extras as part of their promotion. This is their "best" under $1000, 14 in. saw. I have been very happy with it. I have the Fine Woodworking 2005 Tool Guide and they rated both the Delta and Powermatic as "Best Overall" under $1000. The Delta was the better choice for me, availability wise, but the Powermatic certainly rates very highly as well. I don't think you would be disappointed with either.

Jeff

Reply to
OldMan

I was in your position a few months ago, considering the Powermatic

14CS and the Delta X5. I ultimately went with the Delta and have been reasonbly pleased with my decision, although I suspect I would have been happy with the Powermatic as well.

American Woodworker, Oct 2004, has a very informative article comparing various saws under $1000 -- the most comprehensive article I have ever seen comparing tools. You can get it free online, I believe. They placed these two saws as the best under $1000, with a slight edge to the Delta.

I was surprised that this article continually emphasized that for a 14" bandsaw, you will do better with cool blocks than Carter bearings unless you plan on resawing with a 1/2" blade for most of the time. While I do some resawing, the bulk of my bandsawing is cutting curves with 1/4" blades, so the cool blocks was the best option. Hence, Powermatic's Carter bearings were actually a negative for me.

Powermatic, however, comes with lots of extras. On the other hand, while a fence is not included with the Delta, you can obtain a good fence (I have the Kreg/Fasttrak) for around $100. Cool blocks will cost you less then $15. And a very useful battery-powered magnetic penlamp (Band-Lite) from Ittura's catalog will add $28. Note that if you use 220v power, you will possibly have a problem with the Powermatic lamp anyway, so the Powermatic lamp may not be an extra at all. Bottom line, not too much is needed beyond the cost of the Delta to bring it up to the Powermatic's level.

And the X5 has an awesome tension-release mechanism. I don't know if the Powermatic has something as nice.

Finally, for what is worth, the Delta X5 that I received is listed as

1.5HP on the box and 12. amps on the bandsaw door, BUT on the engine plate (where it counts) it is listed as 2HP at 15amps! Now I know that 15amps is unlikely to put out a true 2HP (more like 1.75HP if the motor is reasonably efficient), but I wonder if the Delta X5 has a bit more power than the Powermatic or if Delta is experimenting with a more powerful engine. Maybe Jeff can weigh in on this too. The Powermatic web site is silent about the amperage of the 14CS.

Regardless of the pros and cons of these two saws, I'm sure either saw will bring a smile to your face when you power it up.

Lars

Reply to
Lars Stole

Woodcraft is advertising a Rikon 18" right now for $899. Or a Jet 18" for $999.

Reply to
Leon

Not really sure I need an 18 inch Bandsaw...my 12 inch Crapsman has doen all I have asked of it for almost 40 years ...but its time to finally replace my next to last Crapsman machine that I bought went I was getting started in the woodworking hobby....

I'll check it out...but at this toime in my life and with the work that I do the Delta or Powermatic seems just fine...

Thanks to everyone who replied... Guess it was Dave who canned the Delta because of vibration.... that was what I was looking for

Bob Griffiths

Reply to
Bob G.

FWIW, I had a shot a 2 month old Jet 18" for $600 when I bought my saw.

A local woodworking school has the Jet 18 and the Delta 14 side by side. After using both on actual work, and discussing things with school employees, I bought the Delta X5.

Delta left parts out of both my X5 band saw box and my DJ-20. Both tools took a month each to get running due to the missing parts. Once I got the whole thing, I've been very happy with the saw. I've added Delta's front sheet metal DC connection ($28), a magnetic light ($14), and Cool Blocks ($10). I don't use a "real" band saw fence, preferring to clamp jointed wood or single point rests in place when I need them. I adjust for drift with mallet taps.

I chose the Delta over the Jet due to the higher table and better motor. Other folks might prefer a lower table. The PM was not available locally, but it looks like a good saw. However, I prefer Cool Blocks over bearings.

Barry

Reply to
Ba r r y

Bob,

Before you run out and drop $1000 on one tool just something to think about, but every so often (about 3-4 times a year) there's a decent 8" jointer in the paper in good condition for $500 and I've got the Grizzly G0555 14" and love it ($425 w/shipping on sale). So I guess what I'm saying is if you've survived this long on a crapsman 12" (which I've used and the Grizzly WAY surpasses the crapsman) why not get 2 tools for one. The only reason I mention the jointer is because of all the tools in my shop (including my contractors style 2hp tablesaw -- nice but not a cabinet saw) I'd really like to replace my

6" jointer with an 8".

Anyway, maybe you've thought the same thing about your bandsaw and love everything else in your shop so what the hey, right? Just thought I'd stir the pot a bit first :)

Oh, and I use my bandsaw for all my ripping, and even resaw 6" stock from time to time with great satisfaction in the final result. I'd say my bandsaw is my favorite tool in my shop and unless someone handed me a free Laguna 18" I'll probably never replace it (did I mention I like it!).

Good luck and enjoy the new tool!

Mike

Reply to
Mike in Idaho

Thanks again guys.... a few years ago (before I stopped going to woodworking shows because they were mostly a complete waste of time) I did look at Bandsaws and to be honest I was quite suprised at the LOW Table heights that many of the larger saws had... My Table height is now close to 42 inches and I sure do not want anything lower then that.

I was a young guy fresh out of college and the army in the mid 60's when I got into woodworking...and about 99 % of my tools were purchased with a sears credit card at sears... Over the years I have replaced all but the floor model drill press (that thing is a workhorse) and the bandsaw...

I am now in my 60's retired and spend a lot of time in the shop and the Bandsaw is the only saw that really does not completely satisfy me... My original 6" Rockwell jointer still works just fine dead on the money no real need...nor really no desire to go looking for an 8 in jointer... I have been using a Jet Cabinet saw with a Bies Fence for the last 15 years and my son may wear it out after I die ..that is not my problem...

Just want to replace the last of my ok but not that great tools with something that pleases me... what can I say... Money...? LOL hate to say this but I am not rich but what the hell I can't take any with me... rather spend some to make myself happy ... NOW !

There is a woodcraft store down close to Baltimore think I just may call them and see if they stock Both Powermatic and Delta and this Rikon saw... if they do then I may hop in the truck and check them out side my side... same thing I did when I purchased the Cabinet Saw...the Jet was my choice BUT only because the table was machined better then the Delta Unisaw ...IT shined better... lol...hell of a reason BUT 15 years later I have absolutely no complaints..

Thanks guys...

Bob Griffiths

Reply to
Bob G.

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