Another band saw question - New Grizzly or Older Delta

[David Shapiro]

Based partly on reviews from this group, I'd been planning to purchase the Grizzly G0555 14" band saw ($485 shipped). I mentioned this to a woodworker friend, who offered to sell his well maintained 1975 Delta

14" band saw (Iturra tension spring, knob, guide wheels, riser, 1-1/2 HP motor and 4 or 5 Lenox blades) for $700.

The Delta is $250 more. It does seem to make a mild metal-on-metal rubbing noise as it runs (not heard on my 12" Sears, but may only be a minor adjustment), but the older machines have a good reputation. Grizzly is new, Taiwanese, well regarded by this group, and has a quick release blade tensioner (I hate turning that knob!)

Now I'm confused again. Any advice?

Thanks in advance

David

[Tom]

David wrote:>Based partly on reviews from this group, I'd been planning to purchase

For only $215 more, I'd go for the Delta. Tom Work at your leisure!

[George]

Metal-on-metal might just be the blade guard touching the upper wheel.

As I have often posted here, at our local school the Grizzly sits virtually unused, incapable of repeatable, reliable results, while the kids use the

40+ year old Delta - and now the new one. Two of the other four Grizzly tools purchased under the grant are idle as well.

Like the Grizzly planer, but the Delta is the bandsaw to buy.

[Charlie Mraz]

I've been looking at the G1148 myself. It is a 15" steel framed machine for $500 shipped. I've never tried one out, but the specs look to be slightly better than the G0555 for not much more money. My other option is to buy a used G1019 for $200, or wait a while and get the G0513 17". Oddly, their

16" model seems to go back to a cast iron body... Anybody have a Grizzly steel frame saw?

Charlie

[Pat Barber]