Your post appears to originate from a San Francisco Bay area Comcast IP address range.
BA often used the phrase "Nice Try" when his opinion was challenged.
He has also used "unmitigated piece of crap" in reference to woodworking equipment.
Dave returned a Delta 299A (not an X-5, which lacks same), which had the front dust port, because it vibrated, in exchange for a Powermatic band saw.
His PM BS also exhibited a "total lack of vibration"
I'm sure it's a coinkiedink, so I apologize in advance for bringing it up. It's amazing how many people in the vast reaches of usenet that have similar mannerisms.
Ok. I'm still a sketic but I'm becoming less os. Over the past few days I read two reviews (e.g. the FWW Tools 2004 issue) and it seems that the decision between the Delta 28-475X X5 14" Closed Stand Bandsaw
and the
Powermatic 1791216K PWBS-14CS Deluxe Bandsaw
is a religious decision. Both are approximaetely the same price (if the Delta rebate and "free" tool is included because that gives you enough money to buy the Delta fence).
The blade guides are different. Cool blocks for the Delta & stacked ball bearings for the Powermatic.
Powermatic has a bigger table by 4 inches in one dimension and smaller by 1 inch in the other. I read that tilting the table left is easier on the Delta.
The fit and finish on the two look about the same to me althoug I like yellow better than grey.
Chaning blades on the Delta is easier (I read).
Both can be 120 or 220 volts.
The Powermatic includes a fence but with the $100 rebate you can get one for the Delta, too. I wonder how these fences compare with third party fences like the one from Woodhaven?
PM does not have a "quick full tension release".
American Woodworker (October 2004) says the frame to base stiffness of the Powermatic is "above average" for the PM and "Average" for the Delta.
The resaw capacity on the PM is one eight of an inch smaller than the dDelta: 11 7/8'th versus 12.
According to American Woodworker (Oct 2004) all other specs are the same (e.g. horsepower).
Some people are concerned where the saws are made. Powermatic is made in Taiwan (I think). I don't know where the Delta is made -- in the past it was the US but they might have moved manufacturing overseas - I don't know.
I'm likely to buy one of these two at the Woodworkers show in Denver in a couple of weeks. It might boil down to the best promotion. Last year I don't recall seeing Powermatics in the show -- hope they're represented this year!
Additional comments welcomed. I know some postings on this thread dislike Delta. For the two models I'm comparing, I think either is fine.
Before you make a decision try and look at the General 15 inch. It appears to be a copy of the Powermatic (American made version) 14 inch. We have run two of these for many years and they are fantastic. Plus you get the extra inch. max
Hmmm...Mine releases the tension for the blades that I typically use. It IS true if you use a max width blade ALL the pressure won't be released. That's a bit nitpicky in MHO, as I don't often use wide blades and even when I do, it's a small price to pay for having all the other goodies, qualities, and smoothness of the Powermatic. Fit and finish?? I say the PM wins hands down on that score. Besides, it's gray! :) My Unisaw is all the gray I need in the shop. Oh, yeah, then there's the my Delta sander, and drill press. See what I mean, I've got plenty of gray equipment already.
I got to actually run the Powermatic moments before I whipped out my credit card to order one at a nearby WW show. I was surprised when I saw the PM at the show, as I didn't know they had released it, and I didn't know it was gonna have all the cool features like a light, blower, Carter guides, wheel brush, etc. So I told the salesman if he'd plug it in and let me hear it run I'd buy it on the spot. He did, and I did. It's a dream machine compared to the Delta.
David
Never Enough M> Ok. I'm still a sketic but I'm becoming less os. Over the past few
I think Barry is jumping to conclusions. Unfairly I might add. There must be at least 15 or 20 guys named David (or Dave, Davey, Daisy) in the San Francisco - Oakland area that returned Delta bandsaws and bought Powermatics because they were unmitigated pieces of crap.
I'm only familiar with the east coast. The day I bought my Jet bandsaw, thee were four other guys named Edwin, all from the Hartford/Springfield region that bought Jet bandsaws just that one single day. Could have been more that bought Powermatics, but I don't track them. Barry does. Edwin
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