Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A friend bought this saw because he idolizes Jimmy Diresta and Delta is the brand Jimmy uses. Unfortunately, my friend doesn't know enough about bandsaws to understand what Jimmy said in his "Bandsaw Tips" video. Jimmy specifically stated he likes the (old) Delta because of the tool-less micrometer style adjustments for BOTH upper and lower blade-guides. This new cheapened chinese saw does not have those convenient tool-less adjustments on EITHER blade-guide. That is a HUGE downgrade. Why? Because unless you're buying this as a spare bandsaw that is set up for ONE blade and ONE type of operation, you will have to change blades. To get optimal performance, we need different types of blades for different operations. Each new blade requires resetting the blade guides. With the good micrometer-style adjustments, that is so fast and easy it's trivial. You want it to be easy and fast because there are SIX guides to adjust: two upper and two lower side bearings, plus an upper and lower thrust bearing. When forced to use the cheap hex set screws like this saw has, that is a major setback. My ambitious and compulsive friend was also unaware that we must change blade speed for different materials. It is true you can cut soft metals like aluminum and brass with a standard bandsaw, but Metals require a slower speed and much finer teeth on the blade. Ideally, we use a bandsaw blade with induction hardened teeth with pronounced "set' for efficient chip removal. That, combined with slower blade speed and some lubrication will allow neat safe metal cutting. This saw does allow changing blade speed, but that too is a P.I.T.A. Since my friend did NOT buy his saw from Amazon and faced a restocking charge from the CPO outlet if he returned it, he felt he was stuck with the saw. If you buy this new delta junk, be aware you will need to spend a good deal of time balancing wheels and shimming them to be coplanar. You can replace the blade guides with expensive aftermarket guides, but make sure you get the right size to fit these metric imported blocks. I spent a good portion of my youth working with the great OLD Delta machinery. That's why it is so sad to see another profiteering corporation raping the once reliable brand-name with imported scrap metal like this. The same is true for those Delta table saws we see in home centers now that are designed to LOOK like real table saws, but are just universal motors mounted under a cast iron top. Lest you think I am picking on Delta, think again. Almost all the once respectable tool brands are now weak shadows of their former selves: Milwaukee, Black & Decker, DeWalt, Porter Cable, ...basically ALL the big brands are now acting like one giant criminal corporation wringing the last vestiges of profit they can from once venerable brand names. This saw and most others like it have more in common with Harbor Freight tools than the once proud brands they have destroyed through greed. Although I have no particular love for Rikon, I should point out that for the same money, you can get a deluxe Rikon bandsaw that DOES have micrometer style adjustments and a few more pro features. It too is a Chinese import, but since RIKON is a newer brand, they offer more bang for your buck than this cheap imitation of the formerly reliable workhorse from delta. It is also worth mentioning that if you find an OLD Delta 14" bandsaw --- even if not working --- it is worth buying for a couple hundred or less. That way you can afford to get a new motor, bearings and fancy euro guides with tool-less micrometer adjustments. You will do the same amount of work replacing old worn parts as you would modifying this pile of scrap, but you'll have less frustration and end up with a GOOD saw for the same money or less. The engineers are not to blame. The managers and bean counters are. Delta is now officially just another global scrap dealer. This and Delta's new fake table-saw are evidence of how globalization kills American jobs and eviscerates quality at the expense of corporate profiteering. When people buy this kind of cheapened junk, they are killing whole economies, wasting resources with overseas shipping and supporting rampant corporate greed. Keep that in mind before you buy.