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HELP! Delta 9" Band Saw... Is this worth $50?

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112K views 35 replies 29 participants last post by  toolguy1000 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So I found a bench top band saw on our local "Buy, Sell, Trade". Here is a pic of it.

Automotive tire Fender Gas Engineering Machine


They were asking $60 originally. Had agreed upon $40 and then someone else offered them $50. Both deals fell through and now I'm third in line. It's a Delta BS 100 9". They want me to pick it up tonight… which is impossible. But I think they would hold it for me till tomorrow.

Pro's… Con's… Good deal?
 

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#6 ·
My Dad gave me this saw. "Never could get the damn thing to cut straight"..I took it home got the book out and tuned it like the book said. Works fine. It's my "go to" saw as my 14" is set up to resaw mostly.
Price is right,grab it. Just remember to "tune" it.
 
#8 ·
For $50 bucks its not too bad.
If this deal does not go through you would get a much better saw with the 10" models. They have cast iron tables, die cast metal wheels and better blade guides. I often see 10" Sears machines for $50 to $100.

The ones to stay away from are the 3 wheel machines, I have been told because they are hard on the blades.
But, I have a little 3 wheel Delta I paid about $69 for it back in 1988 or so. I used it for cutting wax blanks for my jewelry casting business. It did alright for that. Any way, I see these for $25 to $30 all the time.
 
#9 ·
If you want a small bandsaw, It looks like a decent deal for $50. I was looking for one for a long time. If I seen that around here I'd have bought it. I went the other direction and bought an old 16" Walker Turner. Now the Central Machinery 14" will be the small one.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
good deal @ $50. i paid $20 for mine last year. it's a good little "i don't want to wheel out the big saw" band saw. as far as tuning up is concerned, my wheels needed balancing.

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if you can believe it, i saw this same type of saw on CL in my area. seller was asking $200!.
 

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#15 ·
The most important thing to know about Delta is that you cannot get parts for them any more. Delta has been bought and sold over the past few years and the company that was building there parts are no longer doing so. With that said, Delta is/was a quality company. If the saw works good as it is, It would be worth the $40-$50. Keep in mind that this is a small bench top model and only good for cutting smaller stock…..
 
#17 ·
I live in a small town. I've checked out the flea markets (there's two) and the only thing you will find are things that look so rusty and beat up that you wonder if it's even worth $1. My husband is good at fixing things… but he has absolutely NO interest in my new endeavor so I can't really get help from him. My friend that knows this stuff lives at least an hour and a half away. The local auctions… most are jokes. Haven't been to any of the big ones lately though. I started to jump on this bs because in two months it's the first woodworking tool that I've seen. Even Craigslist for this area is slim and at least an hour and a half away.

I didn't get the saw… but I actually learned from your comments. I really appreciate that. It's great to have a place to ask these kinds of questions and get the feed back. And everyone's perspective is so different that it really gives me a good idea of what to look for. Thanks guys!
 
#18 ·
It sounds like you have to move. lol
I bought an old delta 10" model for $75 and it needed a good bit of restoring but still was worth it in my opinion.
I think it was worth the $50 but the next question would be will it be satisfactory for your needs? or should you get one a bit larger?
 
#19 ·
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This is a craftsman 10" bandsaw. It sells new around $190. Can be found at Sears outlet centers for $90 to $125.
It's the same saw as Rikon sold by Highland woodworking and Woodcraft and others for closs to $275.
Jet sells the same saw for close to $300.
I've seen it on craigslist for $100.

I have the Rikon which I caught on sale for $200 and I really like it.
 

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#22 ·
I have one of those and don't really use it. The main problem on mine is that the blade will not track properly, and the drift is so bad, it is tough to even rough out scroll work. Perhaps I need to look more into this problem, but for now it is just used to rough out sheet aluminium for jigs and templates.
 
#23 ·
Honestly, I'm not particular with the brand. As long as it runs and has a good quality blade in it, it's good for a go. Anyways, that's a good deal you got there.
 
#24 ·
+1 on the 10" c-man comment. collected one for free for a neighbor from someone on anither forum who didn't want it. nice little saw. made with the same attention to detail as it's rikon cousins.
 
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