Delta 14" Clones - How Bad Can They Be?

[jeffinsgf]

Just guessing, but I think it is from 2016 or 2017. It's been here about as long as I have.

Hate to play the "back in the day" card that us old farts tend to pull out, but I can remember when Powermatic was simply the best you could get for your shop...unless you stepped up to Northfield, or the big German boys...Martin and Altendorf. Then they knuckled under to the competitive pressure and added the "Artisan" line, which was Taiwan copies of their lower-end designs. For a few years you could buy a "real" Powermatic from McMinnville or an "Artisan". About the time Jet bought them, they shut down McMinnville and the Artisan line became the only line. It's just sad to remember my dad's 14" forest-green Powermatic band saw and then try to work on this thing.

 

[P_K]

At various points Powermatic also sold re-badged machines from SAC, Robland and SCMI.

 

[rvieceli]

I have mostly vintage stationary machines in the shop. I really like Powermatic stuff from when they were bult in Tennessee. My table saw is a PM66 that rolled out of the factory in 1969, The 20 inch PM81 bandsaw came out in 1974. My 16 inch Oliver jointer was new in 1945. my drill press is a 1963ish Electro-mechano made in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

the castings are substantial. The machining is excellent.

The table saw has two bearings that are available and the bandsaw has four. I paid $150 for the PM66 cleaned it up and replaced the arbor bearings and set up a VFD to run it since it is 3 phase. All in I have about 500 in it. the bandsaw I got at auction from a firm that did model kits. So it spent its life sawing balsa wood.

Ron

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have mostly vintage stationary machines in the shop...

Ron

Ron, do you know about the OWWM web forum and their annual "Old Arn" Festival not too far from you? A lot of like-minded individuals. I've skipped the last couple years, but I'm looking forward to going again this September.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I too have a basic 10" saw, a Rikon 10-361 I think. It works well enough, especially after i replaced the factory bearings with better quality aftermarket bearings. However, i quickly realized the limitations of the small bandsaw. I found a small local sawmill that offers great pricing and very nice lumber, but I lack any real ability to process rough lumber in larger quantities. My first inclination is to buy new machines but everything I read on this forum gives me pause on doing that. May go back to browsing Marketplace for good used machines.

Unfortunately, I have nowhere to go with any large machines right now. My workshop is in disarray, and I am using it as a staging area for materials while I am installing my new HVAC system in my house and workshop. I am growing tired of brazing connections in over 400' of copper refrigerant pipe and looking forward to cutting wood again.

From what I've heard the Rikon 10-36 is a really good bandsaw, and Laguna is bringing to market a model pretty much the same I believe.

But yeah, the limited capacity does really disappoint after a while.