Setting up my "new" Delta bandsaw, resaw or not?

[Stuart Welsh]

In anticipation of finally getting my shop finished and running I purchased a basically unused (late 70's) Delta bandsaw some months back from Craigslist. The saw came with a resaw extension and I'm wondering if I should leave it in the box or install it now? Having never used a bandsaw with a resaw attachment I'm curious as to how it will affect everyday use, i.e. when not resawing. It seems that to put this attachment on and off for the infrequent times I might want to resaw will be a p.i.t.a so why not just leave it on?

[Bill Huber]

Are you talking about a riser block or a resaw fence.

If it is the riser block you want to leave it on, the blade length will be different.

I have a Jet 14" without a riser on it and find that there have only been 2 or 3 times I wish I had a riser. In most cases I could just cut the wood down and then do the resaw with no problem.

[Howard Pollack]

I have an old Delta bandsaw that has a riser block on it. I've never taken it off and can't see why one would. -Howard

[Judson Green]

The old (mid 80's) delta bandsaw I bought had it installed already and though most of my cuts are not resaw type (in fact only once have I used the extra height it provides) I never thought of removing/uninstalling the riser block. As mentioned you do need different blade lengths, 105" IIRC.

If I had the smaller blade lengths on hand I'd use those up then install the riser block and not look back.

Oh and you also need a longer guide support, not sure if you have that too.

[Kent A Bathurst]

The first time you need it, put it on and get the longer blades. Then leave it on - after you put it on once and get everyting in alignment, you will have no interest in ever taking it off again.

[Bill Huber]

The first time you need it, put it on and get the longer blades. Then leave it on - after you put it on once and get everyting in alignment, you will have no interest in ever taking it off again.

Well I have a little different take on that, if you are going to put it on, do it before you start buying shorter blades. I have about 8 blades for my saw and if I switched now to a riser block they would just hang on the wall for ever and never get used.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Well I have a little different take on that, if you are going to put it on, do it before you start buying shorter blades. I have about 8 blades for my saw and if I switched now to a riser block they would just hang on the wall for ever and never get used.

I agree - I was just assuming he had it running, with the shorter blades, today. I went a number years before I needed the increased height, and that is when I got the riser block kit and longer blades - I only had a couple 50% used blades, so no great loss.

[Jim Rimmer]

All good suggestions for you. If you have never had a band saw before or don't know what the riser block will do for you, it basically increases the width of th board you will be able to resaw. Without the riser on a 14" saw, you can resaw approximately 6" wide boards. With the riser, approximately 12" wide. So, for you to consider is whether or not you will need to resaw wider boards. And as has been pointed out, you will need different length blades because obviously, you are raising one wheel higher.

If you knew all this, forgive me. Not trying to talk down to you; just don't know your experience level.

[Judson Green]

I mentioned it above but you do also need the longer support for the upper guide. If you install just the riser block your guides will not be able to be lowered enough for those 5" and less cuts, the majority of your bandsaw work.

[Stuart Welsh]

Thanks to all who responded to my original post and apologies for the fact I obviously left out details. As I eluded to earlier I am new to woodworking. I had wood shop class in junior high school almost 40 years ago. 20 years ago my father in-law and I built all the cabinetry for the kitchens and bathrooms so I have an understanding of basic principals around cabinet making and the use of the tools to do so. I am about to roll a garage worth of equipment into my recently completed dedicated shop and I'm anticipating all the set up, tuning and to some extent cleaning of equipment I've been accumulating for 18 months. The band saw is just one of those pieces of equipment that I'll be dealing with.

The riser is not currently installed but in a box with the rest of the parts for the Delta's 28-984 Height Attachment (For Delta 14" Band Saws.) There is also an additional blade that came with the saw but I'm not sure if that blade is for the saw in the current "stock" configuration or when the riser is attached. I do not have a resaw fence yet but have the supplies etc to make one when and if I need.

I have never used this saw, but do have limited experience using a band saw and a Delta at that and though I am aware of the reasons to use a riser, I'm not sure just when in my very early woodworking hobby I'll need or want to resaw. So the question was posed really to help make a decision as to whether or not I go through the trouble of installing the rise etc just now. I don't detect a strong argument for undertaking this job immediately. Given that the table saw, drill press, jointer and planer will need cleaning and tuning I'm inclined to let the riser stay in the box for now. Thanks again to all who weighed in.

BTW If you haven't seen my post in the WorkShop forum "Your High School shop from the 70's" http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?220416-Your-High-School-shop-from-the-70-s%85 please take a minute to check it out and give input if you feel like it.

[Kent A Bathurst]

.......... I'm not sure just when in my very early woodworking hobby I'll need or want to resaw. So the question was posed really to help make a decision as to whether or not I go through the trouble of installing the rise etc just now. I don't detect a strong argument for undertaking this job immediately. Given that the table saw, drill press, jointer and planer will need cleaning and tuning I'm inclined to let the riser stay in the box for now. Thanks again to all who weighed in.


Bingo. Your approach makes perfect sense. No need to immediately set up to resaw wides if you haven't gotten time undre you belt on the saw itself. Label the box with the parts, and stick it in tehe way-back somewhere. You will have no uncertainty when it is time to cig it out and install it.

Sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun. Good luck.

[Rick Moyer]

Others may disagree and I have no experience with a riser block, but my feeling is: A (I'm assuming) 14" BS with a 1 HP motor, isn't the right tool for resawing more than 6" anyway. I have a similar Grizzly and there hasn't been but a few times where I wished I could resaw a wider board, but I suspect if you eventually want to do much resawing a bigger BS will be on your wish list.

[roger wiegand]

I'd put it on the first time you need to buy a new blade. While it's not a difficult installation you don't want to be putting it on and off and there's no harm or cost to having it in place. Chances are you'll bump into that 6" limit sooner rather than later. It's not just resawing, it's things like cutting cheeks on large tenons, or roughing bowl blanks if you do turning that demand more height.

[lowell holmes]

I put a riser block on my Jet 14" BS soon after I bought it. I've left it on. It simplifies blade inventory.

I am currently using a 3/8" 4 tpi skiptooth bi-metallic blade from Highland Highland Hardware. It is a Sterling blade and I like it a lot.

[Viking Mountain Tool Works]

I have a delta with riser block that I first installed when I got the machine, so have never tried it without. The difference in blade cost is minimal so why not go with the extra length. My question from reading this thread is this: I s there any reason machine performance wise, not to install a riser? Is it harder to adjust the guides ? is it harder to keep the proper tension? My assumption is that longer blades will run cooler and last longer, so that could be a plus for the riser. Any other thoughts?
Scott

[Peter Aeschliman]

I have a riser on my Delta clone (Jet) 14" saw.

It's okay, but even after trying all of the tune up tricks in the book, the saw falls short of the performance I would like. I even upgraded to a 2HP baldor motor, etc. You get what you pay for I guess. It's passable, just not great. My biggest complaint is that the saw has no means of adjusting the guide post. It's nowhere close to aligned to the blade in either dimension. I tried lots of things to fix it, and they helped, but every time I move the guide post, all of my carter bearing guides must be repositioned. that means getting out the alan wrench, etc etc. It's really time-consuming.

To the OP, my recommendation mirrors that of a few others. Wait until you have a real world need, and then do it. Do some research and get a good quality blade (that makes the biggest difference of everything), but make sure the blade can be tensioned correctly by your saw.

It will improve the function of your saw, but just keep your expectations realistic- it won't perform saw well as an italian saw, but it will get the job done.

[Jeffrey Martel]

When I bought my 14" Grizzly Bandsaw a year ago, I picked up the riser block and installed it before ever turning the saw on. If you have the time, I would go ahead and install it.

And a 14" bandsaw is fine for resawing larger than 6". You just won't have as high of a feed rate as a 2hp motor saw, but it will still peel off 1/16" veneer when you set it up right and have a sharp blade on.

[John TenEyck]

If you plan to do much work with solid wood I would install the riser block the first time you need the height, and leave it on. I was frustrated for years by the 6" capacity of my 14" Delta. After I installed the riser and changed the motor to 1-1/2 HP it's a whole 'nother machine. I now regularly resaw thick stock for drawers and book matched panels, and slice shop sawn veneer. I cut some beautiful 10"+ birdseye maple with it a year or so ago that more than paid for the riser kit.

John