Help with Delta 37-315 jointer

[Ty wayne]

I've been looking for a jointer for awhile now. I've missed out on a few 6" jointers but from what I've read the 8" is better to have anyway. I found an 8" Rockwell 37-315 Jointer with made in Pittsburgh stamp with a serial number from it looks like around 1980. The jointer looks to be in decent shape from the pictures. The asking price is $500 and I wanted to get some feedback. Price seems high for the age but new 8" jointers run 1k+ easy. Any thoughts or concerns I should have.

[Dave Sabo]

If you havne't responed by now , it's probably already spoken for.

Why do you feel the price is high ? What other jointers can you buy for $500 ?

There are automobiles even older that aren't running and often sell for millions.

[Stan Coryell]

I'd say 500 is cheap, at least in my area.

I have a 6" Rockwell. I like it. I would rather have the long bed 8", mostly for the bed length.

As with buying anything used, make sure the bed isn't dished, the fence is straight, and there isn't anything broken.

Mine was gunked up pretty good. I took the beds off to get it in the basement. There were a bunch of shims in one of the ways, I have no idea why. Also, one of the knives was way too narrow. Cleaned it up, new bearings, belt, and knives. I'm happy with it.

[glenn bradley]

Agreed, you may have already missed it. Being a large dovetail way jointer the main thing I look for is someone having sat their big butt on the end of the table and bent something. The leverage on those ways can be substantial if someone picked the machine up by the tables or did some other random thing. Easy enough to check out with a straight edge. At $500 there would have to be something seriously wrong with it to make it not worth it.

[Alex Zeller]

I've seen several US made Powermatic model 60s go for around a grand in New England. For $500 I would expect that it's not going to last long unless it's got a lot of wear on the dovetails.

[Ty wayne]

Thanks for the replies all. I messaged the seller so I'll see what happens. I'm newer to woodworking and I'm acquiring tools as I feel I need them. I was just apprehensive due to the age. I know I shouldn't be because the older stuff was built with better materials but I fall into that mindset from time to time. I recently purchased a 90s model unisaw with biesemeyer fence and absolutely love it. I'll update if I end up snagging it. I appreciate the help.

[Ty wayne]

I was able to get in touch with the seller and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow for $450. I'll post pictures after I get it home. Thank you all again.

[Mike Kees]

I paid $1000 for the one I used to own. Great machine.

[Tom M King]

I paid $625 for the one I have, at a school auction in the late '70's. Others asked me why I went so high on it. I said I was getting ready to buy a new one (I was), and they were $1095 new then. It's a good jointer, if it hasn't been abused. I've never needed to adjust the flatness of mine, and it's been moved over 30 times, when I was building one new house a year for 33 years.

Glad you were able to lock it down.

It takes 3/32" thick blades. You can't tighten the gib screws if you get 1/8" blades for it, unless you find, or make, a thin wrench.

[Ty wayne]

Well I picked it up today. It fired right up and appeared to run smoothly. Seems to be in great shape for the age expect for a belt and the power cord. The lady threw in a roll of newer cord and a belt that may fit though. All in all I feel it's a win.

IMG_20200904_163622.jpgIMG_20200904_163632.jpgIMG_20200904_163656.jpg

[Dave Sabo]

Glad you got it.

You wouldn’t have been able to get anything comparable , new for the price paid. Bonus is it’s USA made.

The power switch has obviously been replaced. Double check it when you replace the cord.

[Bruce King]

NAPA will cross reference most any belt to one of theirs but it might be considerably different. I had to get my blades off eBay. The ones listed as OEM online were like $130 since Deltacrap stopped making parts for older machines and gold diggers on eBay are waiting in the shadows. I caught an eBay vendor listing an obsolete automotive part as new with a price 5 times too high. He said good job when I told him how I could see that it was used. Turned him in and eBay did nothing.

[james dziemianzuk]

Hi, I am looking at picking one of these up this weekend if I win the auction. How much do you think it weighs. Can two men pick it up? we have a pickup truck. Thanks

[Tom M King]

I have one. Just guessing, I would say 325. Google says 414,

[Marc Fenneuff]

Hi, I am looking at picking one of these up this weekend if I win the auction. How much do you think it weighs. Can two men pick it up? we have a pickup truck. Thanks

Yes, I moved mine out of my truck bed with a helper. We removed it from the base (three bolts in not the most convenient locations).

Don't repeat don't lift it from the ends of the tables, whether by machine or by human.