1937-1939 Delta Tilt- Top Table Saw.

[jywilli69]

I was browsing Craigslist a couple weeks ago and found this 1937-1939 Delta Tilt- Top Table Saw. It was listed for $25. Me and my son went on a little road trip today and picked it up.

 

[nine4gmc]

Plans for it?

 

[Jim C.]

I have a 1947 Delta tilt top. My first vintage woodworking machine and the one that started my love of old Delta cast iron. It's a great second table saw in my shop. Nice find and great price.

Jim C.

 

[jywilli69]

Plans for it?

My goal is to finish my 1936 Craftsman 8" Tilt Top Bench Saw 471. I am doing a partial restore. I am leaving the paint alone, due to the Decals. Then I will gradually start working on this one. The guy who sold me this one has a Late 30's Craftsman Table Saw buried in his garage. He said when I get back up his way, he is going to let me take it home. Then I will be able to post that one as well.

 

[Cruzan80]

Wondering if someone here had gotten it. It had been up for a bit, glad to see it go to a good home. Kept debating if I wanted to get it and steal the motor and guard for existing projects.

And there was just another one which just went up for $200.
http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/5858477889.html

 

[exmaxima1]

Whatever you do, don't use the tilting table. There's a good reason those table saws were banned in Europe

 

[jywilli69]

I have a 1947 Delta tilt top. My first vintage woodworking machine. It's a great second table saw in my shop. Nice find and great price.

Jim C.

Thanks Jim, It was worth driving 92 miles to pick it up. I have to go back to pick up a Craftsman, which he was nice enough to give me. I wasn't expecting it, but who am I to say no.

 

[jywilli69]

Wondering if someone here had gotten it. It had been up for a bit, glad to see it go to a good home. Kept debating if I wanted to get it and steal the motor and guard for existing projects.

And there was just another one which just went up for $200.
http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/5858477889.html

I'm on the OWWM website, and the group in Colorado. We got to talking since we are in the same group, he was very nice about holding it till today. I was happy to pick it up. I liked the Craftsman motor of course, now I have 3 of the same 3/4 hp motors. I like the motors with the switch in the middle.

 

[jywilli69]

Whatever you do, don't use the tilting table. There's a good reason those table saws were banned in Europe

No worries there, It will be a little while before I get to work on it. I like the coolness of the Saw.

 

[Lssix]

Whatever you do, don't use the tilting table. There's a good reason those table saws were banned in Europe

There are a lot of things banned in europe, not all for entirely rational reasons.

Whats the particular reason in this case though? My first vintage machine was a tilt table C man. It never struck me as particularly dangerous, if anything the external motor and belt may have been a genuine hazard.

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[Lssix]

I would have taken the stand alone for 25 lol. It seems odd that the working surface is offset so far to one side, if it wasnt for the guard bracket I could see a substantial extension over the base.

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[exmaxima1]

There are a lot of things banned in europe, not all for entirely rational reasons.

Whats the particular reason in this case though? My first vintage machine was a tilt table C man. It never struck me as particularly dangerous, if anything the external motor and belt may have been a genuine hazard.

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With the table tilted at a 45, large panels or long pieces are awkward to handle and are prone to kickback. Since safer tilting arbor saws are so abundant and cheap, tilt table saws are obsolete and have little value anymore. I've turned down several that were offered for free, including a similar Delta.

 

[Packard V8]

With the table tilted at a 45, large panels or long pieces are awkward to handle and are prone to kickback. Since safer tilting arbor saws are so abundant and cheap, tilt table saws are obsolete and have little value anymore. I've turned several that were offered for free, including a similar Delta.

Agree, some people can stupid anything. Trying to rip a large panel through a very small table saw tilted at 45-degrees, maybe not such a good idea. To be fair to the designers, large panels were not commonly handled by homeowners in 1937.

When used with common sense and within the designed performance envelope, they're completely safe. I used one for many years with no problems.

jack vines

 

[jywilli69]

Agree, some people can stupid anything. Trying to rip a large panel through a very small table saw tilted at 45-degrees, maybe not such a good idea. To be fair to the designers, large panels were not commonly handled by homeowners in 1937.

When used with common sense and within the designed performance envelope, they're completely safe. I used one for many years with no problems.

jack vines

Yep, I notice also that the manuals recommend certain size motors and people today attempt to put on bigger motors now. To each it own I guess. This is my 1st ever Delta.

 

[jywilli69]

I would have taken the stand alone for 25 lol. It seems odd that the working surface is offset so far to one side, if it wasnt for the guard bracket I could see a substantial extension over the base.

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If you noticed on mine where the saw is, there is also a place for a Delta Jointer. My stand also has a shoot for the saw dust, which I think it is cool. Now I will have to take my time finding the correct period Jointer.

 

[jywilli69]

I have a 1947 Delta tilt top. My first vintage woodworking machine and the one that started my love of old Delta cast iron. It's a great second table saw in my shop. Nice find and great price.

Jim C.

Thank you Jim. After all the excitement, I overlooked your comment. I have more to come within the next couple weeks.

 

[jywilli69]

With the table tilted at a 45, large panels or long pieces are awkward to handle and are prone to kickback. Since safer tilting arbor saws are so abundant and cheap, tilt table saws are obsolete and have little value anymore. I've turned down several that were offered for free, including a similar Delta.

If I had the space, I would take them up for free. They are Piece of American History.Machines that are 80 Yrs plus don't show up everyday. I live in Colorado and this is 2 Delta's that I have seen that old. Plus a lot of machinery out there across the United States much older and yer dangerous. Just have to be careful when using. Vintage Craftsman is my Favorite and I am starting to warm up to Delta. I still have tons to learn about all the machines out there.

 

[Lssix]

Agree, some people can stupid anything. Trying to rip a large panel through a very small table saw tilted at 45-degrees, maybe not such a good idea. To be fair to the designers, large panels were not commonly handled by homeowners in 1937.

When used with common sense and within the designed performance envelope, they're completely safe. I used one for many years with no problems.

jack vines

Yeah, my tilt top was just fine with smaller pieces, I do however consider my new saw to be a significant upgrade.

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[Lssix]

If you noticed on mine where the saw is, there is also a place for a Delta Jointer. My stand also has a shoot for the saw dust, which I think it is cool. Now I will have to take my time finding the correct period Jointer.

That makes sense, i figured it was set up like that for a reason by the PO.

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[bczygan]

Of course, I have one...

 

[jywilli69]

Of course, I have one...

Jointer or the Saw?

 

[bczygan]

Jointer or the Saw?

Saw.

 

[Jim C.]

Here's my 1947 Delta tilt top table saw in 100% completely unrestored original condition. I also have the blade guard assembly, which is not shown in this picture. When I was about ten years old I built my first woodworking project (with adult supervision) using this saw. Decades after making that project, the saw ended up being my first old Delta machine and the one that got me started on a life long search for more old Delta machinery.

Jim C.

 

[jywilli69]

Here's my 1947 Delta tilt top table saw in 100% completely unrestored original condition. I also have the blade guard assembly, which is not shown in this picture. When I was about ten years old I built my first woodworking project (with adult supervision) using this saw. Decades after making that project, the saw ended up being my first old Delta machine and the one that got me started on a life long search for more old Delta machinery.

Jim C.

That is one Beautiful Machine you have there. I love Craftsman, but when I saw the Delta, I have decided to be more open mided and not just Craftsman.

 

[jywilli69]

Saw.

I do like the Delta Saws. Some are just as cool as the Craftsman.

 

[jywilli69]

Well guys, I am being delayed a little bit due to conflicting schedules on pick up the complete Delta Combo. After visiting with the guy who owns it. It belong to his ex Father-Inlaw, who Dad originally purchased the Delta Combo. The man created his own Building Company, which I have yet to find the name for the business. But the saw helped build and remodeled a lot of homes in Walsenburg, Colorado. I think that is awsome.

 

[jywilli69]

Well guys, I am being delayed a little bit due to conflicting schedules on pick up the complete Delta Combo. After visiting with the guy who owns it. It belong to his ex Father-Inlaw, who Dad originally purchased the Delta Combo. The man created his own Building Company, which I have yet to find the name for the business. But the saw helped build and remodeled a lot of homes in Walsenburg, Colorado. I think that is awsome.

Well I got it picked up today. Guy called me this morning to see if I could pick up. The man is a General Contractor and one of his employees flipped the cart over and destroyed the table saw and did a number on the jointer. If I knew the guy, I would have killed him. At least he didn't mess up the stand and the motor.
I might be able to salvage the jointer, but the table saw is officially going to be parts.

 

[Cruzan80]

So now you have a combined set, with a spare tilt-table for parts? Or did the original get wrecked?

 

[jywilli69]

So now you have a combined set, with a spare tilt-table for parts? Or did the original get wrecked?

The one I picked up today, was completely wrecked. He think is worker flipped it and didn't tell him. I want to see if I can pull off the Cast Iron Table Top will fit my other Delta Table Saw. The 1st one had the pipe fence. The other one is completely different. If the holes match up and it will fit, then I can use the different fence system on it. The Table Saw on the stand is a 1934-1937. It got creamed on the pavement. There is no repair that can be done, so I can strip the parts off of it.

 

[thaixeon76]

is there anyway to bolt the table to a bench and convert so it tilt the blade/arbor instead of the table?