vintage Delta planer thoughts and comments

[BTL-A4]

I'm thinking I'd like a better planer than my Craftsman "lunchbox" one. I'm looking at the Dewalt 735 (I have another thread about that one), or maybe this type of Delta:


They come up for sale of CL and FB, but are in various states. Are parts available? They seem to get good reviews. I'd like to hear from anyone that has one or has used one.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have one like that pictured one.
Has served me well but I was never real warm & fuzzy about the drive . it slips easily when pulling the wood in & you have to help push it .
they are very heavy & solid .as a result you get good cuts without sniping .

 

[micromind]

I've had one of those for many years.

The original Chinese junk motor burned up after a couple of months so I built a structure out of unistrut to have the motor under it. The 3HP NEMA motor I installed is still running to this day. The biggest reason for this is now the knives are easily accessible, before, the motor was in the way.

The thing that I like the most is that the bottom table is stationary, most others are not. This means that you can build infeed and outfeed tables and not need to adjust the height all the time.

Overall, it's a good machine.

 

[BTL-A4]

This seller wants $650 (in the Los Angeles/SoCal area), which seems steep, given the rust. I asked about price flexibility and got the usual BS about it being priced well, blah blah blah. I found a similar one for $450. It has a homemade switch arrangement.
What are issues to look out for? Do the sprockets wear? Anything else?

 

[BTL-A4]

I have one like that pictured one.
Has served me well but I was never real warm & fuzzy about the drive . it slips easily when pulling the wood in & you have to help push it .
they are very heavy & solid .as a result you get good cuts without sniping .

Is this just a minor inconvenience or would it be a deal breaker? I have to help the one I have now on occasion, which is not a big deal. I just take smaller cuts on the final pass.

 

[BTL-A4]

The original Chinese junk motor burned up after a couple of months so I built a structure out of unistrut to have the motor under it. The 3HP NEMA motor I installed is still running to this day. The biggest reason for this is now the knives are easily accessible, before, the motor was in the way.

Got a photo? No rush. I keep reading that changing the knives is a PITA with the motor in the way.

 

[The Cobbler]

Is this just a minor inconvenience or would it be a deal

knowing what I know, I don't think I'd pay $650 . that could be the market tho... I honestly have not used it in about 10 yrs as I've gone off of that kind of work . I used it mainly to plane oak & hardwoods for custom trim & stair threads when I was in renovations

 

[BTL-A4]

knowing what I know, I don't think I'd pay $650 . that could be the market tho... I honestly have not used it in about 10 yrs as I've gone off of that kind of work . I used it mainly to plane oak & hardwoods for custom trim & stair threads when I was in renovations

How did you like it? Is it too much for a hobbyist like myself?

 

[The Cobbler]

I liked it and hope to get back using it someday .

 

[jar944]

There are a million of those 4 post planers out there, and for the price you should be able to find a cleaner unit. That model with the moving head (compared to the later stationary head/moving table) is the least desirable.

This one looks better and is $400

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[NostraThpmas]

Are parts available?

No. Delta went out of business in 2011. The name has been sold several times and is currently held by a chinese company. According to wikipedia: "In January, 2011, Taiwan-based Chang Type Industrial Co., Ltd. purchased the Delta brand from Stanley Black & Decker."
They do not make parts for older Delta Machinery equipment like my lathe. I'm sure parts are not available for those planers.
Folks will charge whatever the market will bear, but I think those planers are worth $100 max. My $0.02.

 

[Model A Fan]

That looks more like a restoration project than a usable unit. I'd expect to pay $50 or less for that, but that's an uneducated guess. I just wouldn't want the hassle for that one. How many hours and parts it needs are anyone's guess. Tell the seller that they're a joke and you'd be doing them a favor at $100.

 

[micromind]

I can't tell for sure but that looks like a 3Ø motor. If so, and you don't have 3Ø power available, it'll be a problem.

 

[BTL-A4]

There are a million of those 4 post planers out there, and for the price you should be able to find a cleaner unit. That model with the moving head (compared to the later stationary head/moving table) is the least desirable.

This one looks better and is $400

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I saw that one. I sent them a message awhile ago but have not heard back.

 

[BTL-A4]

No. Delta went out of business in 2011. The name has been sold several times and is currently held by a chinese company. According to wikipedia: "In January, 2011, Taiwan-based Chang Type Industrial Co., Ltd. purchased the Delta brand from Stanley Black & Decker."
They do not make parts for older Delta Machinery equipment like my lathe. I'm sure parts are not available for those planers.
Folks will charge whatever the market will bear, but I think those planers are worth $100 max. My $0.02.

That looks more like a restoration project than a usable unit. I'd expect to pay $50 or less for that, but that's an uneducated guess. I just wouldn't want the hassle for that one. How many hours and parts it needs are anyone's guess. Tell the seller that they're a joke and you'd be doing them a favor at $100.

Sounds like the Dewalt 735 I've looked at might be the better choice, then.

 

[drokihazan]

No. Delta went out of business in 2011. The name has been sold several times and is currently held by a chinese company. According to wikipedia: "In January, 2011, Taiwan-based Chang Type Industrial Co., Ltd. purchased the Delta brand from Stanley Black & Decker."
They do not make parts for older Delta Machinery equipment like my lathe. I'm sure parts are not available for those planers.
Folks will charge whatever the market will bear, but I think those planers are worth $100 max. My $0.02.

I really had no idea Delta was out of business now. I guess that explains why Delta Cruzers aren't available in stores anymore, but my Cruzer is the best miter saw I've ever used - I really like the Delta stand for it too.

 

[NostraThpmas]

As I said, there is still a company called Delta Machinery. They also hold the UNISAW® and BIESEMEYER® trademarks. https://deltamachinery.com/ It looks like they make a Cruzer miter saw. But it's not the old US company, and so far as I have been able to determine, they don't make parts for the old Delta stuff.