I received a call from my Woodcraft store - I won a Jet 1 1/2 HP shaper
(model 708320) in the recent instore woodworking show they had - I am not
sure I will ever use it - I have a mondo router table with a PC7518 and
Precision Router Lift using the Incra Jig Ultra Pro sitting on a 30"x48"
table as well as a large selection of bits - it serves me well and does all
I need - I have been lusting at the Delta X5 18" Drum Sander - any thoughts
on which would be more useful?

I currently make - Mission Style furniture (mostly solid wood with some use
of ply for large panels - picture frame stock -

Thanks for the input -

BB

Ask if you can get a gift cert instead...

Joh

"BillyBob" wrote in message
news:fsP6f.2177$Yn4.755@trnddc03...
I received a call from my Woodcraft store - I won a Jet 1 1/2 HP shaper
(model 708320) in the recent instore woodworking show they had - I am not
sure I will ever use it - I have a mondo router table with a PC7518 and
Precision Router Lift using the Incra Jig Ultra Pro sitting on a 30"x48"
table as well as a large selection of bits - it serves me well and does
all
I need - I have been lusting at the Delta X5 18" Drum Sander - any
thoughts
on which would be more useful?

You suck big time!
They will let you substitute? The shaper is useful occasionally for a
raised panel, but you can do them already; so it is pretty much a waste of
space.
Go for the sander; that is my next acquisition.

"BillyBob" wrote in message
news:fsP6f.2177$Yn4.755@trnddc03...
I received a call from my Woodcraft store - I won a Jet 1 1/2 HP shaper
(model 708320) in the recent instore woodworking show they had - I am not
sure I will ever use it - I have a mondo router table with a PC7518 and
Precision Router Lift using the Incra Jig Ultra Pro sitting on a 30"x48"
table as well as a large selection of bits - it serves me well and does
all
I need - I have been lusting at the Delta X5 18" Drum Sander - any
thoughts
on which would be more useful?


I thought you had a Triton router. ;~) I think I would see if they would
perhaps credit the shaper towards a Drum Sander but I would personally
prefer the Performax over the Delta.

"BillyBob" wrote in message
I received a call from my Woodcraft store - I won a Jet 1 1/2 HP shaper
(model 708320) in the recent instore woodworking show they had - I am not
sure I will ever use it - I have a mondo router table with a PC7518 and
Precision Router Lift using the Incra Jig Ultra Pro sitting on a 30"x48"
table as well as a large selection of bits - it serves me well and does
all
I need - I have been lusting at the Delta X5 18" Drum Sander - any
thoughts
on which would be more useful?

I'd offer it back to them plus a little cash to get something else you
wanted more than the shaper. That would make it a win for both of you.

"BillyBob" wrote in message
news:fsP6f.2177$Yn4.755@trnddc03...
I received a call from my Woodcraft store - I won a Jet 1 1/2 HP shaper
(model 708320) in the recent instore woodworking show they had - I am not
sure I will ever use it - I have a mondo router table with a PC7518 and
Precision Router Lift using the Incra Jig Ultra Pro sitting on a 30"x48"
table as well as a large selection of bits - it serves me well and does
all
I need - I have been lusting at the Delta X5 18" Drum Sander - any
thoughts
on which would be more useful?

I currently make - Mission Style furniture (mostly solid wood with some
use
of ply for large panels - picture frame stock -

Thanks for the input -

BB


I recently purchased the Delta 18" drum sander. I haven't used it as yet,
but I thought I'd tell my story for the benefit of the readers. I initially
purchased a factory reconditioned one from a local dealer, Rocking R
Hardware in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At $699, it was $200 off the list price
of a new one. It looked brand new except it only came with a 6 month
warranty and was missing the box and the extra 9 sand paper wraps.

The feed table on the sander is made heavy cast iron. The table lift on the
machine with a thin nylon drive belt and flimsy nylon pulleys is way to
light duty for that heavy table. I spent several hours trying to adjust the
lift to keep it from binding up or the drive belt from slipping on one or
two if the pulleys causing the table to go lop-sided. Delta needs to take a
look at the lift on the Dewalt 735 planer with its drive chain and sprocket
assembly.

Anyway, after several hours trying to get it to work, I finally called Jeff
at Rocking R and told him my situation. I asked it I could return it and
just purchase a factory new one. He told me to hold it a couple of weeks
until they had a tool sale and I could purchase the sander for 10% off, or
$819. Well I did. The new sander worked perfectly, right out of the
freshly packaged box. It cost me another $125 but I got a 5 year warranty,
9 sand paper wraps, a free mobile base (a necessity), AND a $100 X5 Delta
rebate (I could have chosen a $200 belt sander).

And so, I am very pleased with my purchase and with Rocking R Hardware's
customer service. I am still very leery of that table lift mechanism.

PS A lot people debate on whether the stationary drum and moveable table on
the Delta is preferable over the moveable drum and stationary table on the
Performax. Pro's for the Delta is the drum is very stable. Con's for the
Delta is the POS lift mechanism and you have to adjust the height of you
in-feed and out-feed table or rollers nearly every time you change your
material thickness.

Gary

"gary" wrote:


The feed table on the sander is made heavy cast iron. The table lift on the
machine with a thin nylon drive belt and flimsy nylon pulleys is way to
light duty for that heavy table. I spent several hours trying to adjust the
lift to keep it from binding up or the drive belt from slipping on one or
two if the pulleys causing the table to go lop-sided.
snip
Anyway, after several hours trying to get it to work, I finally called Jeff
at Rocking R and told him my situation. I asked it I could return it and
just purchase a factory new one.
I don't get it. Have they changed the mechanism, or do you think that
it will work fine on a new one even though it was too flimsy for the
recon one?
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.

Thanks to all who responded - I went to Woodcraft this morning and they were
kind enough to give me a credit for the Jet Shaper against a new Delta X5
Drum Sander which is at this moment sitting in my van waiting for my
neighbor to come home as I need his help to unload it - I will keep you
posted as to how it works when I get it set up.

BB


"gary" wrote in message
link.net...

"BillyBob" wrote in message
news:fsP6f.2177$Yn4.755@trnddc03...
I received a call from my Woodcraft store - I won a Jet 1 1/2 HP shaper
(model 708320) in the recent instore woodworking show they had - I am
not
sure I will ever use it - I have a mondo router table with a PC7518 and
Precision Router Lift using the Incra Jig Ultra Pro sitting on a 30"x48"
table as well as a large selection of bits - it serves me well and does
all
I need - I have been lusting at the Delta X5 18" Drum Sander - any
thoughts
on which would be more useful?

I currently make - Mission Style furniture (mostly solid wood with some
use
of ply for large panels - picture frame stock -

Thanks for the input -

BB


I recently purchased the Delta 18" drum sander. I haven't used it as yet,
but I thought I'd tell my story for the benefit of the readers. I
initially
purchased a factory reconditioned one from a local dealer, Rocking R
Hardware in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At $699, it was $200 off the list
price
of a new one. It looked brand new except it only came with a 6 month
warranty and was missing the box and the extra 9 sand paper wraps.

The feed table on the sander is made heavy cast iron. The table lift on
the
machine with a thin nylon drive belt and flimsy nylon pulleys is way to
light duty for that heavy table. I spent several hours trying to adjust
the
lift to keep it from binding up or the drive belt from slipping on one or
two if the pulleys causing the table to go lop-sided. Delta needs to take
a
look at the lift on the Dewalt 735 planer with its drive chain and
sprocket
assembly.

Anyway, after several hours trying to get it to work, I finally called
Jeff
at Rocking R and told him my situation. I asked it I could return it and
just purchase a factory new one. He told me to hold it a couple of weeks
until they had a tool sale and I could purchase the sander for 10% off, or
$819. Well I did. The new sander worked perfectly, right out of the
freshly packaged box. It cost me another $125 but I got a 5 year
warranty,
9 sand paper wraps, a free mobile base (a necessity), AND a $100 X5 Delta
rebate (I could have chosen a $200 belt sander).

And so, I am very pleased with my purchase and with Rocking R Hardware's
customer service. I am still very leery of that table lift mechanism.

PS A lot people debate on whether the stationary drum and moveable table
on
the Delta is preferable over the moveable drum and stationary table on the
Performax. Pro's for the Delta is the drum is very stable. Con's for the
Delta is the POS lift mechanism and you have to adjust the height of you
in-feed and out-feed table or rollers nearly every time you change your
material thickness.

Gary

"alexy" wrote in message
...
"gary" wrote:


The feed table on the sander is made heavy cast iron. The table lift on
the
machine with a thin nylon drive belt and flimsy nylon pulleys is way to
light duty for that heavy table. I spent several hours trying to adjust
the
lift to keep it from binding up or the drive belt from slipping on one or
two if the pulleys causing the table to go lop-sided.
snip
Anyway, after several hours trying to get it to work, I finally called
Jeff
at Rocking R and told him my situation. I asked it I could return it and
just purchase a factory new one.
I don't get it. Have they changed the mechanism, or do you think that
it will work fine on a new one even though it was too flimsy for the
recon one?
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked
infrequently

The mechanisms were exactly the same, except one worked and the other not.
Perhaps the cast iron table was warped because I could adjust the four lift
screws to where the table mounting plate was level and worked smoothly. But
as soon as I mounted the feed table to the mounting plate, it would bind up
tight. Next the belt would slip on one or two lift screws then the table
would be lop-sided. Tightening the tension pulleys did not help.

Delta, recognizing the flimsiness of their product, in their X5 model, did
change the mechanism from 2 flimsy tensioning pulleys to 4 flimsy tensioning
pulleys. Both units of my units were X5.

IMO, the mechanism is "too flimsy", but I had already bought the Delta, so I
at least got one that worked. Besides, I did not want to spend another $200
for a Performax. $700 was the max I wanted to spend. The recon cost $735
including tax. The factory new cost $899 less 10% or $809 (note my previous
error.) So the new one cost me the old one and $115 boot. BUT, I got a
$100 delta mobile base, ~$50 worth of sand paper wraps, a $100 rebate.
That's why I am now very pleased with my purchase. Albeit leery of the lift
mechanism.



Gary

Most of my friends have gotten wise to me. I've had to learn to make
extensive use of hand carts and dollies.

BillyBob wrote:
Thanks to all who responded - I went to Woodcraft this morning and they were
kind enough to give me a credit for the Jet Shaper against a new Delta X5
Drum Sander which is at this moment sitting in my van waiting for my
neighbor to come home as I need his help to unload it - I will keep you
posted as to how it works when I get it set up.

"gary" wrote:


"alexy" wrote in message

I don't get it. Have they changed the mechanism, or do you think that
it will work fine on a new one even though it was too flimsy for the
recon one?

The mechanisms were exactly the same, except one worked and the other not.
snip
That's why I am now very pleased with my purchase. Albeit leery of the lift
mechanism.

I'm sure the warranty on the flimsy mechanism gives a bit of comfort
as well. That alone might have been worth the price difference.
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.