**Danger** More Brand New Second hand machines! A Delta 18" 7.5hp RADIAL ARM SAW - Am I insane?

[@Hog-g2z]

Good morning 🌅, PK, That looks to be a great radial arm/cut saw, I used to have a Wadkin, 6 X 24 cut or thereabouts, I even had a dado set for it, 1” wide , I rebuilt mine with new bearings, very very accurate saw, probably about once a year I will spend a few hours on it just to reset everything. Make sure it is square in all directions., the biggest one is the table height, where you take the blade off rotate the saw 90°, lower the shaft down to the bed itself and make sure the bed is equal distance under the shaft as you swing the radial arm itself across the table. This was always the first step., I have finally got a log burner in my workshop/basement up and running, I’ve just spent the best part of three weeks dismantling my staircase that goes up into the attic built a hoist up in the attic and I rotated the stairs so it takes less room up on the next floor below, now all back in situ, unfortunately, I’ve had problems with my hands over the last year or so, and this week I finally had an operation on my left hand for my CTS , so I’m now out of action for the next 3 to 4 weeks not allowed to lift anything at all, At least I’m still keeping busy at my time of life 72/3 , and enjoying every minute of using my machines and tools, I look forward to seeing your upcoming projects , especially as I cannot do anything myself at the moment, Not sure whether your machine has got it , but it might be worth putting electronic braking system on it, Well worth the extra money just in case, from France

[@pkwoodworking]

I am not sure about it having the brake yet, but if not, I will get a VFD to do just that.

[@jimpackard8059]

The brake is a must-have if anyone else ever enters the shop. Money well spent

[@pkwoodworking]

Agreed for sure

[@Mc-zb3xg]

Love to see the shop growing

[@pkwoodworking]

First! Like a weed!

[@CharlesHooper2001]

That is a very nice saw. I own a 12" three phase Delta radial arm saw, a 12" single phase Delta radial arm saw, a 10" "Professional" Delta radial arm saw, and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw that I have had since the early 1990 (I snapped the motor mount twice on this saw, and decided not to repair it the second time as having the motor mount snap during a cut could be life changing). I had to build a new table for the 10" Delta, as the company that owned the saw before me had cut nearly all the way through the original table. The manual for that saw recommended adding a replaceable 1/4" MDF board on top (secured with brads in areas that the saw blade cannot cut), so I added 1/4" MDF on top of the 1" MDF table that I built. You might consider doing the same for your saw, if you plan to use it for cuts other than 90 degree crosscuts. I use Forrest Chopmaster blades in all of my radial arm saws - it appears that the largest blade in that line of blades top out at 15". The negative tooth hook used in those blades are great at reducing the risk of self-feeding, although there have been a few cases where the blade has tried to self-feed when the cut binds, in the process stalling out the 1.5 HP motor in the 12" saws (this stalling might be better than having a blade self-feed). The 12" Delta saws use a plastic gear at the back of the elevation crank rod. I snapped that plastic gear in one of the saws by trying to lower an 8" diameter dado stack to cut half-laps in 3/4" stock - there was a lot of resistance when the dado stack was about 5/8" from the table, where I thought that the resistance was due to rust build up. You might check under your saw to see if there is a similar plastic gear at the end of the elevation crank rod. If there is a plastic gear there, do not assume that resistance in lowering a dado stack is due to rust build up.

[@pkwoodworking]

Thank you for the great advice. I plan on going through the saw with a video before using it. I want to clean up the surface rust, address the bearings and ensure that everything works smoothly. Also want to ensure there is a motor brake, if not then add a VFD to address that

[@Riror9845]

Lovely machine.

[@pkwoodworking]

Thanks, I am excited to get it in the shop and dialed in!

[@denningmp37]

Awesome saw

[@pkwoodworking]

Thanks! Stay tuned for the refurb

[@peter_kelly]

Did we already get a tour of that Balestrini mortiser?

[@pkwoodworking]

I am going to sell it most likely. I got it really cheap and it was not working. I changed it to 240 volts from 440 and got the thing cleaned up and working great electrically. The issue is that the prior owner tried to fix it, I believe, and messed with the air lines (fairly complex and I replaced all of the blocks an selenoids). They are not connected correctly and I have tried to get an air schematic for it to no avail. I tried SCM and forums but nothing. It is a bummer because it is really flexible and capable.

[@justcruisin109]

You’re going to need “expand-a-shop” soon 😁 Another great find. Enjoy

[@pkwoodworking]

I am hoping that the plan pans out. I have a few weeks to get the Dust Collector moved.

[@David_Best]

And people call ME a "tool ho" !!! Wow.

[@pkwoodworking]

We are in Great company! There are many of us out there.

[@christophedelepaut6398]

Salut, ça c’est une bonne scie que j’aimerais bien avoir dans mon atelier 👍👍🇧🇪

[@pkwoodworking]

Are they hard to find in France?

[@christophedelepaut6398]

@ salut, je suis en Belgique mais juste à la frontière française et oui, c’est très difficile à trouver en France comme en Belgique 😉

[@pkwoodworking]

Bummer for sure, the good ones are harder to find here too.

[@extremewoodworker]

The walls are bulging.😊

[@pkwoodworking]

It is a disease

[@tableshaper4076]

I'm changing my pick, you are filling up your shop with other tools and there won't be room for a big Martin so I'm going Format 450. Final guess.

[@pkwoodworking]

Ha Ha. I hoped to keep you guessing longer. we will see if you are right - 2 months left.

[@debandmike3380]

dad, will there be any money for my college?

[@pkwoodworking]

No, There will not be. My parents didn't pay for mine, we will not pay for our kids either. They will have a lot to sell when I am gone though.