DELTA 20-330 4D 5" X 6" Horizontal Band Saw

Comment: Delta 20-330 Horizontal Band Saw

I've owned one of these since the early 1990's and have used it countless times.

Cons:

- Motor is underpowered, as the blade binds (stops) too often on heavy cuts. Have to lift the swing-arm up, restart it and gently lower the arm to resume cutting.

- Numerous aspects of the tool are downright crude. The pulley/belt housing (to change speeds) is poorly-formed cheap plastic; the "table" for vertical use is a flimsy piece of sheet-metal and is non-adjustable; the door to the blade wheels is made of multiple pieces of sheet metal stamped together; I threw out the plastic wheels designed to roll the tool around, and custom made a mobile base.

- Design doesn't always allow the blade guides to be close enough to the work. As a result, the blade wanders (slants to one side) on deep cuts, resulting in non-square cuts..

- Blade occasionally slips off the cast-iron drive wheels while running, even though I keep the blade tight when in use. (Release tension when machine is idle to prevent blade stretching.)

Pros:

- Both blade guides have 3 roller-bearings to stabilize the blade.

- If you've never owned a metal-cutting band saw, you'll marvel at how much faster it cuts then a hacksaw. When cutting larger/thicker iron, the hacksaw approach is particularly unappealing. I've used it to cut 5/8" stainless steel rods, which would take forever with a hacksaw.

- The mid-point shelf helps stabilize the tool base. However, it's not useful for storing things, because metal filings rain on it (and the floor) whenever you use the saw.

- Doesn't take up much shop space.

- Fairly low cost for a motorized metal cutting band saw.

- It works.

Summary:

My advice: get a ½ HP unit (e.g., the Jet), so the blade binds less often.