Customer Reviews
Must have improved since first launch 
2008-02-09
Had I read these reviews prior to picking up this saw, there's no way I would have purchased it. I picked up at Lowes a week ago & just assembled today. While assembly process was not as smooth as it was with my Delta table saw, it fired up first time with no issues and made quality cuts. Certainly no egregious run out or vibration.
Based on the negative reviews, Delta was likely overzealous when they first sent this to China. This is not uncommon, but firms that value their brand respond to these issues quickly. I'm still in the honeymoon period, but if my saw is any indication, whatever problems they had initially have been largely corrected.
It works very well for me 2008-02-03
I have owned this for a year and I am very happy with it. I just upgraded my saw with the riser block and Carter bearing guides. I also purchased the Kreg fence and the movable base about the same time I bought the saw. All told, I have about $700 in this saw and it works really well. It is the most veratile tool in my shop.
I must have been lucky? 2007-08-31
First off, there is no arguing the fit and finish of the castings aren't great but my table is flat and for me that is what is important.
As for others with run-out problems etc. it just isn't the case for me. Both wheels have less than .004" of run-out and their castings are good and flat. The wheels on mine were easily set-up to be co-planer. No shims nothing. The motor pulley is true and the wheel pulley is close within .008" (which is the worse measurement my machine has). With all that being said my machine passes the nickel test after start-up over and over even out on the outer table edges, in other words very little vibration after start-up.
The only thing negative things to say are that the table sometimes slips on the trunnion if it isn't totally cranked down to the cast iron trunnion. That is the problem with the large table, lots of leverage. However, if you tighten it down it doesn't slip. In addition, the guide blocks and their adjustments are a little sloppy but again if you take your time adjusting them they work fine.
I added a Kreg fence, riser block, some decent blades and link belt. It resaws satisfactory however it is underpowered which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone at 3/4HP. Just control your feed-rate and with a good 1/2" resaw blade it does the job. All in all I can't complain for the price however I may have been just lucky getting a decent machine.
Disappointing 
2007-08-24
All wheels and pulleys had runout visible to the naked eye. When running, the saw had so much vibration that it would actually walk across the floor. I can not imagine what kind of tolerances this product was built to. I returned it and got a Jet instead - which has served me well.
One of the better import band saws (IMO) 2007-06-27
I needed a band saw for my home workshop for general use and some resawing. I considered 14" open-based models from Ridgid, Jet, Delta and a few other "house brand" models. I picked the Delta the following reasons.
1.) Larger 16"x16" table w/rock-solid, cast iron trunnions. The others are equipped with smaller tables and lighter trunnion assemblies that seem to flex more.
2.) Quick-release belt tensioner
3.) Smaller footprint (approx. 20" x 18" as I recall) due to beneath-stand mounted motor
4.) Great deal at my local Western Tool Supply store ($379 assembled).
I also got the Delta riser block kit and mobile base from Amazon. The riser block is a little pricey at $115, but the mobile base was a bargain at $50 (free shipping on both).
The saw has been a smooth operator for the 3 months that I've been using it. Cuts well with very little vibes.
Yes, it's made in China (what isn't anymore), but the fit and finish is good. I had no problems installing the riser block : everything assembled and aligned easily. Sheet metal and paint are flawless. The cast parts look a little rough, but the machined faces mate together pretty well. There are machining marks on the table, but pretty flat with no significant dips or hollows.
I'm rating this product 4 stars: minus 1 star for the flaws mentioned above, expensive accessories and the plastic blade guide (not an issue if you get the riser kit, which comes with an aluminum replacement).
Good value for home workshop 2006-12-28
Delta's 28-276 band saw is a smart buy for the serious hobbyist interested in curve cutting and light resawing. The 3/4-horsepower 120-volt motor delivers smooth, quiet, reliable power, while the saw's nine-spoke wheels deliver more accurate tension on the blade, greatly reducing vibration. The heavy cast-iron trunnions likewise minimize vibration to the blade. For curve cutting, the large 16-by-16-inch table provides excellent support for workpieces, and tilts to 45 degrees for bevel cuts. The saw handles stock up to 6-1/4 inches thick with a throat capacity (the distance from frame to blade) of 13-3/4 inches. The lower blade guide on this saw rests only 3/4 inch below the table, which significantly minimizes deflection in the blade, a big plus. When the saw is not in use, the tension-release lever extends the life of the blade. It also makes switching blades quick and easy. The saw comes equipped with a 4-inch dust port, a smart feature you won't find on many other band saws on the market today. Package includes 3/4-inch woodcutting blade and instruction manual.
--Jon Groebner
Saw from hell 2005-12-15
I bought this saw sat.12/10/05. saw was damaged right out of the box,got back to the store,they opened up a new box and that one was damaged,they gave me yet another saw, took that saw home,roller bearing guides were loose,doors rattle and it won't keep a blade or a belt on it for more than thirty seconds.Spent tuesday night with delta tech support, spent 45 minutes wednesday night with delta tech to no availe(lovely people but no solution.Today I called the store where I purchased the item and they are going to contact delta to see if I am entitled to a return, store credit or "up the creak" Saw weighs a ton would probably make a good mooring if you have a boat.
Great tool for the price 2005-10-07
Worked right out of the box. Didn't have the problems others described. Followed instructions to the letter. Bit of a problem with resawing. The 3/4 hp motor bogs down easily, must take it really slow. Overall a fine tool for the bucks.
Seems OK 2005-04-05
I just bought my bandsaw on Sunday. Everything seems to be working OK and I am fairly satisfied. True, the packaging was heavy, but the heavier the machine, the more steady it will be when you place any heavy items on it that you are working with.
My only problem is after I spent 3 hours assembling the thing, I realized it didnt come with a rip fence or miter guage, and the main thing I wanted to do was resaw.
I have to wait until the next day to go back to Lowes and they do not sell any assessories for delta tools. I go to the Delta website and type in my zip code on their dealer locator and four nearby Lowes stores come up on the screen.
After paying $400 for a saw, you would expect these two items to be included?
Not a bad Bandsaw for $399. 2004-06-17
Took me about 2 hours to assemble the saw, all the holes were drilled in the right places and the welds were good. Bolts were hard enough so they didn't strip out when tightened. Bought a Mobile base from Sears right away because of limited space in my little shop. When properly adjusted the saw ran fine, vibration occured at first because of incorrect adjustments on my part, but after that it was quite and ran very nicely. Although you can get a better saw, and ofcourse pay alot more money, this band saw will satisfy me very nicely as I'm retired and on a fixed income. I'd recommend this saw highly, inspect the product very closely before you assemble it to make sure all parts are properly machined and align right, this is something you need to do with any product you have to assemble.
Happy Band Sawing!!
