Old school powermatic 81 and Rockwell Delta 28-3x0 virtual 20” bandsaws.

[Landslide]

I bought a Rockwell Delta 28-3X0 around 5-6 years ago. I haven’t used it and it’s been put in a corner of my shop.

Fast forward to last week and I came across a powermatic 81 20” vertical bandsaw for a desk I couldn’t pass up.

So now I’m trying to figure out which one I want to keep or sell. I thought I’d just flip the powermatic but looking it over I’m not so sure.

Anyone have any experience with them to know the pros n cons to the makes?

 

[Landslide]

Got the Powermatic 81 up n running to test her out. It’s a beast of a bandsaw I can tell ya that much. It may be my new saw too. I love the added chain pulley weight system to help raise the HD blade deck height control arm. My Rockwell / Delta is not this beefy in this area.

 

[Landslide]

 

[Onequikz]

Can't speak on the Rockwell/delta, but I have an older Powermatic 87 that I absolutely enjoy using. Mine has a gearbox for speed changes and the blade welder as well.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

So which one are you selling me?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

If you've had the delta for that long and haven't used it, what makes you think you'll use the powermatic more?

 

[Landslide]

So which one are you selling me?

Probably the Delta right now as I think I like the powermatic better.

 

[Landslide]

Can't speak on the Rockwell/delta, but I have an older Powermatic 87 that I absolutely enjoy using. Mine has a gearbox for speed changes and the blade welder as well.

I wish either one of mine had variable speed but I’ll put in a VFD for it to slow it down for metal cutting.

 

[Landslide]

If you've had the delta for that long and haven't used it, what makes you think you'll use the powermatic more?

I could’ve used it a bunch but just use other things as it’s stuffed in the corner and not easy to get too. The pains of too much stuff in a small area.

I have a beefy horizontal bandsaw also that I’m restoring but haven’t touched it in a few years either. There’s a lot going on in my life that takes up a lot of my time. So I do a little of this here and a little of this there.

 

[rockota]

Probably the Delta right now as I think I like the powermatic better.

Shipping to 37211?

 

[Landslide]

Shipping to 37211?

You’ll have to come get it I’m afraid. I was in Nashville last week tho and I’ll be back down there once I’m able to borrow a 25,000 gvwr gooseneck trailer.