Delta 14 Inch Band Saw Review – Model 28-400
Delta Model 28-400, 14 Inch, 1 HP Band Saw
Delta recently introduced an all new band saw in their model 28-400 which replaces an older 28-280. 14 inch band saws are probably the most popular size and certainly a great all around size for small and medium size wood shops like ours. Delta was kind enough to send us the new Model for our review and testing in the shop. Below is our review of the all new Delta 28-400 band saw.
Specifications and Features
- Motor: 1 HP, 115/230V, 1 Phase Speeds: 1,620 FPM and 3,340 FPM
- Blade: 93 1/2 in. – 1/8 in. min. width to 3/4 in. max width Table: 15 3/4 in. x 18 7/8 in., oversized, cast iron
- Table Height: 40 3/4 in. Cutting Capacity: 13 5/8 in. wide x 6 in. thick
- Base Dimensions: 23 in. long x 16 wide Dimensions on Stand: 27 in. x 19 in. x 65 1/2 in.
Shipping Dimensions: 44.69 in. x 17.72 in. x 21.46 in. Weight: 164.9 lbs.- Heavy duty steel frame design reduces flexing and features a superior finish and aluminum trunnion table support for long-lasting durability
- Two speed drive system featuring tool less belt tensioning
- Durable aluminum, rubber-coated upper and lower 9 spoke wheels are precision balanced for superior blade tracking
- Standard size t-slot accepts all 3/4 in. x 3/8 in. miter gauges
- Precision ball bearing upper and lower blade guides ensure consistent tracking for accurate cutting performance
- Oversized table insert provides visibility when adjusting lower blade guides
- Larger insert for visibility when changing lower guide settings
- Includes 4 in. integral dust port, steel stand and a 93 1/2 in. wood-cutting blade
- UL Listed
Quality Construction / Materials
No surprise here but it’s worth pointing out. Delta once again has built a very nice shop tool with good quality materials and rugged commercial grade design. All of the component fit together nicely during assembly. The stand is made from very strong powder coated steel which was also easy to assemble.
The cast-iron table top has a large, very flat, smooth polished surface. I found the surface to be of equal quality to my UniSaw (which is very good!). This seems to be a nice upgrade compared to reviews that I’ve read about previous older designs that may not have had as nice of a surface.
Overall I’m very pleased with the quality and “mass” of the materials. They all contribute to the smooth accurate results that we were able to achieve while using the band saw.
Cast-Iron Table
As mentioned above I think the cast-iron table is machined very well with a very flat smooth surface. The miter slot is also well machined and accepts most common miter gauges (3/8″ and 3/4″). While this model does not come with a miter gauge I was able to use my Delta UniSaw miter gauge on the table without any trouble.
The table easily tilts allowing bevel cuts. The table has an easy to read bevel angle gauge mounted just below the table as you can see in the adjacent photo.
Blade Guides
One of the most important features on a bandsaw are the blade guides. The Delta 28-400 offers precision ball bearing roller guides above and below the table surface.
The upper guides are very easy to adjust and they stay in place. If you look closely at the photo they are very easy to adjust because they only use one screw to lock them in place. The lower blade guides work the same way but they are a bit harder to reach under the table. Once you’re familiar with the guides it only takes a few minutes to adjust all of them and keep the blade working in great shape.
Blade Wheels
The 28-400 uses aluminum spoke wheels with a rubber surface to grab the blade. The wheels rotate with a high degree of precision and are really easy to adjust. I’m told heavier cast iron wheels are preferable by some users but I’m not sure there’s a need for a band saw at this price point and size.
Dust Collection
The 28-400 has a large 4″ diameter dust collection port on the rear side of the cabinet adjacent to the motor. It’s located at the bottom of the wheel housing so it can effectively keep dust off the rubber coated wheel. Small holes in the table opening plate help suck dust down away from the cut zone.
The dust collection collects about 90% of the dust. This is certainly a shop tool that MUST be connected to a dust collection system. If you don’t own one I’d suggest you not buy this unit because there’s no place for the dust to escape from the cabinet.
1 HP Motor
The Delta 28-400 is powered by a Dual Voltage (115/230V) TEFC motor. The motor is quiet and smooth. I’m using it powered by 115 volts and had no power problems. The ability to wire the motor for 230 volts is a nice option when additional power is needed.
Performance
I’ve been using the Delta 28-400 14″ Band saw for several months now on a variety of projects. I’ve used it for cutting curves, cutting really small delicate pieces, and resawing larger lumber. Once the band saw was setup I was able to make all kinds of different cuts with very good results. The band saw had plenty of power even when resawing larger pieces of wood.
When it comes to resawing this model has plenty of power but you are limited to a piece of wood 6 inches tall. While this isn’t a deal breaker for me it certainly is a limitation that should be considered. Having said that I’m not sure you’ll find many other band saws in this category that can resaw much larger pieces of wood.
Band Saw Accessories
The 28-400 comes with a 1/2″ wood cutting blade. Besides that you’ll have to order other accessories as extra for your band saw. Several accessories that you should consider are:
- Miter Square (I use the one from my UniSaw)
- Fence (Delta offers fences, I happened to get a Kreg Fenced which I’ll write about in another article)
- Work Light – This is something that came as standard equipment on my Delta drill press and I sure wish it had some standard on the band saw.
Overall Impression
The Delta 28-400 is a very well built band saw fit for any woodshop. Being a 14″ model it’s really a great option for small and medium size shops where shop space is tight. This model is a perfect fit for my tight shop. When you consider that this band saw is priced around $650 it’s a great value and a great buy.
My only word of caution is for people hoping to resaw larger pieces of wood. If that’s your focus then I recommend you look at a larger model.
If you own a small to medium shop like mine then I highly recommend the Delta 28-400. It’s very well built at a very competitive price. If you want to buy it then I recommend you check out Amazon here: Delta 28-400 14 in. 1 HP Steel Frame Band Saw
Did you have any vibration or drift issues? What adjustments did you have to do out of the box?
Jeff – It purs like a kitten :) No vibration at all.
I actually followed the directions in the User Manual for setting it up and it went very smooth. When it’s shipped (at least in my case) the guides were spaced off the blade. The manual tells you how tight to set the guides to the blade, I used feeler gages to set the gap between the guide rollers and the blade.
Great write-up there Todd! I’m the proud owner of a 12” Delta I bought used about 5 years ago and to date it remains one of my most reliable pieces of shop equipment.
Still runs smoothly after all these years! I’m always shopping around for some new saws – but until that Delta burns to the ground we make quite the pair.
Great review, thank’s Todd. I have a friend that recommended the 12″ Delta who would agree with Myles, it has served him well.