Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - 28-350 Band Saw SN 640A

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl.
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

True Manufacturer:
Crescent Machine Co., Leetonia, OH

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	20"
Submitted By:	Pete Bradley

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	28-350 Band Saw SN 640A
Date of Manufacturer:	Late 40s
Serial Number:	(View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	4/17/2020 6:19:38 PM

Comments:

I found this machine from an ad in the newspaper. A guy had several metalworking machines he was selling and this saw which he had bought at auction but never used. It came with the original 1 HP 3 PH motor and AB mechanical starter which was available from the Delta catalog at the time. This machine is serial number 640A.

One interesting feature is that this saw has cast iron wheels instead of the usual aluminum. I'm told that Crescent built both aluminum and cast iron, and the cast iron was discontinued after Crescent was shut down.

At some point, this machine was cleaned with some kind of industrial degreaser that destroyed most of the exterior paint. It was mostly complete and generally in good shape though the bearings were shot. I intended to do a basic mechanical restoration only, but one thing led to another and I wound up doing a complete mechanical restoration and a color-matched paint job. I also swapped in a vintage Delta 1 HP R/I motor wired for 220. I made a couple of feet out of 3/4" plywood and rubber with metal inserts that the machine bolts into. This isolates it from the floor and damps out vibration from the cabinet.

This is just an outstanding machine to use. Very smooth, very quiet, very fast. You could pretty much run it full time with a 3/8" 4TPI band, though a 1/2" 3TPI band is better for logs and tall resaws. It will run wider bands, but there's no reason to and the results are actually better with the 1/2".

Photo 1:

Comments: As bought
Source: my photo

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Photo 2:

Comments: Top wheel detail
Source: my photo

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Photo 3:

Comments: Ready to work
Source: my photo

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Photo 4:

Comments: With Excalibur fence
Source: my photo

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Photo 5:

Comments: Bandsaw mythbusters! 13"X1/16" ash veneer cut with 3/8" band, steel blocks, sled (no adjustment for drift)
Source: my photo

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