Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - 13x5 Planer

Machinery Photo Index

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

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Planer, Wood
Machine Size:	13"
Submitted By:	Gus Buerkle

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	13x5 Planer
Date of Manufacturer:	1959
Serial Number:
Last Updated	11/19/2005 12:08:22 AM

Comments:

This was a local ebay purchase, sight unseen except for pictures, not very expensive. Apparently it sat unused for some time but was found with newly sharpened knives as if it had been gone over just before being forgotten. There was some strangeness going on with a bearing on the clutch engagement shaft, but I was able to reassemble that without issue. It had acquired some rust; I (possibly gratuitously) replaced the cutterhead bearings and de-rusted the cutterhead with electrolysis. I stopped there and resisted the temptation to immerse the entire machine in the bubbly brine...

It's a fine planer; smooth, quiet and does good work after adjustment using Bob V's FWW article as a guide. Shortcomings of the design include the well-known bronze worm gear wear problem, and a surprising lack of adjustment of the feed rolls. The cutterhead and knives must be set appropriately based on a fixed outfeed roll geometry: no adjustments of the feed roll are possible, not even a little bit at one end. I guess that's okay but kinda lame. I get a bit of chip-impression when planing cherry but overall I'm quite happy with the performance.

My hat's off to anyone who could tear down and meticulously restore one of these.

Serial number is 1254692, meaning it came from Bellfountaine, OH in 1959.

Photo 1:

Comments: look at that patina! you just can't fake that
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Photo 2:

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Photo 3:

Comments: okay basically the same picture
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