You can smell cedar in the air and feel the fine dust cling to your forearms. Saturday morning, coffee mug still warm, you flip the switch on a compact machine that has lived under the bench for years. The motor hums, the blade settles, and a curl of pine slips free. That machine is the delta band saw 28-180, a squat eight-inch workhorse that turns scraps into curves faster than you can sketch them. I have relied on mine for toy giraffes, drawer pulls, and the odd plywood jig. Stick around, I will pass along everything I learned the hard wayso you can dive straight into clean cuts and steady progress.
What Makes the 28-180 Shine
Small does not mean flimsy. The cast frame keeps vibration low, while the light weight invites quick moves between bench and shelf. Highlights include:
- Eight-inch throat for tight circles and scroll patterns
- Roughly three-inch cutting depth, perfect for small boxes or trim
- Standard 56 -inch blade length, so replacements are easy to find
- Single-phase brushed motor that plugs into any household outlet
- Tilting table to handle quick bevels up to forty-five degrees
- Manageable footprintabout as wide as a hand planeyet sturdy once bolted down
Slide a maple blank under the guides and you will feel it: predictable feed, gentle noise, almost no fuss.
Quick Safety Check
Blades bite without warning. A speedy run-through before each session saves bandages later.
- Safety glasses keep chips away from eyes
- Hearing muffs save your ears from the motor whine
- Push sticks guard fingertips on small pieces
- Wait for the blade to stop before you open either door
- Unplug the saw before swapping blades or moving guides
- A bright lamp at the cut line helps you track curves without drift
First Time Setup: From Dusty to Dialed-In
A used delta band saw 28-180 often shows up with dull tires and a wobbly fence. Give yourself half an afternoon and walk through this sequence.
- Bolt the base to a rigid bench; the machine settles down the moment it cannot walk.
- Open both doors and spin the wheels by hand; listen for scraping or flat spots.
- Scour the tires with a Scotch-Brite pad and mineral spirits; cracked tires call for replacement.
- Lay a straightedge across both wheels; rims nearly align on most examples, yet a paper shim behind a hub fixes big gaps fast.
- Slip on a fresh blade; teeth point down, gullet rides just forward of tire center.
- Tension until the blade twangs like a low guitar string; flutter disappears when you hit the sweet spot.
- Turn the tracking knob while spinning the upper wheel; once the band stays put, lock the knob.
- Square the table against the blade; snug the tilt stop so ninety degrees is repeatable.
- Nudge side guides a sheet-of-paper shy of the blade and park the thrust bearing a whisper behind the teeth.
- Check the fence with a machinist square; slight drift? Loosen the rail screws and tap into line.
Plug it in, make a ten-second dry run, and enjoy the quiet purr that signals a job well done.
Blade Basics: Width, Teeth, and Style
The right blade turns a hobby saw into a precise instrument. Match three variableswidth, teeth per inch (TPI), and tooth profileto the work at hand.
- Width
- -inch: scroll work, reindeer ornaments, tight turns
- -inch: general curves, band-sawn boxes, circle jigs
- -inch: gentle arcs, quick straight cuts, light resaw tasks
- TPI
- Six to eight: hardwood over one inch thick, fast feed in softwood
- Ten to fourteen: thin stock such as veneer or plastic
- Fourteen to eighteen: non-ferrous metal with slow feed and wax stick
- Tooth Profile
- Skip: deep gullets clear sawdust in soft material
- Regular: smooth edge on veneer and end grain
- Hook: aggressive bite for thick oak, but watch motor load
The Three-Tooth Habit
Keep at least three teeth in the kerf to avoid chatter. Picture plywood only a quarter-inch thick; fifteen TPI keeps three teeth working even on that slim slice. On a two-inch oak plank, six TPI still gives you twelve teeth in play. Simple math, smoother results.
Tension and Tracking Tweaks
Light frame saws complain when over-tightened. I add tension until a finger pluck gives a clear note, then ease back a quarter turn if the top wheel feels strained. Tracking dead center extends tire life, while a slight forward bias reduces driftexperiment on scrap until the blade behaves.
Cutting Techniques That Play to the Saws Strengths
Tight Curves
Small blades flex willingly, yet they need help in tight corners.
- Saw relief cuts into waste areas; stock releases pressure and the blade scoots through effortlessly.
- Keep both hands on the wood, palms down, elbows loose; rhythm beats brute force every time.
- Watch the line just ahead of the teeth rather than the teeth themselvesyour brain will steer without conscious thought.
Straight Rips on a Mini Fence
The delta band saw 28-180 was never built for heavy resawing, still, it slices drawer sides with ease.
- Use a -inch six TPI blade.
- Clamp a plywood fence square to the table.
- Feed slowly, let the teeth clear chips, and stop if the motor stutters.
Light Resaw
Stay below two inches on dense lumber.
- Add a tall auxiliary fence.
- Mark a centerline on edges.
- Pivot the piece gently, watching both blade and line.
Circle Cutting
A shop-made jig turns this saw into a compass.
- A hardwood runner in the miter slot holds a pivot screw.
- Drill a pilot hole in your blank at radius distance.
- Set the work on the pin, press gently, rotate onceperfect circle, no sanding marathon.
Maintenance Rhythm: Five Minutes Now Beats an Hour Later
Daily
- Dust out the lower cabinet with a paintbrush.
- Wipe cast iron with paste wax; rust never sleeps.
- Relax blade tension if the saw will sit for more than a week.
Monthly
- Inspect tires for glaze or cracks; slip a finger under the crown to feel for looseness.
- Check guide blocks; swap them if grooves appear.
- Verify table square; vibration can knock stops off line.
Twice a Year
- Remove the blade and spin each wheel; a dry growl means new bearings.
- Review every bolt and nut; snug beats stripped.
- Replace the switch if travel feels mushycheap insurance against downtime.
Troubleshooting on the Fly
Problem: Blade hops off.
- Tires loose or crowned unevenly
- Blade length wrongmeasure before ordering
Problem: Cut drifts right.
- Fence not parallel
- Side guides too far from blade
Problem: Burn marks on maple.
- TPI too high for thickness
- Pitch buildup; clean teeth with solvent
Problem: Vibration rattles coffee mug.
- Saw not bolted down
- Wheel out of balance; glue a small rare-earth magnet opposite the heavy spot
Small Upgrades, Big Payoff
- Urethane tires add grip and last longer than rubber.
- Zero-clearance throat insert stops small offcuts from diving into the abyss.
- LED gooseneck lamp mounts on the upper door; shadows vanish.
- Foot switch leaves both hands free at start and stop.
- Mobile base lets you reclaim floorspace between projects.
Project Ideas That Suit an Eight-Inch Saw
- Bandsawn boxes with wavy lids
- Curvy cheese boards cut from walnut scraps
- Wooden gears for a classroom model
- Kid-safe animal silhouettessand the horns, mom will thank you
- Plywood circle shelves for plants
Each one builds skill and confidence without risking a whole plank of cherry.
A Quick Shop Anecdote
Had to craft twenty rocker sides on short notice? The 28-180 ate that challenge for breakfast. I nested the curves tight, eased the feed, and each piece came off the table smooth as river stones. Glue-up took less time than brewing a second pot of coffee, and the client swore I used a CNC. Nopejust a trusty blade and a calm wrist.
Questions Folks Ask
Are Delta saws reliable?
Vintage models earned their reputation the old fashioned waythick cast parts, simple motors, and easy-to-find parts. Keep the blade sharp and the 28-180 will outlive your shop apron.
What blade length fits the delta band saw 28-180?
Fifty-six and one-eighth inches. Write it in marker on the inside of the lower door so you never guess at the hardware store.
How do I follow the three-tooth guideline?
Divide workpiece thickness by blade pitch (distance between teeth). Aim for a minimum of three teeth in that measurement. When in doubt, choose the coarser blade.
Can I cut aluminum?
Yes, so long as you slow the feed, run at least fourteen TPI, and wax the blade. Thin stock only; save thick plate for the metal shop.
Printable Setup Cheat Sheet
- Bolt base tight
- Clean tires
- Fit correct blade, teeth down
- Tension until flutter stops
- Track band just forward of center
- Square table
- Set guides whisper close
- Test on scrap
Tape this list to the cabinet door, and you will never skip a step.
My Final Nudge
Grab that forgotten saw, brush off the cobwebs, and give it fifteen minutes of care. The first time the delta band saw 28-180 slides through walnut like warm butter you will grinpromise. Build a simple curve template tonight, cut a batch of handles tomorrow, then let your imagination steer the rest.