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Mostly cast iron and solid steel. Something this heavy should probably be packaged using another method. I too was one of the lucky ones that received this mortising machine "undamaged". I could never hold Amazon or the freight service responsible for this. Heavy duty (and I mean heavy, weighs almost 80 lbs). When I opened the box, the styrofoam was pretty much all disintegrated into little BB's. The only real complaint I have with Delta is that it seems they make a great product, but then they short on the packaging.
Haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it appears to be a very high quality machine. It probably took me longer than most to assemble it (2 hours) because I spent a great deal of time cleaning it up during assembly and removing all the cosmoline that Delta had put on it. No matter what freight service is used, the possibility of damage is high due to the method of packaging. It was a miracle that my mortiser survived the shipment at all.
Despite all of our best efforts, nothing worked.So I send it back, asking for my money back this time. There was only a 1 inch play back and forth, as if something in the crank was causing the fence to block. The first unit I received was litterally broken in half: The main shaft had a crack all the way through.Delivery damage (was delivered by UPS) can happen, I guess, although it's hard to believe that steel almost 1 inch thick could shatter like that.So I ordered a replacement unit and received it 4 days later (Amazon, at least, does it's part of the deal).The 2nd unit I got was not broken (thanks UPS), but the fence would no go all the way back. I called Delta and spend an hour trying to fix it up. I'll buy another brand.It just makes you wonder: Is there anyone over there that take a quick look at the end product before they box it in.I wish I could tell you how it run, but I never had a chance to get that far.DL At the end, the delta rep had me dismantle the whole thing and use a flat file to flatten the square edge of the crank screw.
And I learned to put a gorilla twist on the chuck in order to keep the bit from falling out of the chuck whilst you mortise away. But I now use a router or more often a drill press and a hand chisel. I don't have any problem with the actual quality of this albatross. Of course, removing the chisel and bit ruins all your squaring efforts and you have to square everything again. I learned a lot from this mortising machine.
It is heavy, roughly finished, and everything squares.again and again. Like, how to uninstall the chisel and bit to remove the wood chips jammed in them. I learned how to swing on a handle in order to get enough force to cut into the wood (Oh, yes, the chisels are honed and very sharp). I learned to cut my fingers when changing out the chisels or having to bang on the top of the drill auger bit to get it out of the chisel when it jams with wood chips, or more often wood CHIP.
My only complaint now is that I hemmed and hawed for two weeks and didn't order right away. I finally ordered and crossed my fingers that it would arrive okay. After reading the numerous reviews about customers' shipping woes, I was initially hesistant to order this product, even though I had read countless raves about how good it is -- both from trade journals and users. Well, I needn't have worried.This is a great product and, for me at least, it arrived in flawless condition. I should've been enjoying this sooner. Listen to the raves -- and save the complaints for the shipping carrier -- because it's well worth the money.
Setting it up, I find I cannot fit any Delta chisel into the machine's bushing part # 1346469. Now the first problem is, slipping a chisel into this bushing is fundamental to the operation of the machine and you might think that this might be a basic quality check prior to shipping. Too bad: I was looking at a variable speed Delta woodworking DP. Cool.That was then. Now, I need to reconsider.
But when he returned, the expected ship date had improved to 11/4, so there's something to be said for that. Apparently not this one. Alas, in the entire worldwide inventory of Delta Machinery, there is none to be had. So I bought a Delta 14-651 Hollow Chisel Mortiser recently. This is two weeks later and no part has shown up so I call and get a guy who tells me the part is back-ordered until 11/14. After all, quoting from the Delta manual, "All Delta Machines and accessories are manufactured to high quality standards." Further, "Since accessories other than those offered by Delta have not been tested with this product, use of such accessories could be hazardous." This implies Delta accessories included with the Delta product might be expected to fit a Delta product. I really think the guy did his best, but his company failed him, therefore he was unable to make his customer - me - happy.It's just another example of the erosion in quality and service we see going on all around us. For a fact I was left on hold for the better part of 30 minutes while he did something.
So on 9/23 I call the Delta service & warranty number and get a nice girl who tells me I'm the second caller that day with that problem, but she has a bushing right there on her desk she can ship me and I can expect it in a week. But you'd be wrong. And yes, I tried other Delta chisels & bits I had on hand: no joy.To this fellow's credit today, he did attempt to find a bushing in stock somewhere in the country.
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