Delta Jointer Problems

[Nashville]

Hello everyone I'm a newbie to the board. I've been lurking around awhile and I finally have something to post about. I just took delivery of a new Delta 6" X5 jointer. Purchased during the recent woodworker sale at Amazon. Needless to say the box arrived broken open with the box and contents stretch wrapped to a pallet. After checking the contents against the parts list I discovered the carriage mounting bracket, a 15 pound piece, was missing. I called Delta customer service. They were great and shipped the replacement part overnight. Now that I have assembled the jointer I find that the fence has about 1/16" play in it. If you hold the fence on the ends you can move it back and forth a 1/16 and you can also move it up and down on the ends a 1/16. There are two bolts that hold the fence carriage assembly to the fence. The movement is taking place in the bracket on the end of the "geared" rod of the carriage assembly. There doesn't appeared to be a way to tighten this bracket to the rod. It looks like a pressed fit. Is this kind of movement in a jointer fence normal? I would have thought that the fence would be rock solid in all directions. I hope someone can help!

 

[Monty]

Sorry about your problem with that nice new X5 of yours... our resident X5 expert is hpetty - you might try getting in touch with him. Good luck, and once you get it fixed up and running, take a pic so you can get full gloat credit!!!

 

[Nashville]

Thanks for the advise, Insomnia! I'll post those gloat pictures when I get fixed.

 

[hpetty]

I'll be glad to take a look at mine tonight and respond back to your question.

 

[Inflatable Screen Door]

I'm fairly new to the world of jointers so I could be wrong but I don't think that's abnormal. As long as the fence stays perpendicular to the beds the jointer should work just fine. I have a craftsman 6" and I also can wiggle my fence a bit. But no matter how you shake it, it stays perfectly perpendicular to the beds.

 

[hpetty]

Not sure which model of the Delta Jointer you have, but if it's the same as my X5 then I'll take a swing at responding.

Just beside the adjustment knob (the one you use to move the fence in and out) is a locking lever. Once I set the fence and turn this lever a half turn I could hit my fence with a hammer and it wouldn't budge. Is it possible that this lever isn't adjusted correctly?

 

[Nashville]

hpetty, it is the X5. I have tightened both the knob and the lever handle to no avail. I contacted Delta customer service today, and they are sending me a new ram assembly. It's the geared rod with the rectangular flange on the end. It seems to be a pressed fit, with no way to tighten it. Customer service quote me 7-10 days to get the new part. I hope that corrects the problem!

 

[hpetty]

I hope it does the trick as well.

Just for the record I have found Delta's customer service to be pretty good. I have found the need to place 3-4 calls to them over the last six months and have always gotten great service from them. I also recently purchased the bandsaw and the riser block. When I installed it the cord didn't fit. After talking with the first level of CS I was referred to a technical adviser. He worked with me and the Delta engineers to try and find out the problem. Turns out my cord had been cut 2" too short. They shipped me a replacement via FedEx overnight. It would have been better of course if I had never had the problem, but I was very impressed with their professionalism when I did experience a problem.

Good luck with the new jointer!!

 

[Nashville]

I bought the X5 bandsaw with the riser block kit at the same time as I bought the jointer. I put the bandsaw together last weekend and had the same problem with the cord being 2" too short. I didn't want to wait on Delta customer service sending replacement parts so I went to HD and bought a short piece of 14-3 power cable and a junction box. I rewired from the switch to the junction box that I attached inside the base cabinet. I've got plenty of cord now! I don't think that Delta's short cord problem is an isolated incident.

I'll let you know how the jointer issue works out.

 

[Sweetgum]

I'm still waiting for Klingspor to get my X5 jointer and bandsaw in so I can go pick them up.

Bought them both at the Charlotte WW show, and keep getting the run around on delivery.

 

[Nashville]

Bought mine through Amazon. They arrived within a week of ordering, but they sure took a beating in shipping. The only thing that I haven't received yet is the Delta hybrid table saw. The trucking company called yesterday to schedule delivery for Tuesday. That's the only day that they have a truck in my area with a lift gate.

I got the Delta mobile bases for each machine and I am very impressed with their smooth operation.

I wish you luck with your Klingspor delivery!!!

 

[Grgramps]

Nashville, I have the same jointer, so as a matter of curiosity I went out to the shop to see how mine was. Mine is Ok, but I can see exactly what you so very well described. It's kind of depressing to wonder what happens to the poor slob who can't explain what's happening. Delta is having too many problems for them to think that they're doing a good job. My experience with their customer service has been fine, but they shouldn't have to send me 2 motors for my drill press before I finally get a good one. I wonder how long this goes on before only the old guys will remember the name Delta.
Roy

 

[Nashville]

Roy, I understand exactly what you're saying. When you spend hard earned money on something new, wait with anticipation for it to arrive, and it finally arrives with problems right out of the box.....the gloat quickly turns to buyer's remorse. Delta does have some significant QC problems.
Tom

 

[Steve D]

Manufacturing has moved out of TN to Mexico and the far east. QC problems will continue for quite some time I'm afraid.

 

[NCPete]

My B-I-L was one of the leaders in applying Six Sigma QC process at B&D's DeWalt plant in Fayetteville, NC. Eventually, these processes will be used throughout the new, greater Black & Decker (including the PentAir tools group), even in China

 

[Nashville]

Just to let everyone know....yesterday I received a new ram assembly for the X5 jointer from Delta customer service. I installed the ram and it has corrected the problem I was having with vertical and horizontal movement in the jointer fence!!! Thanks for everyones' help and comments.:-D

 

[RandyJ]

Nashville, Glad you got your parts and the X5 is hummin':icon_thum . Now the only thing to do is let some chips fly!!:mrgreen:
Good luck,
Randy

 

[McRabbet]

Just to let everyone know....yesterday I received a new ram assembly for the X5 jointer from Delta customer service. I installed the ram and it has corrected the problem I was having with vertical and horizontal movement in the jointer fence!!! Thanks for everyones' help and comments.:-D

It didn't happen.... 'cause there are no pics. You won't get anyone to truly believe you actually have that jointer until you post pictures and then you can really GLOAT.
If you don't have a Photo Gallery, request one under "Other Links" and then read the FAQs forum on uploading pics to a Photo Gallery. When you do that, I suggest you do it in a new post. Then we can pass along more -- like suckage! :lol:

Rob

 

[cpowell]

Glad to hear you got the ram assy for your non-existent jointer...

Standard rule....No PICS, DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!!!! :-D

(see, we let you off the hook while you were having problems...no slack for you now!!) :lol:

Chuck