Delta customer service???

Boondox · Jan 22, 2002

I've been trying to find a reducer to fit the outlet on my Delta planer (5" OD) to my 4" dust collection flexhose. All the 5 to 4 reducers have ODs of 5", and I need one with an OD of 4 7/8". This evening I spoke with a young woman at Delta who asked me the model number, then insisted DC-380 was not the model number even though it was written in 3" letters across the side of the machine, and who further insisted that because I run a Jet dust collector in my shop the Delta 50-479 5” to 4” reducer would not fit my Delta 15” planer!

I don't mind an "I don't know but let me find out," but I absolutely hate it when they blow smoke my way! /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

Pete

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2002

Why not just take a pair of stovepipe crimpers and close the 5" dimension down to 4 7/8"?

TerryinMD · Jan 22, 2002

Boondox,

The model number may not be DC-380. Sometimes you need to look in the owners manual or the serial plate to get the actual model number. The DC-380 is probably the product number. Apples and oranges. Have you ever gone to Sears to get something for one of your power tools, shop vacs, etc. It's maddening. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Also, you may want to look at some of the woodworking supply companies like Trendlines to see if they have any reducers.

Terry

MikePA · Jan 22, 2002

According to DC-380 is 22-680Y.

Jeff396 · Jan 22, 2002

<font color=blue>Have you ever gone to Sears to get something for one of your power tools, shop vacs, etc. It's maddening.</font color=blue>

Yeah, my movers lost the handle to my floor jack. Sears lost track of the model numbers for my floor jack which is only a few years old. Worst thing is when they act like it's you fault when the wrong part is ordered because they had to guess because they can't keep track of their own numbers. The guy actually tells me that they can't keep ordering parts trying to find the right one. My response...."Wanna bet?" Maybe they should get in line behind Kmart!

Jeff

Bird · Jan 22, 2002

Hmmm, I've gone to the Sears Service Centers to get parts and I've ordered parts on their web site, and never had a problem getting parts from Sears. I've gotten parts for washing machines, paint spray gun, chipper/shredder, air compressor, and goodness knows what else with no trouble. But of course, I keep all the manuals in folders in a file cabinet, so when I go to order, I have that great long model number they use./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Robert_in_NY · Jan 22, 2002

That is one of the reasons I do not buy from sears, I have stop there a few times and they do not know anything about what the sell, Sears doesn't even make their own power tools. Being in construction we deal a lot with our local lumber yards and as a result get much cheaper prices on DeWalt and Bostich tools and the dealer network is much better for fixing these products as I deal with a couple repair centers and never had a problem with repair work. I try to stay away from places like sears and tool auctions as it is next to impossible to get things repaired or replaced from these guys. As for the reducer have you stoped at a plumbing center and asked them, they should have what you are looking for or be able to order one. Worse comes to worse you can just make one yourself out of some galvanized metal and duct tape the joints to seal it better till you find the correct adapter.

Jeff396 · Jan 22, 2002

I do that too. I had all the numbers but it didn't match up with anything in their computer. What I finally ended up doing was go to our local store and compare the jacks they were selling with the one I had. I found one that matched and then went back and gave them that model # which was still in the computer. Viola.....problem solved....not thanks to them./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I've also ordered from Sears in the past and have not had a problem. It's just floors me that I was the one who had to do the leg work on this.

Jeff

TWINKLE_TOES · Jan 23, 2002

Bird,

My experience with Sears is the same as yours, for maybe the same reason. Last year I ordered a bearing for my ride on lawnmower (1974 vintage) from their web page (got the Part number from my manual).

I do miss the big Xmas catalog they used to send out/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Al

DrDan · Jan 23, 2002

LOL Pete

Sell it and get a Powermatic...

DrDan

DrDan · Jan 23, 2002

Yup Bird - I got all the manuals and don't have any problems getting parts, but believe me... My experience is that you have to get plenty of them. I had all Sears equipment when I started into woodworking. After two motors on the planer, two on the jointer, the bandsaw tilt feature lock kept drifting from square, the chopsaw wouldn't index to a repatable angle. Yuck I got rid of it all except one compressor aand for right now the jointer is still going strong on the second motor. Their power tools are pretty lame. Ok for occasional use but if you do alot of work with them they won't last.

DrDan

Egon · Jan 23, 2002

DrDan'

I've got a 10 inch craftsman radial arm saw that was purchased in 1970 and still going strong. It's had a lot of hours put on it. I've also got all the attachments for it and still retain all my appendages. It still holds its settings well but sure wish the motor had a little more oomph.
Had to replace the off/on swithch once and replaced the fiberboard cutting surface with a much larger plywood one.

Egon

Egon · Jan 23, 2002

Peter,

Hey, here's a chance to use some aluminum flashing and duct tape!!

Sure wish I had a 15 in. planer.

Mines a Delta 12 in. but it sure could be larger.

Egon

kevincook · Jan 23, 2002

If you can't find what you need I'm sure any heating contractor in the area can modify one or make one up for you very easily.

Franz refers to a stove pipe crimper which should work well. It is not something many people would own but they are very simple and relatively inexpensive.

jhburke · Jan 23, 2002

I with you about how little help you get from the "clerks" today. When I went into sales many moons ago. One of the first things you had to do was learn your products. Today you are forunate if they can ring up the purchase correctly. JIM

Boondox · Jan 23, 2002

Had to get the bigger model when the little DeWalt choked over the 300+ maples and cherries Hurricane Floyd left me a few years back.

Pete

Boondox · Jan 23, 2002

Considered the Powermatic, but hated the way the table goes up and down instead of the cutterhead. The Delta lets me set the outfeed height once and run boards all day without changing a thing. Of course if I can't find a reducer to fit I'll have a real mess to clean up...about every fifteen minutes! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Pete

Boondox · Jan 23, 2002

Yes, after opening up the shop and crawling around with a flashlight in teen temps, I found the itty-bitty metal plate that listed it as a DC-380/22-680. I guess my mistake was in assuming a customer service rep would be familiar enough with their products to be able to tell me the DC-380 written on the machine was some other number...

Still disappointed in the experience.

Pete

Boondox · Jan 23, 2002

Thanks. We have exactly one ww store within 100 miles and I struck out there. Getting ready to whip out the duct tape.

Boondox · Jan 23, 2002

Plastic doesn't crimp well. Besides, by this point it's the principle of the thing. All they have to do is get off their duffs and try to fit the insert they insist is correct into the dust hood. Instead they insist on arguing with me that I must be doing something wrong...like not buying their dust collector!

Pete