Customer Reviews

DELTA 36-865 Versa-Feeder 1/8 Horsepower 10 to 46 Feet Per Minute Variable Speed Stock Feeder, 115-Volt 1 Phase

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Delta Versa-feeder was easy to assemble. The only problem encountered was that the overarm end was slightly mushroomed and required light filing to attach to the pivot ball. This appeared to be a shipping problem which could easily be corrected with Delta placing a protective cap on the ends. I have run 4' long 7/8" oak through the Versa-Feeder on a Delta Unisaw and it performed well. It made easy work of a tedious and some-what dangerous job. I am also going to use it on a Walker-Turner 3/4" shaper where it will usually be mounted. The drawback to the Versa-Feeder I feel would be in it's pivot ball and overarm design. It makes it harder to fine tune the Versa-Feeder to the stock and machine it is mounted on. But at better than 1/2 the price of Delta's 1/4 hp model the value is in the savings. I feel with more practice it will become easier for me to set up.

I've got to admit, I was a bit nervous ordering a unit this small. Advice from local shops suggested that 1/4hp was as small as you should consider... but the reviews here seemed good, so I gave it a try.

After assembling the unit, and attaching it to my Jet 1-1/2 HP Shaper, here are some comments:

- Delta 36-864 Versa-Feeder Mounting Base provided a much more rigid connection than I anticipated. I thought I would temporarily mount it with this base until I found the right spot to drill holes in my table top. I'm so pleased, I just may not drill the holes after all!

- Adjustment takes some getting used to. It certainly isn't as easy as the screws found on the larger (more expensive) units. I think I have mastered the art of 'tweaking' the unit with one hand, while tightening the clamping mechanisms with the other.

- Once properly positioned, the unit is very tight/rigid. It doesn't appear to flex too much, or fall out of position.

- Best of all, all 10 of my fingers are much safer now!

I was reluctant to purchase this because of previous reviews. But not being rich I took the chance. I got this feeder because of a large amount of flooring I needed to do. I used this feeder to resaw 214 - 8ft clear Douglas fir 2x4s on a bandsaw, and then making T&G flooring and paneling out of the parts using a climb cut on the shaper. This feeder performed without complaint.

I have also used it on the jointer with good results.

Setup is a little bothersome because the feeder has little weight of it own and must be preloaded so that the feed wheels will stay in contact with the stock. And it would have been nice if feed speed could be reduced below the 10 f/m. At 10 f/m the feeder will stall a 3hp shaper making a single deep cut in red oak, requiring multiple passes.

I commend Delta for offering an affordable stock feeder but unfortunately, for me, it failed to meet even my low expectations. I mounted it on an x-31 combination machine (table saw, jointer, shaper) and intended to use it as a finger-saver, especially for ripping narrow stock. Unfortunately, in order to position it correctly and maximise the extension, I had to reverse the mounting housing from the instructions, and the extension arm was still at the maximum. This allowed a bit too much "flex". And it wouldn't even reach my jointer. Another problem was the fact that I couldn't use it on narrow stock because my fence prevented it from coming down on the stock. Worst of all was the fact that the wheels just weren't "gummy" enough and when I did manage to adjust the arm correctly, (with as much down-force as I could get) it still didn't grip the stock well enough. One positive feature was the variable feed rate.

I ended up returning it. I would pay the extra money next time for a "standard" stock feeder with three-axis adjustment.

I have another stock feeder from which I base my comments. The support arm structure is cludgy to set up proper tension against stock. Motor is under powered and gets hot to the touch after 45 min. (I'm feeding small pieces and taking off very little material). Wheels are not round and made of a material that far inferior to true rubber wheels. I had to sand down the wheels just so they would grip the stock. It claims 46 fpm but my other feeder (max 42 fpm) pushes stock through faster. This is more a toy than a tool. If I could return it I would.

I've had no problems w/ my stock feeder on my 3HP shaper. Adjusted properly, it pushes everything through with no problems and makes operating the shaper much safer.

For setup, you simply need a thin piece of wood around 3/16" thick. You set this on top of the piece of stock that you will be feeding and place it under the metal housing of the feeder (not under the wheels). Now position and tighten all the clamps. The feeder will now be in the right position with the proper amount of downward pressure on the stock.

One of the local woodworking specialty stores had a sale today at which they sold a bunch of these feeders for $100 each. That was the incentive we needed to finally pick one up. We have a Steff that works great for the shaper, jointer, and tablesaw, but it dwarfs the router table. Enter the Versa-Feeder! It is perfectly sized for this application.

All parts were present and in good shape for assembly - Delta has done a good job on the packaging. The instructions were clear, including those for an alternate setup for the arm. Assembly was straight forward with no surprises. Estimated assembly time, shown in the manual at 2-4 hours, was very generous - we had our Versa-Feeder assembled, bolted to a wooden sub-base, and clamped to the router table in a little less then 45 minutes.

Using the advice found here in a previous review, we used a scrap planed to 3/16" to set the feeder for some test cuts. This method worked very well and we were soon creating consistent, burn- and tearout-free profiles in scraps of oak, maple, walnut, mdf, and jatoba with very little testing or fiddling. Encouraged, we ran nosing for a bunch of plywood shelves. Every piece was perfect. No tearout, no burns, no chatter - perfect. The absence of the fatigue one feels after running that much stock by hand was a very pleasant and welcome bonus.

The Versa-Feeder will likely earn a permanent place in our shop, and we are glad that we made the purchase. If only for the sake of experimentation, this purchase was a no-brainer at $100. Knowing what we know now, we'd not hesitate to spend the $300 or so regular asking price. Even at $300, the tool will pay for itself in labor savings alone in a few days. Good job, Delta.

Jim Webb

E-gads this thing is a piece of work. The quality of the tool its self is acceptable, but usability makes me give it a low rating. I have a Delta 36-850 power feeder also, so the notes below are based on that, MUCH BETTER model.

The DC motor is weak, noisy, and anemic.

The position adjustment system is a joke. The adjustment 'ball' is their way of making up for a lead screw adjustment system... and it is frustrating. Rigidity of the arm is ok... up to the ball area. A rigidly mounted power feeders wheels will retract (by springs) when the stock passes under them. Thats supposed to happen with this model too, but it really doesnt.

I do not recommend you buy this. Currently it is listed for $315 on Amazon. If you are willing to spend that much, please spend the extra $140-200 to get the style that has an AC motor and a vertical mounting post with a horizontal arm.

I bought this unit based on reviews and price. I have a home shop that I use to make alot of the trim for my new house on a 1hp ShopFox shaper out of 3/4" MDF. This unit works great for my needs. It's a bit tricky to adjust and I usually burn a couple of pieces of scrap wood to dial it in, but after that it's excellent. The wheels could be a bit grippier, but I'm sure with some light sanding they'd be better. The adjustable feature is great. The best part is that it keeps my hands away from the bit and allows me to setup the next piece to pass through and stack the previous piece while the feeder/shaper do the work.