How much would you pay for a old Unisaw?

[Marc Prudhomme]

Hello,
Here is a add on craigslist.....seems like a good deal....needs some TLC, maybe new brushes for motor...Think I could get him down some??

http://worcester.craigslist.org/tls/3605801468.html

[Val Kosmider]

There is NOTHING in that shop that says 'i take care of anything i own'.

Caveat Emptor.

[Stephen Cherry]

It dosen't look too bad to me, but I would spend more and get a higher hp motor and a better fence. There are tons of old 3 hp, biesemeyer fence unisaws sitting in basements and garages, and they seem like a better place to start.

[Cary Falk]

Been there done that. That saw has been abused. The fence sucks and you will want to replace. Ther is no motor cover. I paid $400 for mine and paid too much. I say $250 would be the max I would go. Buy the time you clean up and get a new fence, you get close to the cost of a new G1023RL with a riving knife and better dust collection. There is nothing magical about an old UNI now matter what the OWWM'ers say.

Cary

[Marc Prudhomme]

I do believe that a 3 HP Motor can be attatched to this saw...They were basically the same framework and Trunions...but were sold with differant motors...I could be wrong.

It dosen't look too bad to me, but I would spend more and get a higher hp motor and a better fence. There are tons of old 3 hp, biesemeyer fence unisaws sitting in basements and garages, and they seem like a better place to start.

[Dave Cav]

That's probably more than I would pay for it, but then again I already have one Uni and a PM 66 in the rathole awaiting restoration. Good: it appears to be largely intact; dust door, handwheels, lock knobs, two vintage miter gauges, rip fence, original switch, single phase bullet motor. Not so good: Old style rip fence; overall it appears a little rough, may have had a hard life in a cabinet shop, will probably need new bearings throughout, and bullet motors can be intimidating if you've never worked on one before. It's a decent, but not great price, and even if you double the price with new bearings, belts, wiring and so on, you will still have a great saw for much less than new, and you will know the saw inside and out.

[Kevin Bourque]

Is that dust or rust all over the saw?

It's not worth what they're asking, but some poor schmuck will grab it anyway. I'm surprised it's still available.

[Cary Falk]

I do believe that a 3 HP Motor can be attatched to this saw...They were basically the same framework and Trunions...but were sold with differant motors...I could be wrong.

A 3hp motor will not fit in the oval hole without cutting the cabinet. The trunnions are the same and can support it though.

[Stephen Cherry]

I do believe that a 3 HP Motor can be attatched to this saw...They were basically the same framework and Trunions...but were sold with differant motors...I could be wrong.

Maybe so, but hobby saws come up that will be lightly used and ready to go for not a whole lot more money. If you like the history and want a project, it might be fine.

[Chris Rosenberger]

A 3hp motor will not fit in the oval hole without cutting the cabinet. The trunnions are the same and can support it though.

The older 3hp 3phase motors will work with oval opening.

The motor, switch cover & dust door are worth close to that price.

[johnny means]

There is NOTHING in that shop that says 'i take care of anything i own'.

Caveat Emptor.

Why not? Because it doesn't look like a shrine to power tools or a machine collectors showcase. Looks like a typical working shop to me. The sawdust on the floor and saw suggest to me that it's actually still cutting wood.

Personally, I would be offering a little closer to $300.

[Mike Cutler]

The older 3hp 3phase motors will work with oval opening.

The motor, switch cover & dust door are worth close to that price.

Chris has a good point here.
I'm not sure if you'll ever "make money" with this saw, but you won't lose money either.
I am a little suspect of the stated motor hp in the Ad.Did Delta really offer a single phase, 220, 1 HP motor as the norm on their saws? It could be that the guy is reading the 1ph as 1hp. Worth a look.


Johnny
Love your comment .;)
While my shop isn't quite that bad, it's usually pretty messy. But I guarantee you that every machine I own is working properly and tuned. ( Well maybe not my sander, because a tree just came through the roof and hit it. I'll find out when it warms up.:( )

[Ben Martin]

Chris has a good point here.
I'm not sure if you'll ever "make money" with this saw, but you won't lose money either.
I am a little suspect of the stated motor hp in the Ad.Did Delta really offer a single phase, 220, 1 HP motor as the norm on their saws? It could be that the guy is reading the 1ph as 1hp. Worth a look.

The reply to that is usually "horses were a lot bigger back than"...

My 40's Uni only had 3/4HP and it would cut through anything I would throw at it and never would bog down. But the way that motors were rated back than and now definitely was different.

I agree with the comments about getting a VFD to run the saw, it will be become a gateway to 3PH tools. I have a long set of leads on my VFD and run all of my 3PH tools with it...

Ben

[Jeff Duncan]

Personally if I needed/wanted another saw I'd offer maybe $400, (or even a little less), and see what happens. If you part it out you should get about that in return. If it's running I wouldn't bother replacing the motor. If you get to a point where you find the 1 hp is not enough worry about it then. I used a Unisaw with a 1-1/2 hp for years before it gave up the ghost. I replaced it with a new 2 hp which didn't seem any more powerful, but did most of what I needed it to for years. The fence can be cleaned up and made to work though there are better aftermarket fences available. I would plan on replacing the belts and arbor bearings BUT only if needed. These saws use a 3 belts system which is so overkill the belts would literally have to be shredded before they stop working! (OK maybe a slight exaggeration;)). Arbor bearings are a very common tune up and as this is one of the most popular saws ever made, the instructions are literally all over the net.

In short if I needed the saw and it's in working condition as described I'd buy it for $400 and use it. Around here these saws in similar condition fetch that at auction, so getting it for less is hit or miss. After I cleaned her up a bit and checked things out then I'd decide if any additional work was needed.

good luck,
jeffD

[William Addison]

I would not let the 1 HP part of it bother me. I have a 3HP Uni and used one with a 1HP bullet for several years. I couldn't discern any functional difference in power.

[Kory Vander Ziel]

Hello,
Here is a add on craigslist.....seems like a good deal....needs some TLC, maybe new brushes for motor...Think I could get him down some??

http://worcester.craigslist.org/tls/3605801468.html

I would first check on the availability of getting parts for the saw. I have a unisaw that had a nut stripped out & needed a new switch, it was the same story with everyone that the delta parts were on backorder. I wouldnt offer too much just becouse of the parts issue. Good luck, Kory

[Jeff Duncan]

I would first check on the availability of getting parts for the saw. I have a unisaw that had a nut stripped out & needed a new switch, it was the same story with everyone that the delta parts were on backorder. I wouldnt offer too much just becouse of the parts issue. Good luck, Kory

Just as an FYI you can get the nuts, arbors, bearings, belts and switches new from a variety of sources outside of Delta. Sawcenter being one good source for many of them. Other parts like trunnions and tables are also widely available on the used market. In short these are one of the most popular saws on the planet and there's no lack of parts....even if Delta has turned their backs on the saws:(

[Nelson Howe]

This one looks bigger: http://nh.craigslist.org/tls/3566033074.html

Nelson

[Chris Rosenberger]

I would first check on the availability of getting parts for the saw. I have a unisaw that had a nut stripped out & needed a new switch, it was the same story with everyone that the delta parts were on backorder. I wouldnt offer too much just becouse of the parts issue. Good luck, Kory

If someone cannot find parts for a Unisaw, they are not looking in the right place. I would not be surprised if I couldn't find parts to build a complete Unisaw on Ebay right now.

[Stephen Cherry]

If someone cannot find parts for a Unisaw, they are not looking in the right place. I would not be surprised if I couldn't find parts to build a complete Unisaw on Ebay right now.

Also, if you get one that has all the parts with it, chances are your kids will be using those also.

One thing I have learned about buying anything used is that condition is King. Life is too short to mess around with this sort of thing. (unless it's enjoyable to you). After all, a table saw is not a 69 dodge charger, or mustang, or camaro etc.