Joe Bourbois
03-01-2004, 1:54 AM
Well, I took advantage of the Woodworker's Supply deal on the Unisaws. $1349.10 for a Delta Unisaw with 50" Biesemeyer fence and mobile base delivered to my garage (and I got a cheesey WW Supply measuring tape for free too!). I just couldn't resist. My plan was to get a cabinet saw sometime later this year, but this deal got me to pull the trigger early.
This particular Unisaw is right-tilt and has a 3 HP Marathon Motor. The mobile base is the Delta version. The Biesemeyer is the Commercial Fence. Unfortunately, it only came with one extension wing. I spent the weekend putting it together in between family events, and I've attached a few pics of the process.
1. The Unisaw still on it's pallet ready to be slid onto the mobile base. I laid a 1x4 across the back of the mobile base so I wouldn't scratch it as I slid the saw onto it.
2. No scratches on the base, and my helper was there to make sure.
3. I've read lots of comments on flatness issues with the unisaw. Front to back, my top is very flat, with only this .002 drop off at the very rear. This pic is at the very back of the saw top, behind the throat plate.
4. From left to right, the top was again very flat. There was .0015 dip between the line of the blade and the left miter slot.
5. The extension wing, mounted on the left, has a .0015 dish right in the center when checking left to right.
All in all, the saw was not too difficult to assemble. I had to shim between the top and the extension wing below the bolts to bring the wing up to the plane of the top (I used paper shims, a FWW subscription card to be exact). The top/wing combo is very flat as far as I'm concerned. I checked with feeler gauges all over the top to be sure. Didn't find a spot worse than .002 anywhere I tried. The table board was a different story. Placing a straight edge front to back on the table board revealed a dish right in the middle that pretty much ran the length of the table. It was worst right in the center, about 1/16 down. I don't think that will really affect anything though. Where the Biesemeyer's pads ride, the table board is level with the top. when sliding the fence, you can't even tell when you've moved from the table board to the cast iron top. So I'm not too concerned about it.
The saw is smooth and passes the nickel test no problem. The blade guard/splitter assembly is awful however. I've ordered the Delta splitter assembly from the uniguard for $31.70 direct from Delta. It's backordered until March 11 though. I've also ordered the PSI overarm guard and a Woodworker II. They should be here soon.
Woodworker's Supply was great to work with and so was the freight company (ABF).
Now to cut some wood!
This particular Unisaw is right-tilt and has a 3 HP Marathon Motor. The mobile base is the Delta version. The Biesemeyer is the Commercial Fence. Unfortunately, it only came with one extension wing. I spent the weekend putting it together in between family events, and I've attached a few pics of the process.
1. The Unisaw still on it's pallet ready to be slid onto the mobile base. I laid a 1x4 across the back of the mobile base so I wouldn't scratch it as I slid the saw onto it.
2. No scratches on the base, and my helper was there to make sure.
3. I've read lots of comments on flatness issues with the unisaw. Front to back, my top is very flat, with only this .002 drop off at the very rear. This pic is at the very back of the saw top, behind the throat plate.
4. From left to right, the top was again very flat. There was .0015 dip between the line of the blade and the left miter slot.
5. The extension wing, mounted on the left, has a .0015 dish right in the center when checking left to right.
All in all, the saw was not too difficult to assemble. I had to shim between the top and the extension wing below the bolts to bring the wing up to the plane of the top (I used paper shims, a FWW subscription card to be exact). The top/wing combo is very flat as far as I'm concerned. I checked with feeler gauges all over the top to be sure. Didn't find a spot worse than .002 anywhere I tried. The table board was a different story. Placing a straight edge front to back on the table board revealed a dish right in the middle that pretty much ran the length of the table. It was worst right in the center, about 1/16 down. I don't think that will really affect anything though. Where the Biesemeyer's pads ride, the table board is level with the top. when sliding the fence, you can't even tell when you've moved from the table board to the cast iron top. So I'm not too concerned about it.
The saw is smooth and passes the nickel test no problem. The blade guard/splitter assembly is awful however. I've ordered the Delta splitter assembly from the uniguard for $31.70 direct from Delta. It's backordered until March 11 though. I've also ordered the PSI overarm guard and a Woodworker II. They should be here soon.
Woodworker's Supply was great to work with and so was the freight company (ABF).
Now to cut some wood!