Delta Unisaw

[chris39]

I recieved an old Delta Unisaw ( table saw ) from a friend for free, and I've been rebulding I. Looking forward to cut some wood with it. will post some pic's of the progress when I take them.

Chris

[GrayBeard Phil]

Very nice gift.

I mean, very nice gift.

You are lucky.

Phil

[Pajaro]

Here I go again showing off my lack of knowledge about tools. What is Uni saw? Is it one of those all in one saws,(lath, drill press, sanding disk etc etc etc)?.

[NMScroller]

Originally Posted by Pajaro

Here I go again showing off my lack of knowledge about tools. What is Uni saw? Is it one of those all in one saws,(lath, drill press, sanding disk etc etc etc)?.

A saw with one wheel attached...


Man do I need to get new friends. Isn't that what Norm uses on The New Yankee Workshop?

[workin for wood]

yea...it's a cabinet maker saw like what Norm would use. It would be all enclosed to the ground. The motor is direct drive, not belt drive. Being an old saw, that may not be true, but it is on a good saw made today. Probably 3 hp maybe 5hp. If not, it can be upgraded to 5hp. A contractor saw apparently can't be upgraded in motor size, although it seems odd to me, but that's what I read recently. Something about a bigger motor doesn't mean you'll have more power behind the blade, being belt driven and all. But a direct mount motor will have more power even if the motor is the same size as on a belt drive saw. The belt can slip a bit and it's constantly under pressures like an elastic, so power is lost to the belt so they say. Anyhow...great score! Delta Unisaws are a good quality machine.

[Pajaro]

Ouch. OWIE! I said I'm a "Vermont Yankee in Texas" not a"smart" Yankee in Texas. I guess I deserved that. Thanks for the enlightenment. I guess i will have to live with my Delta "Contractors" saw

[GrayBeard Phil]

Pajaro:

Delta Unisaw is a table saw in it's own class. Most versions of the Unisaw goes for more than $1500.00 USD. By far, most table saws sold in the North America runs about $250 to $500.00.

You can get the Unisaw in 120, or 240 volts single phase electrical power
You can get the Unisaw in 3 phase industrial electrical power which I think is 208-phase to phase. But I have heard about a 460V Phase-to-Phase motor, again for industrial use.

Jeff said they are direct drive, but the only one I ever got to use for a few minutes was an old (circa 1960's??) 240 volt saw with 3 V-belts. I am willing to bet the motor was over 80 pounds; maybe 10 or 12 inches in diameter.

Lots of places on the web that sell reconditioned 15 year old, or even 20 year old Delta Unisaw's from professional woodworking shops that went out of business for about $700.00 each. They crop up on Ebay now and then. Shipping charges for one is, well sit down first.....

Phil

[workin for wood]

Right, I don't know about the old saws, but the new ones, like the powermatic 66 is 5hp direct drive. If it kicks, you better not be behind it! Powermatic is a better saw, but I think the Delta Unisaw dollar for dollar is a better value...just my opinion.

[chris39]

This saw is belt driven. a three belt pully off the motor drives the arbor above. I do have to buy a motor for, and will probably go with 3hp. I have been sanding and painting the cabinet and all of the Internal mechanisms. Is turning out to be a pricey project, but hope to have a saw that will last. The small contractors saw that I've been using is only 1.5 hp and I can stop the blade while ripping 2x4 stock. This is terrible on the blade!

Chris