Finally pulled the trigger – Unisaw!
Well, like a real woman, I acted on impulse this afternoon and plunked down the cash for a used Unisaw. A furniture maker in a nearby town was selling most of his shop, getting ready to move into retirement, so I bought his R-tilt Unisaw, ~10 years old, with the clever Unifence (or whatever it’s called) 50″ and the nice auxiliary table on the right-hand side. $750. He’s got a long stretch of 6″ pipe too, probably will buy that when I pick up the saw on Wednesday.
He offered me the mammoth outfeed table he’d built, but it would have taken up 25% of my shop, so had to pass on that one.
So, no Steel City or PM2000 or whatever else is new for this gal. I’ll stick with the Unisaw and if I think I’ll keep woodworking enough in between horses, I’ll save up for the SawStop!
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
You will be very happy with the saw, pop for the Biesemeyer quick release splitter. It's worth the price.
You will be very happy with the saw, pop for the Biesemeyer quick release splitter. It's worth the price.
Absolutely. I have one on my Unisaw. You'll love both your saw and the splitter, but I bet it's missing the factory splitter. Since you have the PSI guard, just get the snap-in splitter and you're good to go.
"...but I bet it's missing the factory splitter. " Amazingly, I think he has the splitter/guard. He has the original owner's manuals even! Doesn't matter, though, I'm too used to the quick-release arrangement, so I'll have to spring for it.
This is a well-travelled saw, he took it to New Zealand with him for awhile.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Congrats! That's exactly what I bought a couple years ago. I really like the Unifence. Good price, too!
Jamie-
Good catch! Excepting a few years with a PM66, I have spent my WW time with a Unisaw w/Unifence. The fence IS clever, especially with bolt on jigs. We need to start a Unifence thread somtime.
Enjoy!
-Jerry
Ach, and to just think I could have saved $50 if I'd bought this:
View Image
ROFL! Not! I was cruising Craig's List to figure out what to ask for my old Jet saw. Nice set-up the guy's made though.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Good fer ya gal!
You'll be very happy. I really like my Unifence - a very useful feature is the ability to slide it back in front of the blade. Then use it as stop for cross-cutting without the fear of wedging the cut-off. Do I make myself clear?
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
"...a very useful feature is the ability to slide it back in front of the blade. Then use it as stop for cross-cutting without the fear of wedging the cut-off." Yep, between that and using it as a "short fence" for ripping, it's going to save me time and aggravation, not having to clamp things to the Jet fence.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I had a Unisaw for 15 years. It was fine.
I bought the left tilt version of your saw new 2 years ago and I couldn't be happier. The saw does everything I ask it to do with no difficulties. The Unifence is a jewel and though it is not quite as easy to mount jigs to the cross section of this fence as a Biesemeyer fence it can be done. Even Norm did a show where he made a tenoning jig and others to fit over the fence.
http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0101
The 50" table is great, but I hope you can do better than I at not using it as a temporary storage area. I clean it off and 3 days later it is 3 layers deep again. Shame on me!
Congratulations on your new saw!!
Bruce
Bruce, thanks for the link. I too have the compulsion to fill up any horizontal surface. It'll be OK for the outer 24" or so, won't need it for cutting much!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Well.. lady of the forest.... I just can't imagine why anyone would pay $750 for "a" cabinet saw in lieu of coughing up an additional $2800 and getting "the" Saw-stop? Must be that impulse thing you mentioned or were you just drinking at the the time? ... ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Congratulations on your purchase, Jamie... Ya done good! And hopefully now you can get over the SS thing as you have all the saw you will probably ever need for the rest of your life. If I could change anything about the Uni-saw I purchased factory re-conditioned it would be the 3 HP motor to a 5 HP as I do rip a bit of 12/4 stock and that would be faster. But.. with that said.. I have no other reason to up-grade.
I am not aware of what existing over-head you have.. but it you don't have anything.. I would consider the Shark Guard by Lee S. Excellent piece of work and very similar to the one I built for myself. I heard mention of a PSI over-head in another post.. so you may already be covered and only need the Bies splitter mentioned?
Any-hue... congrats again but the parties over, so put it work! :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Hey, Sarge, thanks! I don't envision cutting much 12/4 material, so 3HP will probably do me just fine. Yep, I have the PSI guard, and a Merlin splitter on my Jet. The Merlin will probably have to go, I'll check out the Bies splitter.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
The 3 HP "will" rip 12/4 stock as I use a 20 T Amana Euro rip blade on my saw.. it just won't cut it as quickly as a 5 HP seems to generate more torque on a fast feed. Sometimes I could just use that 5 HP and a 12" saw.. but again no regrets over-all.
Sounds as if you have a pretty good set-up in mind..
Gotta run as have just finished 240 box joints on drawer backs with 108 tails hand cut for DT's on the front. Got to go cut 108 pins now or either get one of those brad nailerws to keep those drawers together. :>)
Have a good day, Jamie..
Sarge..
"seems to generate more torque on a fast feed"I guess you still haven't reached full maturity yet - where PATIENCE is a virtue. If I am to cut 12/4 I can take a little longer; that's expensive wood. Must be the Military training that said that "Charge Ahead" is the only true virtue. Way to go !Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
I don't have much choice other than to be patient with the 3 HP. Normally patience is one of my virtues... but sometimes I will run 100-200 linear feet a shot. I get tired of standing on my feet for long shots anymore and the extra gitty-up-and-go from a 5 HP can cut time.
OK.. Ok.. the real truth is Tim the Toolman Taylor is my hero and like Tim... I just feel the need for more POWER.. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
At least that's what my wife says anyway. :>)
Regards Frosty...
Sarge..
"I don't envision cutting much 12/4 material, so 3HP will probably do me just fine."Oh great, now you'll have to put a 5HP motor or 20T Euro rip blade on your wish list too. 'Cause you will now find a project needing to cut 12/4. How many times have we all said, "I think this is all I will ever need."
Congrats on the new tool! You can't pass on a good deal. PIC's?
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Congrats Forest Girl! You saved $400 over the Steel City deal and got yourself a nice piece of equipment. Probably the last tablesaw you'll buy. The UniFence, which I had, is very versitile, but you'll need to build your own jigs. Drop a router in that extension table and use the backside of the Unifence for a handy router table.
I'm still waiting for my Steel City (one more week), but that was an impulse buy too. Didn't need it, but couldn't pass up the deal. But I was able to get $500 for my Delta Contractor's saw, so I only spent $580 net for a huge gain in equipment. And whoever said guys don't like to shop!
Good for you! I love the Unifence and that losing that will be my one regret if/when I finally get around to the SawStop.
One accessory that I found very useful for the Unifence is this:
http://www.ttrackusa.com/index.html
http://www.ttrackusa.com/unifence.htm
I used the original aluminum fence to attach a tall fence and a dado sacrificial fence and switch to that when needed.
Cheers,
Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Thanks for the link, Peter. Wow, that diagram -- it was like looking at the puzzle on a Taco Time kid's meal sack, LOL! Looks like a very good upgrade, and I will put it on the list.
Now taking apart the old blue Jet saw (outfeed support, overhead blade guard) after taking pictures for a Craig's List ad.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Nice purchase, Jamie! You've been looking for a while, so I'm sure this is a great saw. I'll be interested to hear your feedback after you rip your first board to see the power difference. The pop in splitter sounds like a good acquisition too. Congrats. Tom
Thanks, Tom! I think the power upgrade will be a very positive experience, although Ol' Blue did an admirable job when equipped with a good blade. I probably won't get the new saw set up before the beginning of next week, but looking foward to it!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Well, like a real woman, I acted on impulse this afternoon and plunked down the cash for a used Unisaw.
I thought you would say a NEW HORSE! Maybe a Pony that you could grow up with and 'Explains' about your bad back!
Vintage-ish Unisaw... Unifence... 50" rails... $750...
That's a pretty darn good deal and I've heard of some off-the-wall unheard of deals. I'm sure you're pleased (or is that an understatement). I love the Unifence. Lots of storage for pencils, rulers, etc on the backside and an easy-to-clean rail.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Oh, Chris, now don't tempt me with clever little hiding/storage places. I'm already incurable!
I suspect the saw would have been $more$ if it were a left-tilt, but I don't know for sure. He had everything priced quite "reasonable" and I felt lucky I was able to be the first one there interested in the saw. You should have seen the outfeed table (outfeed mesa would be a more accurate term) he was going to throw in with the saw! Would have eaten up 20% of the space in my shop, fer cryin' out loud. As it is, things will be tight with that 50" fence, but somehow it will work out.
I'll be anxious until we get it in there safe and sound. We (hubby and I) are getting too long in the tooth for this mega-hundred-pound moving stuff, and when it's "my precious" we almost always end up gripin' at each other...... ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Way to go there FG. Hell of a good deal on that price. I think that you will find except for that SAwstop safety thingy, the Unisaw will be all of saw that you will ever need. May I recommend that you take a look at the overarm uniguard with it's proprietary snap-in splitter? It really is an excellent setup. Also, while I love my unifence for it's unsurpassed versatility, I think that Peachtree makes a square profile unifence that makes it a lot easier for attaching all manner of hold downs. Just something for you to consider. Enjoy your new tablesaw.
Hi, BigK, thanks! Yep, Bruce (wingdoctor) linked that Uni-T-Fence above. It's apparently made by T-TrackUSA and sold by Peachtree. Quite a design. Gotta sell my Jet and refresh the funds before buying any accessories though.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hey FG, I figured as much with regards to the $. But wanted to offer my 2 cents of advice after owning and using my uni for about 10 years. I do believe that the unifence is the best design out there, and the Peachtree track improves on a very solid design. But I used the stock fence extrusion for most of that time and learned how to adapt jigs to work with that.
I'll have some time to play with the stock fence, but don't be surprised if I spring for that upgrade sometime in the next year! Since I didn't get the SawStop, I may want some Board Buddies to increase my safety bubble.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
J, good on ya, a super deal, welcome to the old rt 3HP club. Paddy
btw, more news at 11:00
"...welcome to the old rt 3HP club. " Thanks! Are there any dues?? ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Two jars of prunes, a quart of whiskey and a can of Boeshield."There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."
-- Daniel Webster
You made a good choice in the Unisaw and fence. I have had one for about 4 years now and have never looked back. I added a homemade outfeed platform, about 18" long and it makes a big difference safety wise. I no longer have to reach over the spinning blade to catch a piece about to fall off the table. If I am ripping a long board, too long for the outfeed to be effective, I rig a roller. I hope you enjoy the saw as much as I have.
Tex, the outfeed table on my old Jet saw was about the same depth, and you're right, it makes quite a nice difference. I rarely needed any more than that, and when I did it usually was accomplished by clearing the countertop about 24" away from the back edge of the outfeed table.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Congrats!
I absolutely love mine. You won't be disappointed if yours performs any where near mine.
Regards,
Sean
Hi Jamie! Congrats Kiddo! You sure know how to find those great deals. I know you will be very happy.
I'm just now assembling my PM2000. Very slowly due to a hectic work schedule and have run into a small problem that I went ahead and posted. I'm not letting it bug me cause the new saw is amazing. I'm looking forward to building all the new jigs/fixtures and a storage cabinet underneath the extension table (which is where I'm having a minor problem at the moment).
I know that both of our new saws will be everything we had drooled over!!
Man I can't wait to get this thing in full operation. Did some cross cuts and it just blew me away. Not exactly like the old Craftsman contractors!!!
Brian
Well, like a real woman, I acted on impulse this afternoon and plunked down the cash for a used Unisaw..
There you go girl! True spirit of a woodworker... Female or NOT!
ENJOY you 'NEW' saw! Have fun and be safe!
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