Replies

1. 
   md2453 | Mar 07, 2008 12:40am | #1

   Ronnmann:

   Taunton Press published a nice little book a few years back I think titled "Care and Repair of Woodworking Machines, if memory serves it talks a bit about table saws.

   Look the unit over very carefully, Un-plug it and stick your head inside the cabinet and look over the trunions, belts, and the motor raise and lower the blade and tilt it to full tilt, you're looking for excessive play or loosness.  Look over all the electrical components for damage, if things are obscured by sawdust wipe the parts off and look very closely.  If you've got a dial indicator set it up to measure the runnout on the arbor, check the arbor nut and washer for abuse.  Run your hands over the table top and feel for any obvious rough places or damage, check the fence for square against the miter slots and the blade against the miter slots.

   Then ask your friend why he's selling the saw and what he wants for it.  If it's lightly used like many hobby shops may be I could see going to maybe $7 or $800 as an offer and see how he reacts  if he's tossing in additional goodies that might affect things some too.

   My current saw is an old Delta about 20 years old and I paid $500 for it and replaced the motor and have been making sweet sawdust daily since!

   Good luck

   Madison

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 07, 2008 09:25am | #3

   "Taunton Press published a nice little book a few years back I think titled "Care and Repair of Woodworking Machines...."  Care and Repair of Shop Machines, Authored by John White, a great book.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   Ronnmann | Mar 08, 2008 12:00am | #9

   To everyone,

    Thank you for your help!

   Ronnmann

2. 
   Ronnmann | Mar 07, 2008 11:55pm | #7

   Madison,

    Thank you for your help.

   Ronnmann

2. 
   Napie | Mar 07, 2008 04:15am | #2

   My Unisaw is a mid ‘60’s model.  I love it.  The rebuild was far less complicated than a break job on my wife’s jeep.  I say no more that $750-$800 but go for it you’ll not regret the upgrade.

1. 
   Ronnmann | Mar 07, 2008 11:57pm | #8

   Napie,

    Thank you for your help.

   Ronnmann

3. 
   Mackwood | Mar 07, 2008 10:00am | #4

   Hi,

   I have an OLD Unisaw (1950) and love it!  In addition to the very close visual inspection recommended already, stand a nickel on edge on top of the table, start the saw, make a cut then shut off the saw.  If the nickel topples over there is some vibration to worry about; lower your offer.  If it stays upright it is a good indicator that the bearings, belts and other moving parts are decent at the very least.

   I can do the test on mine with a penny but I have to cheat and find a thick spot to get them to stand up in the first place.

   Even if the saw has lots of wear it can definately be resurrected but will take some time, effort and probably some $$.

   Best of luck with it, you'll not regret upgrading!

   You won't regret reading/buying that book either.  Of the scores of ww;ing books I have only two stay in the shop and that's one of 'em.

   Regards,

   Mack

    

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, S--T IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/7/2008 2:02 am ET by Mackwood

1. 
   glennwarner | Mar 07, 2008 07:02pm | #5

   You get parts for any Unisaw made since 1936.

1. 
   JohnWW | Mar 07, 2008 08:15pm | #6

   Don't bet on it anymore, Delta's parts system has cratered in the past year.John W.

   Edited 3/7/2008 12:36 pm ET by JohnWW

1. 
   user-83153 | Mar 08, 2008 10:17pm | #10

   So what does Delta have going for it anymore? Anything? I have looked at their new stuff and wouldn't spend money on any of it. I suppose that they can milk the name for a few more years.

                   Rob

4. 
   Dave45 | Mar 09, 2008 05:06pm | #11

   Ronn -

   That Unisaw is obviously a piece of junk.  If you'll send me your friend's name and address, I'll take it off of his hands and get it out of circulation.  Don't thank me - it's a small sacrifice for a fellow woodworker.

   OK, now I'll remove my tongue from my cheek and recommend that - unless that saw is about to collapse - you snap it up.  Get your hands on the owners manuals and go thru all of the initial setup and adjustments.  Even if it's all dialed in when you get it, going thru the setup and adjustment process will teach you a great deal about how it works and how to keep it working like it should.

   The only real problem I can think of would be your electrical power.  If you don't already have it, you may need to run a dedicated 220v circuit.

1. 
   Summit | Mar 09, 2008 08:16pm | #12

   I just bought a Unisaw off of craigslist.  $1k even.  It is a "Great White- Edition" and is painted white.  I have the original bill of sale which states that it was bought in 1997.  3hp, 1 phase 240 - Right tilt w/50" Biesmeyer.

   Saw is in A+ shape.  I had to clean up the rails on the fence and repaint, other wise plug-in and go.

   Anyone ever heard of "great white - edition"?  What makes it special other than white paint?

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Mar 10, 2008 03:16am | #13

   I have heard of the Great White series.  I have no idea what is special about it, though.  I just heard about it a few months ago, though it's obviously nothing new.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

2. 
   Napie | Mar 10, 2008 05:21am | #14

   It was a promo Delta ran back in the 90’s for machines with all the bells and whistles, I have lots of the ads in my older FWW.  They came out of the box with the fence of your choice Biesmeyer or Uni-Fence extension table, etc.  They were of course white versus Delta grey.  Any American built, Unisaw is a good deal, easy to work on and easy to rebuild.  A friend just got an early 50’s vintage machine for $300.00!  $250.00 in parts for the rebuild and a new Uni-Fence, he has a great saw for well under a grand. I would think older PM66's would be about the same but they seem to go for a bit more used.   I’m a big fan of older Delta stuff and see little reason to buy a new machine.  If you can build furniture you have all the skills required to rebuild a table saw, jointer, planner, or band saw.  They are pretty simple machines, way easier than a brake job on a car.

    

   Here is a source for parts:

    

   http://www.renovoparts.com/

1. 
   Summit | Mar 10, 2008 02:44pm | #15

   Thank you for the reply.  I have only been "paying attention" for the last 5 years or so.  I'm going to put another $1k into un-needed accesories and have 2x the machine for what I would have paid new for 1/2.  There seems to be a pretty good inventory of "barely used" machines out there.  Hobbyists who lose the passion and sell, widows that are liquidating, etc...  IMO definately makes sense to go used, just hold out for the right machine.