| Review by Tom Adamski | posted 279 days ago | 771 views | 0 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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Last August, I was starting a new project; an oak fireplace mantel for a friend. I guess my 10+ year old Delta (cheap inboard motor model) could not take the strain and let out what souded like a high pitched scream and stopped with a puff of white smoke. After a few explatives and a sudden realization that my project was on hold, I went inside and started looking online for a new saw. I read so many reviews, my head started to spin, but I knew I wanted another Delta. If it is good enough for Norm Abram and David Marks, it shure as h*ll can work for me too.
I purchased the Delta 36-980 (with 1 1/2Hp motor, 30” T2 Fence, cast iron extensions, mobile base and dust collection) from CPO Woodworking. CPO beat Amazon on price, provided free shipping direct to my garage and had it delivered in 3 days from the factory. The assembly and set up were straight forward. The built in wheels gave me a little problem, but all was straightened out with a call to customer service. (Very nice people). By the way… You will need another person to help on this assembly as the whole thing weighs more than 300 lbs.
Once assembly was complete, I checked everything for accuracy. The blade was in perfect alignment with the miter slots and the set screws were already set to perfect 90 and 45 degrees. Other than a half turn on an adjustment screw for the fence, Everything was perfect. Then the most outstanding thing happened. I turned it on and it was QUIET! I could not believe how quiet it was… My old saw made me use earplugs, but this one, I can hear my music playing in the background while I’m running the saw.
It has now been 6 months and my confidence in Delta’s tools could not be higher. The quality, fit and performance is more than I had paid for. I am a Delta geek for life…
With the new saw, it was fun and easy cutting the thick oak for my friends new fireplace mantel.
Check out CPO Woodworking some great deals on all Delta’s saws…
Sincerely,
Tom Adamski, Naperville, Illinois
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
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9 comments so far
GaryK
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8565 posts in 528 days
posted 279 days ago
I used a Delta contractor saw for about 9+ years until I finally moved up to a Unisaw.
I never had any problems with it.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Woodchuck1957
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172 posts in 304 days
posted 279 days ago
The saw that failed on you sounds like a Delta Motorized saw and not a Contractors saw. I use to have one about 13 years ago. They use a small poly cogged belt. One day when it was cold out in the shop I managed to strip the coggs right off the belt, so I order a new belt and sold the saw. The Contractors saw is definately a step up, and so is the Unifence.
-- If you can't find the time to do it properly, how will you find the time to fix it ?
Tom Adamski
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228 posts in 311 days
posted 279 days ago
Woodchuck,
You are absolutly right about the model! For me the motor fried and a replacement would cost $195 plus shipping. Not gonna happen. By the way… the T2 fence that came with the saw, looks and performs like my friends Biesemeyer. Does anyone know if T2 is just Delta’s generic Biesemeyer fence? The other reason I’m asking is I bought the Wixey digital fence readout and it installed with the Biesemeyer hardware and instructions.
Tom
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
Woodchuck1957
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172 posts in 304 days
posted 279 days ago
Tom, I think the T2 fence is Delta’s knockoff of the Beisemeyer fence as you mentioned, I’ve never really heard a bad thing about the T2. It should be a great fence for you, especially compared to what you had on your older saw.
-- If you can't find the time to do it properly, how will you find the time to fix it ?
GaryK
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8565 posts in 528 days
posted 279 days ago
It’s my understanding that the T2 is just another Delta option. They also have the Unifence and they own
Beisemeyer. The T2 it just a scaled down Bessy.
A few members here are putting the T2 on their craftsman saws.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Tom Adamski
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228 posts in 311 days
posted 279 days ago
Thanks Gary… I’m really pleased with the fence, and now with the Wixey digital fence display added to it, it is just over the top accurate with no deflection.
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
Karson
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14323 posts in 940 days
posted 279 days ago
Great review.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
marcb
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203 posts in 213 days
posted 212 days ago
T2 is a great fence. I put one on my Rockwell Contractors saw and never looked back. Considering the price jump from T2 to Bessy I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about them.
marcb
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203 posts in 213 days
posted 211 days ago
Ignore this