Should I buy this Unisaw

I have a new Unisaw and I am very happy with it. Some say that the older ones were built even better than the new ones. I don’t know. I do know that a new one will cost you more than twice as much just for the saw alone.

Mine came with a Biesemeyer, and sometimes I wish it had a unifence. I would like to have both. Each has advantages. I like the adjustabilty of the unifence, high or low, in or out.

The wings just need adjustment.

Good luck.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I agree with Gary on the wings – just an adjustment. I’ve only used a right tilt, so while there’s probably advantages to each, that’s more of a “what you’re used to” kind of thing.

If you have the cash and can afford it, sounds like an outstanding deal to me!

If I happened to have that much saved up in my hobby account, I would jump all over that deal to replace my Grizzly contractor saw with no dust collection in my shop!

-- Paul, Texas

take it

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Paul,

I have the cash, but it was going to be used for a few other smaller tools. I think I will go ahead and buy it and keep both table saws for awhile. Then if I decide that I like the cabinet saw and am OK with the right tilt, I’ll sell my Ridgid. It is only 2 years old and I have been absolutley thrilled with it. If not, I bet I could easily get my money back out of the Unisaw.

Kevin

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Grab it quick. My old saw had a Unifence, and it worked just fine. Dead-on accurate, too.
As far as the table extension, it should be easy to adjust. If not, buy the Bench Dog router extension- it’s only money, right?

-- Furniture Medic- the prescription for damaged furniture

It sounds like a great deal, jump on it if you can.

-- Hope Never fails

Buy it now! Don’t wait, that’s a deal.

-- CutNRun - So much wood, so many trails, so little time

MyronW,

It may only be money, but I don’t have quite that much of it.

Alright, Alright, I’ll go ahead and buy it. I had planned to anyways, but I always like to get a second opinion.

Kevin

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Good deal!
The wings can be adjusted but if for some reason you can’t they are about $100 each. I picked up a Lefttilt Unisaw without wings and without fence for $500. Your deal sounds even sweeter. I’m still shopping for a dust collector.

-Rocko

-- -> Malta, IL www.flickr.com/rockomccombs -<

Well, I went and picked up the saw and dust collectors last night. The dust collectors run fine and all that was left was to check out the saw.

When I got it home, I plugged it into where my air compressor is (I’ll have some wiring to do for the saw since it is 220v) and success. It ran. Very noisy and vibrates a lot, but I am pretty sure it is just because the belts have been sitting in one position for about a year and they are formed into that position. I may try to get them to “flatten out” or may spring for some new belts. Any suggestions?

I also checked out the arbor to make sure it was running true and it is within .002” at 7” from center on a very flat balde. I am OK with that.

So, I figured if the motor runs and the arbor is flat, then everything else is easily repairable. The fence needs some attention, but I think I can get it in working condition without too much trouble.

Thanks for the advice,
kevin

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Kevin,
Any chance you could post some pictures of your “steal”? Cause for $800, thats what it was. Great find!

-- Jeff, Indiana

I think you got took, I’ll take it off your hands for $600

-- DocK, WV

glad it worked out for ya.. always nice to get a good deal.

-- making sawdust....

Wow DocK16,

You sure are a great guy. Come’n here and save’n me and all. I had a bunch of guys at work offer to “help” me out too. So much love. HA HA

I think I’ll hang on for awhile. If I decide that I do not like the right tilt, it will be coming back up for sale though. I am keeping the Ridgid until I decide.

Has anyone had any good ro bad experiences going from a left tilt to a right tilt?

I’ll try to get some pics, I had to take it apart to make it easier to transport though. Hopefully I will be able to get my shop in order in the next month and i will post pictures of all of my purchases and a few “steals” I found.

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Glad you went with the purchase, Kevin. I have a left-tilt hybrid with the uni-fence and I’m happy. I’ve not used a right-tilt but at one time I read and article about the pros/cons. I’ll try to find it. Regardless, for the package, you made off like a bandit.

As for the belt, maybe try a v-link. They are commonly found at Rockler and Woodcraft among other places. My pulleys are not a single v-groove though. Are yours? Mine look more like a modern pulley on a late-model vehicle and I’m not sure if a v-link would work. They are really supposed to cut down on the vibration issues.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

I had a right tilt contractors saw for about 10 years, then got a left tilt Unisaw. It hardly made difference
to me. I just did what I had to do. No Problems.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I don’t think this is the article I remember but it gives some commentary and ways around the ‘pitfalls’ of a right-tilt.
”
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=28543":http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=28543

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

That is awesome Kevin. Check this out…

The saw you just bought

Link to Unisaw on Amazon

Right now the Unisaw you just purchased is $1892.98 on Amazon WITHOUT a fence or rails!

Wow.. What a deal, and you got the dust collector(s) as a bonus!

-- Jamie, Kentucky

The only difference in that my saw has a metal guard around the motor, not plastic like in the new model.

The way I have been buying all of my used tools is very simple. If it works as good as a new one, then it is worth half the cost of new. This may be a bit harsh on some tools, but I have pretty much stuck to it and have gather a few nice slightly used tools for very little money. I figured this saw was $1800 new with rails, the large dust collector was $400 and the small one I guessed at $150. Total value to me $2350/2 = $1175. Plus the guy threw in a shop fan, four old pipe/bar clamps, and three old hand planes. So to me the total value was $1200. Got for $800 – good deal.

My half the cost of new has landed the Unisaw, dust collectors, Grizzly 14” bandsaw, Dewalt 12” planer, Jet 6” jointer, Campbell Hausfeld 60 gal air compressor, and Craftsman lathe (just to “play with”), as well as a few hand tools.

I have a fireplace mantle to finish as well as some crown molding and trim work in our family room. Once that is done, I will be beginning the process of converting my shop/furniture staging area into a woodworking shop. I have a wet bar and all new kitchen cabinets to complete along with a bunch of furniture per the wife/boss. Our deal is I’ll not start anything else until the shop is complete. I will be blogging my shop and looking for a lot of help from the wonderful people here. Shop is 28×32 with bathroom in one corner.

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Kevin,

The only right tilt issues I ever had was to remember that it’s easy to bind a cuttoff between the fence and the blade.

Great find by the way…

-- Chris