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Forum topic by Bill60 | posted 02-08-2012 07:13 PM | 5282 views | 0 times favorited | 16 replies | ![]() |
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02-08-2012 07:13 PM |
Hey Guys, I want to thank everyone for their input when I was saw shopping last year. I bought a beautiful Delta 34-770 contractors saw from CL for $300.00. The 34-770 is a special edition 34-444 with two cast iron wings. The saw looked like it was just pulled out of a box (clean and no scratches) and the gentleman had all the original manuals and receipts from purchasing new in 1994. I guess that you can tell I’m proud to have it, so I’ll shut-up about that. The local Woodcraft store had a mobile base and 30” unifence table that were about $160.00 new that they just said “make an offer” and I got them for $35.00!! also bought an extension mobile base for 30” unifence for $15.00 new at the same Woodcraft. I have not been able to find a Unifence anywhere until today I found a company in Houston (about 3 hours drive from me) that has a brand new Delta 36-905 30” Unifence for $262.00. That kit includes the fence of course and also all the table legs and table brackets to fit the items I already have. I know that the Unifence is not the Biese, but there is something that really appeals to me about having the saw setup with all original Delta parts. Am I being foolish about equipping the saw this way? |
16 replies so far
#1 posted 02-08-2012 07:20 PM |
Unifences were closed-out by Lowes or something a year or two The Unifence is a cool design. Because the extrusion can |
#2 posted 02-08-2012 07:41 PM |
I wish I still had my old unifence ! -- If the old masters had power tools, they would have used them. So get off your damn High Horse. |
#3 posted 02-08-2012 07:43 PM |
Bill60: I don’t think you’re being foolish at all…..I have a Unisaw w/ a Biesemeyer fence, but the Unifence was here before the Biesemeyer, and is a great fence…..past and present…I have an old Craftsman that I put a Delta SawGuide on years ago, and it works great. The SawGuide is a 30” fence system, and just a smaller version of the bigger Unifence…..Like all fences, once you get it zeroed in, you’re good to go…..carry on…. -- " At my age, happy hour is a crap and a nap"..... |
#4 posted 02-08-2012 07:47 PM |
Not at all, it sounds to me like you’ll be quite happy with your saw (you did get a great deal). My first table saw was a 34-444, and I loved it. I changed to a Unisaw when I retired as a self given retirement gift, but it was a Unisaw so I could stay with the Unifence. I do think you could get a better deal on the fence…but it sounds like you’re on a roll and I wouldn’t want to break the momentum. -- Our village hasn't lost it's idiot, he was elected to congress. |
#5 posted 02-08-2012 07:48 PM |
+1 for the unifence. Just my opinion but the if a fence system doesn’t slide fore and aft I don’t want it. when I rip stock the fence is slid back with only about 3 inches in front of the blade. This give you a lot of fence to line up and get you material running straight. Slide it forward for cross cutting. -- Alaskan's for Global warming! |
#6 posted 02-08-2012 08:00 PM |
I have a Unifence that I’ve been using for over ten years and really like it, very precise. Sometimes it’s a bummer because there are so many jigs designed for the Beisemeyer but a big benefit of the Unifence is that it is easy to make and attach new fences. There is a website floating around where a guy came up with some nifty jigs. I think if Delta had included a t-track in the face, the fence would have been more popular. The real downside is that it takes about 2 minutes if you want to cut on the other side of the blade. -- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/ |
#7 posted 02-08-2012 09:18 PM |
I like the unifence. Mine is 16 years old. It is very durable, accurate, easy to adust, and is easy to clamp to. The one thing I don’t like about it is that you can’t build a sliding box around it. I see many designs for jigs that slide, but not on a unifence. -- JJ - Northern Illinois |
#8 posted 02-08-2012 09:43 PM |
I have both the Unifence and a Beisemeyer. I like them both. Never had a problem with either. -- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "Finished"! |
#9 posted 02-11-2012 02:14 AM |
Thanks for all the input guys. I found a Delta T-2 fence new in the box on CL here in town that a guy bought for his Delta benchtop saw a few years ago; Unfortunately, it would not fit. He said that he was tired of tripping over it and let me buy it for $50.00. I geuss the T-2 was Delta’s attempt to compete with the Beisemeyer before they just bought them? Anyway it bolted right up to the saw in a flash. I am trying to post a picture or two and I am trying to talk myself out of trying to get that Unifence. I geuss my wife is right about my compulsiveness. |
#10 posted 02-11-2012 02:17 AM |
I see what you mean about the jigs being easier to make for this type of fence |
#11 posted 02-11-2012 02:36 AM |
Tools Plus has the Delta T2 fence for $147.97. That’s about as good a deal as there is out there. I bought one from them just last week. Showed up fast too. Best deal I could find. -- Bondo Gaposis |
#12 posted 02-11-2012 03:46 AM |
Most jigs can be made to slide in the miter slot instead of sliding over the fence. A bit less convenient but any easy workaround. -- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/ |
#13 posted 02-11-2012 06:52 AM |
Hey Bill, I’ve got a T2 on my saw and, whille it’s a perfectly fine fence on its own, I’d replace it with a Unifence in a heartbeat. The extra adjustability wins every day. One other thing: the T2 came along after Delta bought Biesemeyer; it’s their lower-end fence and was standard issue on later contractor saws. :) -- Rory // Milwaukee, WI |
#14 posted 02-12-2012 07:58 AM |
I’ve got a Unifence on my Delta Contractors Platinum TS bought in 1995 and I am very happy with it. I’d get a replacement if this one ever wears out, which is likely never gonna happen. Like Rory said, the extra adjustments are very handy to have. -- ~^ DaveG ~^ |
#15 posted 02-20-2012 03:48 AM |
I replaced the stock fence on my Ridgid R4511 with a 30” Unifence. I also had a 50” one on my previous General 350 cabinet saw. I have been using a Unifence for about 20 years and love them. Here is an option for an auxiliary fence made for the Unifence body which allows you to use hold downs, featherboards, etc.:” http://www.ptreeusa.com/uni_t_fence.htm I have one of these and find it useful for some situations. -- Paul, Auburn, WA |
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