DELTA U30 30-Inch Table Saw Unifence

by Delta

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The DELTA U30 30-inch Table Saw Unifence features anodized aluminum extrusions and a durable 2-position fence face. It can handle quick cut-off work, squaring cuts, and precision ripping. A three-point locking system keeps the fence parallel to the blade, and a hairline pointer with built-in steel tape keeps measurements accurate to within 1/64 of an inch. It is capable of ripping both on the left and right of the blade. It features universal mounting hardware that can attach to almost any table saw. It includes a fence, carriage assembly, front guide bar, table frame, legs, shelf support brackets, and mounting hardware.

From the Manufacturer

Delta U30 30-Inch Table Saw Unifence

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 55.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0007SXH32
• Item model number: U30
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,129 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professional caliber fence, December 11, 2005

By 

Victor H. Agresti "remodeling-guy" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DELTA U30 30-Inch Table Saw Unifence (Tools & Home Improvement)

Delta Unifence

I've owned a Delta 34-829 10" 3 HP Tilting Arbor Unisaw with 52" Delta Unifence since 1989.

Getting the fence parallel to the blade took some time initially, as I recall, but I've never had to realign it in 16 years of use. E.g., wood never binds because the fence isn't parallel to the blade. The fence is so accurate and perfectly flat on all sides; there is no need to mark the wood to be cut. A ruler is adhered to the guide-rail and that's what you use to determine where to lock the fence. Simply put the red line from the fence locking assembly on the exact place on the ruler, and cut. The wood is the right width, every time.

I have no complaints with the Unifence. It's amazing that it has stayed in perfect alignment on my Unisaw for 16 years. It never warps, bends, or twists. Unlike other fence systems, the fence slides forward or backward on the fence locking assembly; unscrew two knobs and slide the fence into the desired position, then tighten the knobs. This is an important feature when clamping anti kickback devices to the fence; i.e., slide the fence back, attach the device, slide the fence into position, and lock it into place. It's also useful if you need extra fence length forward or backward, for control purposes. The fence shape is ideal for clamping hold-downs or anti kickback devices because the aluminum is 1/8" thick and there is a large flat area the length of the fence ideal for this purpose.

A router is mounted under my Unisaw's extension table, so the fence has to be removed to route long pieces. A useful feature of the Unifence is that the fence itself quickly separates from the handle mechanism. It's thus easier to find a storage place in my smallish shop, as the fence/handle, if not separated, is awkwardly large.

The fence can be attached vertically (normal), or horizontally (flat) to the locking mechanism. In the flat position, the fence part that touches the wood is only 1/2" high, versus 3.5", when the fence is vertical. This is advantageous if the blade is tilted towards the fence and you need the fence close to the blade (i.e., when a high fence would impede the saw guard or blade), or, if part of the side of the work to be cut pokes out, assuming that part will ride above the 1/2" high fence (e.g., as in laminate work). I don't use this often, but it's a nifty feature of the Unifence. To move the fence to the left of the blade, loosen those two knobs, flip the fence end over end, and mount it on the right (instead of the left) of the fence locking assembly. Pull up on the locking mechanism's handle and the fence is easily removable from the saw to move it to the left, or, to get it out of the way (e.g., if using the "router table"). Like all top-of-the-line fences, the Unifence firmly locks into place with a single handle and the fence mechanism rides on a single guide rail.

There is a Delta 34-878 Cut-Off Fence for Unifence Saw Guide accessory that is unique in the professional fence market. Check that out.

You cannot do precision table saw work without a perfectly accurate fence. The Unifence fills that bill.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One, if not the finest saw fence ever made, May 17, 2008

By 

Mike Salvatore - See all my reviews

This review is from: DELTA U30 30-Inch Table Saw Unifence (Tools & Home Improvement)

I purchased a Delta 36-715 about one year ago. I bought it with the 30" T2 fence due to price restrictions. I recently decided to upgrade my fence and considered the Biesmeyer fence, which I have used frequently. I had always been uneasy about the Unifence, but a gentleman had one for sale for $200, so it seemed like it was worth biting the bullet. I picked it up, put it on, and was immediately sold. The fence rail is a very large 2"x4.5" aluminum extrusion, while the fence body consists of a cast aluminum structure with a reversible aluminum extruded fence. There is essentially no play in the fence adjustment, better than what I've experienced with the T2 or Biesmeyer. You can purchase, or hack off a segment of the extrusion and use it as a cutoff fence, a time-saver over the old block and clamp method. If you're looking for a new saw fence, the Unifence and Biesmeyer are sure-fire winners.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice upgrade fence that works with a Jet contractor saw, July 1, 2007

By 

G. Litwinski "nopcbs" (Midland, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DELTA U30 30-Inch Table Saw Unifence (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have a Jet 10" contractor saw that I bought some 10 years ago with steel side-wings and the standard (simple) Jet fence. That fence is basically a rectangular tube that is adjusted for squareness with four bolts. A good saw and a basic, adequate fence.

Decided to upgrade the fence and was going to get a Vega fence, although I did not like the loss of several inches of capacity with the smaller utility version and the "Pro" version looked like it would add too much capacity and make the saw "tippy". Plus, installation looked to be tricky.

Then I noted that Lowes was closing out the Unifence U30 kit at $165 and several people were selling the kits on eBay for about $200. The Unifence is a very old design, but it has no serious flaws and the price was right so I got one. No one had ever posted anywhere about installing one on a Jet contractor saw (at least that I could find). So here is my experience.

The fence comes in a tall, heavy box. You get a pink(!) wood side-table with steel legs, the front fence support, the fence and the main fence body with a bunch of hardware. The instructions are good and cover non-Delta saws, too.

As for my Jet contractor saw, I had to drill out the two threaded holes in the front of that saw's iron table to accept the significantly larger bolts Delta supplies. I used both my steel side wing tables and attached the Delta-supplied wood add-on table to the right steel wing using their supplied hardware. The Unifence does not use a rear support bar (it has an adjustable foot that is at the rear of the main fence unit). I left the Jet fences's rear support bar on to support the back of the steel wings and I also drilled two more holes in it so that I could support the rear of the Delta-supplied wood side-table with a couple of 3" long bolt/nut sets I bought. Delta gives you hardware and instructions to support the front of the wood add-on table with the main fence support member. That member is mounted with bolts whose heads slide through two parallel T-channels (different sizes). In the end, the upper channnel has four bolts in it going into the two steel side wings (using existing holes) and the main cast iron table of the saw. The lower (narrower) channel has three bolts in it supporting just the wood add-on table through holes drilled in it.

I am dealing with a total of four table surfaces (two wings, plus iron saw table, plus Delta wood table) and the right wing is slightly high, so the fence does not slide effortlessly across the width. A slight annoyance I may deal with eventually.

Overall, the installation was not hard, but I did have to buy a few fasteners and it took a few hours and some thought. If I had chosen to mount the wood fence adjacent to the iron saw table, and left out the right steel wing table, I would have lost the ability to make anywhere near 30" cuts because of the design of the Unifence...no back support rail used and you need a table to support the rear of the main fence unit.

In the end, all works well. The Unifence is easy to adjust for square and alignment. The sliding fence means you can slide it forward and use the fence for cut-offs with your miter gauge and have no fear of blade-pinch-induced kick-backs. Was tempted to cut of a 12" section of the fence to dedicate to just this purpose. May still do it as the Delta sold 12" is ridiculously expensive.

Clearly it's a quality piece and affordable now that Delta seems to be dropping it.