Delta 36-831 3 Horsepower Unisaw with 30-Inch Biesemeyer Fence

by Delta

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Among serious woodworkers who demand top quality tools in their shop, there's no debating the desirability of a Delta Unisaw. It's one of the few cabinet-style table saws still made in the USA, and the benefits show up in the quality of the tool's workmanship and finish. The Unisaw's smooth operation can be traced to the widely spaced, massive trunions which are machined from fine-grained cast iron and are completely adjustable to ensure the best possible alignment. The heavy cast-iron table adds to the saw's stability and features a 3/8-by-3/4-inch T-slot on each side of the blade. Include the two extension wings and you have a generous cast-iron table surface of 36 by 27 inches.

The single-phase, 3-horsepower induction motor is housed in a dust-sealed, fan-cooled enclosure, and power is transferred smoothly and efficiently via a positive-traction three-belt V-drive system. The motor cover has handy storage slots for your miter gauge and table inserts, but more importantly, the inside is designed to maximize the airflow for dust collection and, in conjunction with the redesigned cabinet interior, funnel all the dust efficiently to the 4-inch dust port without a hitch.

This model comes with a 30-inch commercial Biesemeyer fence system, which requires a complimentary table board (sold seperately.) While the basics of this popular fence design have been copied by competing saw and fence manufacturers, there's still nothing quite like the original. The Biesemeyer is made of the heaviest gauge steel we've seen on a T-square type fence, and the fence face itself is made of laminated 9-ply Finland birch, glued solidly in place--a construction method that eliminates warpage in the fence line that the bolts or screws used in competing systems can cause. The fence locks to the front guide rail using Biesemeyer's three-point locking system and automatically aligns the fence parallel to the blade when the lever is tightened down, providing reliable accuracy every time. --Brian Trinen

From the Manufacturer

Delta 36-831 3 Horsepower Unisaw with 30-Inch Biesemeyer Fence

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 445 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00002234C
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 36-831
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,739 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love my Unisaw, June 16, 2000

By 

Mark Goodall (GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Delta 36-831 3 Horsepower Unisaw with 30-Inch Biesemeyer Fence (Tools & Home Improvement)

I wished for a Unisaw for many, many years. When I finally convinced myself that I could afford and deserved a real Unisaw, I purchased this model. The tablesaw was pretty simple to assemble. I only had to position the powerswitch (it was already wired), install the blade guard and motor cover and clean off the cosmoline (waxy/oily substance they apply to cast iron to prevent surface rust in shipping). Assembling the Biesemeyer fence took a little longer but was very easy. I chose the 30" fence instead of the larger 52" fence to save space in my very small sop, and I'm very glad I did. This size fence is more than adequate for my needs. The Unisaw and the Biesemeyer fence are extremely well built, solid performers. The fit and finish on this was extremely good. The powerswitch is one of the easiest to use I've ever seen, and it's easy to turn off with your knee. The Unisaw's internal dust chute is very well designed and with a dust port fitting and dust collector there is almost no dust that escapes. I'm extremely happy with my Unisaw, which I feel is one of the best cabinet saws you can get.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific addition to my workshop....!, August 3, 2000

By 

Ronald Petrino (Kenmore, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delta 36-831 3 Horsepower Unisaw with 30-Inch Biesemeyer Fence (Tools & Home Improvement)

I finally saved enough cash up to buy a Unisaw. I also chose the one with the 30" table and fence to save space in my workshop. I paid a little extra for shipping and chose the FEDEX method. It arrived in a few day's with one problem....3 out the 6 packages arrived damaged, one so bad that the contents were "crushed". It happened to be the extension part of the mobile base. I quickly called the Tool Crib...and they sent me another out "FEDEX..overnight" and it arrived the next day. I was very happy with the service I recieved and would not hesitate to purchase more tools from them in the future. The saw took me an entire day to set up....and it was worth it. It's a powerhouse...and I'm sure it will suit my needs for years to come.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent saw at a good price, October 18, 2002

By 

wannabe novelist (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delta 36-831 3 Horsepower Unisaw with 30-Inch Biesemeyer Fence (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've wanted a Unisaw since first using one years ago in high school shop class. It was a good saw then; it's even a better one now.

The saw arrived on the date ... said it would. The delivery driver not only unloaded it from the truck, but wheeled it around to my shop behind the house and into the shop. Only gripe about Delta's packaging is that extension table wiggled loose from box and suffered minor damage. Delta should rework packaging so damage in shipment is minimized.

Assembly of saw was straightforward, following Delta's directions in the owner's manual. The fence did not arrive with the saw as ... informed me it had been damanged, and would send a new one as soon as possible. So for about a week I could only use the miter gauge and dream about ripping boards.

All told, once completely assembled, this saw lives up to my years of dreaming and anticipation of ownership. I look for several things in a table saw; accuracy of saw and fence, quiet operation, fit and finish, easy and safe to use. The Unisaw never lags in any of these requirements. The saw and fence were dead-on accurate out of the box. The start/stop button mounted to the left of the saw's center is the ideal location for the saywer. The stop button protrudes from the switch face, allowing me to turn the saw off with my knee if necessary. Handy thing when the cut sometimes goes a little awry. The start button face is recessed, so accidental starting is minimized. The blade guard isn't the greatest, but what OEM guard is? Still, it is better than the one on my last saw, and I plan to keep it in place for all through cuts until I can go aftermarket for a better guard.

The saw has plenty of power. Dadoing operations that would practically stall my old table saw barely lowers the RPM of this saw. Ripping thick stock should be no problem. The fit and finish of this saw are adequate, though the plastic motor cover kept wanting to slide down till I figured out how to secure it properly. I'd prefer it to be hinged rather than the way it attaches.
The saw starts and runs quietly. My last saw was terribly loud; even with hearing protection on it was a major distraction and made using the saw unpleasant. With the Unisaw, I can pick up a board and buzz it through without hunting around the shop for my ear muffs. It's that quiet.

...P>You can't go wrong with this saw. This particular configuration must be "optioned" up a bit at this price; i.e. you'll want the 30" extension table and a mobile base if your saw isn't destined to live in one designated spot in your shop. I got both for my small shop; makes the saw the perfect addition for it.