Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This saw is the same base unit as the other 3hp, right tilt. The only difference is the fence system.

Everyone knows that the Unisaw is the Holy Grail of all saws, and it lives up to this reputation. Out of the box it was flawless. It required almost no further adjustment. Even with the crappy blade that comes with the saw, the cuts are near perfect. The cuts become perfect after you throw that blade away and replace it with a better one. I recommend the Forrest Woodworker II.

The 30" fence that came with this saw was in service about 10 minutes before I decided to replace it with the 52". The saw was a gift (great gift, huh) and had I ordered it myself, I would have ordered it with the bigger fence. I got on the Biesemeyer web site and bought the replacement front and rear rails to convert it to the larger fence. You only need to replace these components, as the fence is compatable with both. I bought the new components and "factory seconds", but they were in perfect condition.

I looked at the "other" saws and came within inches of buying one based on price. I even drove five hours to a competitive product's showroom to see their saw hands on. I'm glad that I didn't buy it because it doesn't compare to this unit. The Unisaw is easy to use, easy to set up and adjust, and makes woodworking a religious experience.

Would I recommend this saw? Yes! Yes! Yes! The only drawback to this saw is that most people wait too long to buy it.

I've used Grizzly, Jet and older Delta table saws and this is hands down the best I've used yet. This is one of the strongest 3hp units available on the market. At 220v this saw puts out 12 1/2 amps. This added power lets you use wide kerf blades which allows for smooth cuts and no bogging down. This saw is smooth and quite and is very compact too. The reason for getting this saw is because I have limited space available and with a moble base, you'll hardley notice that this is even in your basement. The miter slots are precise with no binding or sloppiness. If you're looking for a new saw shop around and ask questions but I guarantee you'll be back for this. Please do yourself a favor, and save yourself money in the long run buy this one now. I've gone through two different table saws and wish I had purchased this one first.