Subject: Help on evaluating old Unisaw

From: "David L. Rhoades" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 22:06:13 -0600

I have toyed with simple woodworking for years, and am interested in
buying a table saw.  I am trying to follow the advice of "buy the best
and only cry once" (someone's motto out there), but also getting
excellent value.  I think I have found a good deal on a very old
Unisaw.  It is currently owned by a co-worker's dad who owns another
Unisaw and a Powermatic 66, and is clearly somewhat of a fanatic about
his tools.  I have not yet seen the saw (have to drive 2 hrs to do
so-plan to next Monday PM), but he describes it as a 40-50 year old
Delta (doesn't know for sure because serial # plate is missing,
cast-iron base with motor cover, standard-make fence (runs along dual
rails) with extension rails and legs.  He has put a new Delta 3 HP
single phase motor on (still has the 3-phase motor) and replaced the
arbor.  He thinks the table needs to be ground and polished to make it
look nice, but is not dented, etc.  The motor cover doesn't exactly fit
with the new motor (new motor is 2" longer than old one).  Price is $700
- well below market as far as I can tell ($1100 seems to be the going
price here, but that may be with Unifence).  My wife worries about the
age, but I think that may actually be a plus.

With the new motor and arbor I'm not sure what else to check.  If you
could please e-mail, as well as post, it would make life a lot simpler
for me and my slow modem.  Thanks.  
-- 
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#       David L. Rhoades             [email-masked]         #
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From: Steve Wallace <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 23:02:55 -0800

David L. Rhoades wrote:
> and only cry once" 

Good boy.

> (someone's motto out there), 

How 'bout that, maw?  I *am* someone!  ;^>

> but also getting excellent value.                              ^^^^^
Richey!  We did it!  Someone *finally* unnerstans!  Yippeee!!!

> I think I have found a good deal on a very old
> his tools. 

So far, so good...So, as I parse this, the chap has *two* Unisaws, and
one PM66?  Izzat right?

> I have not yet seen the saw (have to drive 2 hrs to do
> cast-iron base with motor cover, 

Hmm...there were at least two different versions of the older saws...
Mine is vintage early '70's, and it fits your description...but the
older model that I have seen does too...

> standard-make fence (runs along dual
> rails) with extension rails and legs. 

That sounds like the Jet-Lock fence.  You'll prolly wanna replace it
with a Biese/Unifence/Vega/Paralok/You pickem fence...fences have 
improved a bit in 40 yrs. (5 yrs?)  But that isn't an immediate need.
You can make a lot of sawdust with a Jet Lock fence.  Tage Frid does
okay with one.  ;^>

> He has put a new Delta 3 HP
> arbor. 

That's good...Delta...duz ya mean Marathon?  Baldor?  Or really Delta?
Hmm...IMHO, if it's a Delta brand motor, it's prolly pretty new, and
prolly not as high quality as a Marathon or Baldor...but other folks
may know a lot more about that than I do.

> He thinks the table needs to be ground and polished to make it
> look nice,

"look nice"...Hmm...I spent an afternoon with a beltsandah, ROS, steel
wool, and buffing wheels, and the top of mine looks good enough to lay
a hunk of wood on just before you cut it...There are still a few stains
on it, but that don't bother me much...besides, it kinda adds character,
not unlike worm holes in an old piece of recycled pine... ;^>  As long as
it's flat and not rusted, I dunno that I'd have it ground...but it's
your money.

> but is not dented, etc. 

The table, or the cabinet?  I doubt the table is dented...oy vey...

> The motor cover doesn't exactly fit
> with the new motor (new motor is 2" longer than old one).

Again, dunno how impoetent this is...mine is sans motor cover...seems
to runs just fine without one.  But if'n yer gonna add DC, then you
may need to make one.  But that shouldn't be too hard with aluminum,
hardboard, or fiberglas...or some bizarre combo. You may just be able
to build a little box gizmo that sits between the motor cover and
the saw that effectively extends the motor cover 2 inches.  Hmm...new 
motor is 2" longer than old one...methinks that this saw may be the 
original form factor...kewl.

> Price is $700
> price here, but that may be with Unifence). 

That seems just on the high side of the acceptable range to me, but not
by a lot, and maybe not, depending on how it's outfitted.  I doubt that
it's worth much more than that, and it's prolly depreciated all it that
ever will...but it's hard to tell from here.  I think a lot of the value 
of a saw like this is forged by the local market for such a gem.  So it 
may be about right.

Considering that the new fence is gonna cost you another $350, you're
right back in the range of what you consider to be nominal, so I guess
it seems reasonable for yer neck o'de woods.

> My wife worries about the

I tend to agree with you.
 
> With the new motor and arbor I'm not sure what else to check. 

Does it include a blade?  What kind?  (If it's a good blade, that may
be worth up to $100)  Does it have any blade inserts?  Does it have 
a guard?  Pop up splitter?  Is the table decently flat?  Are there
any parts you need to buy to use it? (I hadda buy lock knobs...made
my own blade inserts)  Is there a miter guage?  Figger out all this 
stuff to see if the price is still in line with what you wanna spend 
after you get it outfitted, if that needs to happen.  The fact that
the guy is a tool fanatic is prolly a good thing.  It's prolly in pretty
good shape.

Good luck with your decision.  If you buy it,  It'll be the last table saw 
you ever need to buy. I bet that my saw will be making sawdust after I'm 
worm food, and I'm not *that* old...

My wife couldn't get me to stop muttering "Wow, what a machine..." after 
I got mine.  I doubt you'll ever regret buying one, be it this one, or the
next one you stumble across.

Later.
Steve.
-- 
"Buy the best, and only cry once."