Delta unisaw junior -- anyone use one?

[lakeview2628]

There's a Delta Rockwell unisaw Junior on Craigslist for $550. It's fully restored and looks pretty good. Anyone use one of these saws before? If so, what do you think? Good saw? Good price? I'm in the market for a table saw. I just need one for occasional hobby woodworking.

 

[lakeview2628]

Around here about $350

$350 fully restored?

 

[exmaxima1]

Don't buy an 8-inch table saw. Too many good 10-inch saws to even consider it.

 

[lakeview2628]

Don't buy an 8-inch table saw. Too many good 10-inch saws to even consider it.

That's a fair point. I only have one 115v circuit in my garage. What cabinet saw would you recommend?

 

[MayerMR]

I have an 1930's 8" Walker-Turner table saw and I have no problems cutting with it while also appreciating the smaller footprint. 10" would be great, but I prefer the extra room.

 

[exmaxima1]

That's a fair point. I only have one 115v circuit in my garage. What cabinet saw would you recommend?

A standard Unisaw runs about $350-600 in my area, and 10-inch blades are found everywhere at sale prices. I used my dad's old CM 8-inch saw until I was about 40 years old, and had to special order blades or have them custom made for my cabinet making hobby. When I finally got a full-size Unisaw I kicked myself for wasting 1/2 my life on an 8-inch saw.

If I was looking for a saw today I would look at another Unisaw, or a Delta contractor's saw or Powermatic Artisan if I wanted to save a few $$. I have no interest in 80's-90's Emerson-made CM saws (they are junk) but an older King-Seeley CM saw with modern fence would be a decent saw as well.

Make sure you get as much HP as you can afford (or have juice for), so you can feed properly without burning the wood.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Someone smarter than me needs to explain what makes a "cabinet" table saw, a "cabinet" table saw ! If it has a good, solid, easy to use fence that you can make repeatable cuts with, you are half way home. You can easily make some usable side extensions as long as the fence can go at least 25" from the blade. In fed and out feed tables can just be saw horses.

The 20-40 year old 10" Craftsman tables saw with a front mounted 1½-2 HP motor are really more than adequate for any home gamer. A good blade makes a big difference.

EDIT: I see I just repeated what exmaxima1 said !

... an older King-Seeley CM saw with modern fence would be a decent saw as well.

 

[Packard V8]

A cabinet saw has the motor contained within the cabinet under the arbor. They are usually the more expensive, solid designs.

What Craftsman sold by the millions and Delta later termed a "contractor's saw", has the motor hanging off a bracket behind the table. They can be solid saws, just not as much so as a cabinet saw.

The 20-40 year old 10" Craftsman tables saw with a front mounted 1½-2 HP motor are really more than adequate for any home gamer.

We're sure he really meant "rear-mounted". Agree, they're solid saws which with a bit of fettling can do anything a homeowner needs done. Again, watch for the 10", as there are a million 8" and 9" versions still thick on the ground. I'd argue most real 2-HP motors are too heavy for the mounting bracket. I've seen several brackets and trunnions broken by too-large motors. It's the weak point of the design and a cast-iron 1-HP is plenty for a C-man. (The later sheet metal "2-hp-developed-starting-torque" frauds are a completely different piece of junk.)

Decide if you want a user saw or a showpiece. For a user, $350 will buy far more saw than a Unisaw Junior. Sometimes a Unisaw comes along for that price, but watch for 3-phase motors.

jack vines

 

[lakeview2628]

All, Thanks for the great comments and advice. I think I'll pass on the Unisaw Jr and look for something else based on the advice in this thread.

 

[The Cobbler]

where are you located?

 

[Whitworth]

All, Thanks for the great comments and advice. I think I'll pass on the Unisaw Jr and look for something else based on the advice in this thread.

If you only have one 115 volt circuit in your shop you’re going to be severely limited in choices.
So plan on upgrading your electrical. If you can’t change that situation in the near future, a saw like the Unisaw junior would be something to consider. You could re-sell it later if/when you upgrade to a more powerful saw, which would offset the cost.
Don’t know value in your area for something described by the seller as fully restored saw.

 

[ndnchf]

I saw an ad like that in northern virginia the other day - same one? I used to have a Unisaw jr. It was a wonderful saw, far better than most homeowner grade saws. I sold it only because I didn't have much use for it and needed the space.

 

[My Old Tools]

Generally, cabinet saw has the trunnions mounted to the cabinet. Contractor saw has the trunnions hung from the bottom of the table. Unisaw Jr. is a contractor saw mounted on a small cabinet.