Delta unisaw question

[dante2]

Looking at a 1.5hp unisaw on MP. Claims it needs a capacitor. $150 price tag. I will look at it tomorrow. Serial no. is KD-927 and the model no. 34-461. My question is can it be upgraded to a 3hp motor? Are all the Unisaws upgradeable or just certain ones? Tia

 

[tombell572]

I am not familiar with Unisaws and I know they are well respected. From my experience primarily with machine tools, if a motor is within the correct horsepower range for a particular machine and if it can be set up on or in the machine so proper alignments and clearances can be achieved, it should work. There should be ample on-line info on power for a Unisaw. If it can handle 3 hp and the motor fits, it should work fine.

Tom B.

 

[toolmiser]

The older ones with the big fat motor have a lot more power than newer ones. But if it has the "big fat motor" they very hard to find a replacement motor. A picture would help.

 

[dante2]

The older ones with the big fat motor have a lot more power than newer ones. But if it has the "big fat motor" they very hard to find a replacement motor. A picture would help.

Screen shot from a video. I can't read the motor number on the data plate but it definitely says 1.5hp.

 

[dante2]

Seller did make a scary cut on a piece of 2x4 (no fence or miter gauge). So it does run.

 

[micromind]

I don't know about all of them but at least some of them use a non-standard way to mount the motor.

I've seen 3HP Unisaw motors in catalogs, not sure but I think Baldor makes them.

Might check eBay, just be sure it's single phase and it's not burned up.

As far as handling 3HP, I'd bet that saw could handle a 10 if it'd fit........

 

[Firebrick43]

I am not familiar with Unisaws and I know they are well respected. From my experience primarily with machine tools, if a motor is within the correct horsepower range for a particular machine and if it can be set up on or in the machine so proper alignments and clearances can be achieved, it should work. There should be ample on-line info on power for a Unisaw. If it can handle 3 hp and the motor fits, it should work fine.

Tom B.

unisaws do not use standard motor frames. They have mounts welded on to the casing.

Looking at a 1.5hp unisaw on MP. Claims it needs a capacitor. $150 price tag. I will look at it tomorrow. Serial no. is KD-927 and the model no. 34-461. My question is can it be upgraded to a 3hp motor? Are all the Unisaws upgradeable or just certain ones? Tia

yes they can be upgraded. Not sure its worth the money as you probably can buy a 3hp complete saw for less than a new motor. Or have a motor shop fix the one you have on it

Someone had dicked up the wiring by the picture above but that is easy to fix.

120728.00 Leeson | 3 hp 3450 RPM Delta Unisaw Electric Motor 230 Volts

120728 DELTA UNISAW REPLACEMENT MOTOR FOR 83-651 (3HP) 3 hp 3450 RPM, 13.0 amps, 230V, 60hz; Single Phase Shaft Size: 3/4" Diameter x 1-3/4" Length Supplied with 54" Electric cord Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled Electrically Reversible 145Y Frame Specialty Mounting Bracket Overload Protection = None...

electricmotorwarehouse.com

The older ones with the big fat motor have a lot more power than newer ones. But if it has the "big fat motor" they very hard to find a replacement motor. A picture would help.

No they don't. The formula for HP hasn't changed, its still


Nor the test procedure for electric motors. A lot of the older ones were 1hp that is true, but its not because they performed better, its because carbide blades with wider kerfs were not available so they used carbon steel blades that needed regular sharpening but also consumed less hp

 

[dante2]

I think I'm going to pass on this one. The $150 price on it is great but to modify it to what I want will probably end up near new saw territory. I will keep plugging along with my Ridgid TS3650 for a while.

 

[rslaback]

Just so you know, you can weld the old base onto a new motor.

Thread 'Welding a base to a motor' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/welding-a-base-to-a-motor.537503/

 

[seber]

Yes, they can all be interchanged. But the last time I checked, maybe 15 years ago, a new motor was $600. Someone who is good with disassembly and welding and machining could modify a motor to add the proper mount to a standard unit. It really is just a pair of plates welded to the shell. But the coils would need to be removed before welding. Not an easy task.
My current Unisaw is the fourth one I've had. It was $150 because it is three phase. That is a lot easier to rectify with a VFD than changing out a motor.

 

[neophyte]

One of the issues with changing a motor, or switching the voltage, can be the type of “switch” the motor uses.
Some stationary power tools have “motor controller” switches, which also monitor electric draw, and these switches are amperage rated, and will need to be changed out is switching from 110 to 220, or if increasing motor size.

 

[Cruzan80]

these switches are amperage rated, and will need to be changed out is switching from 110 to 220

I think what you mean is that the heaters/overloads will need to be changed to ensure the same protection.

If you go from 115V to 230, the amperage will drop by half. So if it doesn't trip on 115V, it won't at 230V. The "issue" comes from the fact it will allow double to total current to pass before tripping, hence less protection.

Increasing motor size, while keeping everything else the same will increase total amperage at max draw. So the opposite of the above.

Some switches have a max HP at various voltages, so swapping out a motor for a higher HP can only be done if swapping from 115V to 230V, or going from 1ph to 3ph (which again, drops the amperage per winding).

 

[My Old Tools]

That doesn't look like a 1.5 hp to me. That said, I have had a Unisaw with a 1.5 hp before, it worked just fine.

 

[KenC]

I have an ancient Unisaw with the 'bullet' motor. It's one hp! Not long after buying the saw I bought a 3hp, 3ph motor. also a bullet style. Because I just knew that little 1hp wasn't going to cut it. I've never installed the 3hp.

I seldom cut anything over true 1" thickness in hardwoods. It handle 1 1/2" framing stuff just fine. If I ever need to but thicker stuff I may consider it. But I'm 82 and haven't needed it yet.

The message is, check out the 1.5 and if fixable it may not need an upgrade.

 

[KenC]

unisaws do not use standard motor frames. They have mounts welded on to the casing.


yes they can be upgraded. Not sure its worth the money as you probably can buy a 3hp complete saw for less than a new motor. Or have a motor shop fix the one you have on it

Someone had dicked up the wiring by the picture above but that is easy to fix.

120728.00 Leeson | 3 hp 3450 RPM Delta Unisaw Electric Motor 230 Volts

120728 DELTA UNISAW REPLACEMENT MOTOR FOR 83-651 (3HP) 3 hp 3450 RPM, 13.0 amps, 230V, 60hz; Single Phase Shaft Size: 3/4" Diameter x 1-3/4" Length Supplied with 54" Electric cord Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled Electrically Reversible 145Y Frame Specialty Mounting Bracket Overload Protection = None...

electricmotorwarehouse.com

No they don't. The formula for HP hasn't changed, its still


Nor the test procedure for electric motors. A lot of the older ones were 1hp that is true, but its not because they performed better, its because carbide blades with wider kerfs were not available so they used carbon steel blades that needed regular sharpening but also consumed less hp

I know that too. But, I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference in the real performance of the old repulsion/induction motors when compared to newer styles. I have a 1 hp Unisaw and have used 2 hp table saws (real hp, not developed) and it performs on par with the newer ones, in 3/4 and 1" material.

 

[karoc]

IMO- you miss out on good deal, that 1.5 hp is plenty hp to cut anything you throw at it. Of course a sharp blade is big part of making a saw good. There’s even thin kerf blades now days. I had 1.5 for several years, it was a VGSaw. But I also had PM 66 so one had go

 

[alinc100]

My 1943 Unisaw has a 1 or 1.5 HP 110 volt motor on it ,still going strong.

 

[Firebrick43]

I know that too. But, I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference in the real performance of the old repulsion/induction motors when compared to newer styles. I have a 1 hp Unisaw and have used 2 hp table saws (real hp, not developed) and it performs on par with the newer ones, in 3/4 and 1" material.

Of course it does. 3/4 and 1” doesn’t need any more hp than that to function fine. It’s in thicker hardwoods that need more hp to function with acceptable speed.

 

[KenC]

Of course it does. 3/4 and 1” doesn’t need any more hp than that to function fine. It’s in thicker hardwoods that need more hp to function with acceptable speed.

My point was that the 'little' repulsion/induction motor performs on par with 1.5/2hp motors on later saws, allowing production speed rips even with my full kerf blades. And I can assure you that my finished 1"(rough 1 1/8-1/1/4") walnut and oak tax most 1.5hp saws. I've owned several 10" saws and 1.5 was the most common size with a smattering of 2hp.

If I needed to cut thicker often I would put the 3hp on it, but my need for that is rare so I'll save the swap for sometime I need to do some work inside the cabinet.

 

[rsanter]

Over the years I have owned several unisaws.
years ago I bought a three phase saw for cheap and wanted to convert to single phase.
i bought a grizzly motor off eBay that was an Amish take out motor. It bolted right on no issues.

the other thing i have seen people do is cut the motor plates off the original motor and weld a mount plate to them.
then they can drill holes and mount a standard flat plate motor to that.

in general now days people expect more HP in their equipment than used to be supplied, swapping to a larger HP motor is no big deal if that’s what you want to do.

the saw I have now is the 1.5hp and I wish I had more, button works fine so I just leave it and just go slower when cutting hard wood like older oak and such.

at one time I had a 5hp unisaw and that was a beast

 

[Cruzan80]

Biggest one I know of is the 5HP, 3Ph. Now the 12/14 cabinet saw, I have seen a 7.5HP 3ph motor on (stock), but it has a regular motor mounting pad.