Well, I’ve just about completed my journey down that same road that many of you all have been on – the quest for a table saw. After looking at Grizzly, General, Powermatic, Bridgewood and Delta I decided to go with the Delta X5 Unisaw. I was all set to order the Powermatic (after all the praise heaped on the 66 on this and other forums) until I got to look at a “new” model at the Wilke showroom. I thought the vaunted “heavy” trunion castings were not all that heavy in comparison with the Delta and Bridgewood saws. The tilt and lift mechanisms looked pretty much the same, but the action on the Delta seemed the smoothest. After mentally debating for a few days, I called my local Woodcrafters and ordered the Delta X5 saw, which was out of stock. The problem is, no one seems to know what the current draw on the 3 horsepower motor is, and I’d like to get the electrical hooked up before I go pick up the saw in a few weeks. Could someone who has an X5 Delta please check the plate on your motor and let me know? I’d like to get away with a 20 amp circuit if I can. I really don’t understand why manufacturers don’t list the motor current in spec. sheets – It’s the number you really need to know to install an electrical service.
Thanks in advance!
—–wade hutchison, generating sawdust in Milton, PA
Replies
I too have been over debating the purchase of my new table saw. In my mind I am set on the Powermatic 66 as you were. Please post feedback on the saw once it arrives. I like the unifence better than the Beisi type fences but I have yet to hear, other than price, complaints about the 66. I still find it hard to justify the $400 price difference between the two. My buddy has a 2year old unisaw (3hp). I will check the tag on his motor for current draw. His saw shipped with no problems and I find it a good saw to use. I am damn near ready to just drop half the $$$ on a grizzley. It would spoil my usuall mind set when buying tools though....Buy the best tool you can and keep it for life.
3HP Marathon motor 83-653, 12.4 amps @ 230. Not sure what is required at start-up but I would guess that 20 amps is fine. My friend is running his saw on 20,s with no problem.
Thanks, Jay - that's what I needed to know. The formula that I always followed was to multiply the motor current by 125%, then round up to the next highest rated wire. Therefore 12.4 would multiply to 15.5, round up to 20 amps. That should cover start-up surge.
Btw, I live close enough to both Grizzly and Wilke that I was able to visit both their showrooms. The Bridgewood 10" saw (at 1399.00) was my 2nd choice - a very well made saw, and the guys at Wilke set it up and check the top and arbor before they sell the saw. The arbor casting on the Bridgewood was even larger than the Powermatic. The biggest drawback I saw was that it only has a 1 year warranty (compared to 5 years on the Delta X5). Grizzly's are inexpensive, but they have a (relatively) high arbor run-out, and I've never seen one where the wings and tabletop line up perfectly, except the one set up in the showroom. Their motors are lower quality as well - the Grizz 3 hp motor draws 18 amps due to low efficiency, so you need a 30 amp service to run one. If you want a 110 V saw, I'd look real hard at the Sears professional - Also in the $900.00 price range. Good luck, and keep making sawdust.
-----wade hutchison, cutting wood in Milton, PA
Edited 1/7/2005 4:13 pm ET by wolf23
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