Yesterday at a tag sale I picked up a 1983 Rockwell International Unisaw for $225. It has a 3 hp motor, some surface rust but can be cleaned up pretty easy. It has very little use. My dilemma is I already have a Delta Unisaw in my basement. I have room for only one. The one in the basement is a restored 1940 with a 1 hp motor. It runs excellent except it bogs down when ripping thick oak. It has seen a lot of use though . I was reading in Old Woodworking Machinery web site that you have to be careful when buying Rockwell International machinery. During those years 1977-84 there quality went down hill. Does anyone have a sugestion as to what I should look for? What should I do? I can only keep one. Thanks.
Edited 10/26/2003 3:45:55 PM ET by wooodman
Edited 10/26/2003 3:48:10 PM ET by wooodman
Replies
Woodman,
I have been a pro woodworker since the late 60's. I have worked in a number of different shops and have been a woodworking instructor in a couple of different schools. I have repaired, set up and used a wide variety of equipment from antique S. A. Wood to modern Compi. Without a doubt the Delta-Rockwell line of equipment regardless of age or use has been the most reliable and trouble free of any I have encountered. My own shop has a number of Rockwell tools from the era you mention. They often run all day every day still and have never required anything other than routine maintainence.
I would keep the 3hp,(it should be wired 210) The covered motor will help with dust collection and the hand wheels are in a somewhat better location. Cons? None that aren't common to most all cabinet saws, dust collection and debris in the adjustment screws. The old jetlock fences are great fences but suffer from overtightening on the top bolts which can distort the fence frame. Old blade guards and splitters are always a challenge. Unless a previous owner "customized it " you have a saw which still sets the standard and everyone want to emulate, awesome price too!
Keep the 3 hp. The cast iron parts are the same inside. By all means upgrade the fence to anything but the original jetlock. I prefer the Bies and I've Ive used both the Bies and Unifnece since they came out. A lot of the information on OWWM is strictly opinions and not backed by any empirical evidence so take it with a grain of salt. I used to work for an independent machine dealer as a tech and can't single out any particular year that was bad. If you dropped it on the floor then that was a bad year. As I recall the stuff inside was virtually interchangable for any year.
Edited 10/27/2003 1:51:39 PM ET by Rick at Arch. Timber and Millwork
Great deal for a saw. I'd trick it out with a moveable base, an HTC fence (which smoke the Beis'ies); and an outfeed table by HTC. The right side extension table can be removed, and a couple new angle irons can be tapped into the saw, and you can use the cast iron from the old saw to make an awesome new table saw with cast iron extension tables!!!
I am so jealous.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Thank you for your input. I'm going to take your advise and keep the 3 hp one.
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