Replies

1. 
   JeffHeath | Dec 23, 2004 08:31am | #1

   IMSA

   This one's easy.  Get the Powermatic.  I've had both, and presently run a Powermatic 66 I purchased about a year ago.  I sold the Unisaw to get it.  No comparison, IMHO!

   JC

1. 
   IMSA | Dec 23, 2004 09:28am | #2

   How do you like the fence compared to the Unifence? Have you had any problems with cut quality a few other posters have complained about?

    

   Thanks

   IMSA

1. 
   JeffHeath | Dec 23, 2004 06:33pm | #3

   IMSA

   I must confess that the rigid unifence on the delta is a better fence.  All biesemeyer clones using the plastic faces tend to be a little wavy, I guess it's just the nature of that material.  But, the solution is an easy one.  Take a piece of one inch thick plywood, or glue it up yourself out of 2 pieces of 1/2 inch, and screw it right to the face of the fence.   1 inch is important so that your scale will only be off by 1 inch.  With all of the jigs you'll end up making over the course of your use of the table saw, this one's a no brainer, and if you ever cut into it making dado's, just make another one.  If you hit the unifence, you'll be buying a new fence and a new saw blade.  The ridgidity of the 66, along with the cast iron trunnion and the polished cast iron top, make it a much better saw.  When you receive it, take the time to set it up properly.  It will be worth the effort.  I have the 3 hp, with the 50 inch fence,  and I use 8/4 stock more than anything.  I build chairs, and slab tables, etc....  I have yet to run into anything I couldn't cut easily.  There was a tablesaw product comparison a couple of years ago in FWW #136, comparing many cabinet saws.  The 66 was rated the highest, correctly so.  Go get it, you will not be dissappointed.  My other table saw is a 1950's Oliver 270 with a sliding table, which I use for cross cuts and large panels.  You would need to step up to an industrial saw like this to beat the 66, at twice the price for a restored one.

   JC

   P.S.  Oh, yeah, for dust collection, you'll want to make a ramp to lead the dust to the 4" opening better, or you can buy one on ebay for under $50.00 bucks.  There's a guy who makes them who sells them there.  I don't have one, though, I just made one out of scrap.

1. 
   IMSA | Dec 23, 2004 10:52pm | #4

   Thanks JC, you've answered alot of my questions and I appreciate it.

    

   IMSA

2. 
   Dustmight | Dec 31, 2004 11:37pm | #5

   JC said: "I must confess that the rigid unifence on the delta is a better fence.  All biesemeyer clones using the plastic faces tend to be a little wavy, I guess it's just the nature of that material. " 

   The Biesemeyer outsells the Unifence by a wide margin.  Both are good fences.  Which one is best is a matter of preference.  The real Biese and the General made Biese don't have the UHMW plastic faces....they have a laminate face over plywood which doesn't suffer from the waviness.  The UHMW plastic faces come on clones by PM, Jet, Shop Fox and others, but not ALL suffer from visible problems with the waves.  For those that do have the waves, there's another easy fix.  Face joint one surface, and plane the other side flat. It only changes the thickness by a fraction, which can be adjusted for on the cursor line.   

   Another saw consideration that was ranked #1 by Wood Mag in Oct 2003, is the General 650 or 350. (left or right tilt)  That would be my first choice over either the Uni or PM.  

   Edited 12/31/2004 3:40 pm ET by sliversRus