Hello all,
I have a home shop and am I'm in the market for a new cabinet saw. I've
narrowed down the choices to a Delta Unisaw. There are a few models I have
in mind, but I'm having trouble deciding on what horsepower to get. I'm
sure I only need 3 HP for my needs, but I can't help noticing that for only
about $200 more, I can get a 5 HP. I plan to keep this saw for many, many
years. If $200 didn't make a difference to you, would you go with the 5 HP
instead of the 3 HP? Are there any other differences beside the motor?
I believe that it's probably the application that should dictate the motor's
power, and I've read some opinions that 5 HP should be considered for
production needs only (which, again, I don't have). But I'd really like to
hear your opinions either way.
TIA...
-m
<< I have a home shop and am I'm in the market for a new cabinet saw. I've
narrowed down the choices to a Delta Unisaw. There are a few models I have
in mind, but I'm having trouble deciding on what horsepower to get. I'm
sure I only need 3 HP for my needs, but I can't help noticing that for only
about $200 more, I can get a 5 HP >><BR><BR>
I had a 3 hp Unisaw for 12 years (I've just sold it because the Felder is
coming--end of gloat). I used the 3 hp for ebony, rosewood, 8/4 white oak,
maple, ash, you name it. I now someone who has the 5 hp, and he has yet to give
me a reason, unless you are going to 3 phase, whhic I doubt.
When I got the saw, it came assembled, and dead accurate. Now a buddy got one
this year, and he had to assemble it himself, and a number of things were
misaligned. So by all means, go with the 3 hp. BUT
I chose the Unisaw over the Powermatic 66, figuring there would be more widgets
I could buy that would fit a Unisaw but not a 66. Turned out not to be true,
and the 66is a better saw. Heavier, better castings, much better top.
My ideal saw for that type of unit is a 66, but with the Unifence (which I
likemore than the Biesmeyer), plus a Biesmeyer overarm guard.
hey mike,
i just recently went through the same decision process. i settled on
the 5 hp General 650 - i got the 5HP because i figured i was spending
that much already, i might as well spend another $200 to get the larger
motor.
IMHO, a mistake - here's why:
1) bigger amperage requirements means a larger breaker and larger wire.
you might think that's insignificant, but it wasn't - running 60' of
wire capable of carrying 40 amps on a proper breaker was harder and more
expensive than running for 30 amps, especially given that my other 220
equipment is 30 amp. so... i had to get a special breaker, heavier
wire, etc. not a big deal, but an additional expense and inconvenience.
2) it's overpowered. during a big shop day my saw may run for 3 hours,
maybe 4, and maybe i'm cutting 12/4 hard maple. would a three horse go
through it? i'm certain. does the 5HP make a difference? i doubt it.
get a good, sharp blade and you're fine.
3) motor cover - the motor cover is larger (duh) on the 5HP saw, and for
me that proved to be a serious issue. i put a sliding table on the saw,
and the brackets interfere with the larger cover and i cannot open the
cover while the table is attached. that is a serious pain in the ass,
and the manufacturer has no solution.
that's all i can think of off the top of my head. my advice is save
your $200 and get a good set of blades. also, consider the general -
it's a great machine.
--- dz
Mike P wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a home shop and am I'm in the market for a new cabinet saw. I've
> narrowed down the choices to a Delta Unisaw. There are a few models I have
> in mind, but I'm having trouble deciding on what horsepower to get. I'm
> sure I only need 3 HP for my needs, but I can't help noticing that for only
> about $200 more, I can get a 5 HP. I plan to keep this saw for many, many
> years. If $200 didn't make a difference to you, would you go with the 5 HP
> instead of the 3 HP? Are there any other differences beside the motor?
>
> I believe that it's probably the application that should dictate the motor's
> power, and I've read some opinions that 5 HP should be considered for
> production needs only (which, again, I don't have). But I'd really like to
> hear your opinions either way.
>
> TIA...
>
> -m
>
>
But I'd really like to
> hear your opinions either way.
I have a 3HP Cabinet Saw.
I've never been able to bog it down. Plenty of power.
You could go 5HP, but I don't like the idea of a kickback of a substantial
chunk of wood with 5HP behind it :)
3HP is a scary thought in itself.
--
Regards,
Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
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GM:
>By one horsepower, you mean "real" horsepower as it was meant to be. Not the
>current measurement by S**rs et al, which is either "rocking" horse or "sea"
>horse power, I forget which.
I'll have to dig through the ancient text and find the blurb
from the 1939 catalog where Delta graphs out the Break Down
horse power rating of the old R/I motors. Shades of
Craftsman to come it is.
>You need to modernise Keith and use today's language, it's probably really a
>5hp by now, they improve with age; no really, they do.
I'm guessing it's more truer to being similar to a horse
anna half but with the torque of a Caterpillar tractor.
>Oh yes, I have a 2400w (31/4hp) saw. But the weight behind the spinning bits
>is nothing like the older motors.
Ya see, this is were the Your'eAPeein' types have missed the
boats with stating everything in watts and kilowatts. No
room for fun with fudging.
UA100
In article <[email protected]>,
Unisaw A100 <[email protected]> wrote:
>PC:
>>Yabut - isn't it repulsive?
>
>And inductive.
>
>UA100, compulsive...
reactive, not inactive.
Mike,
When I made my decision earlier this year, I was thinking that the 5 hp
models tend to be heavier, have less vibration, and cut more accurate lines.
With the similar reasoning, I did select 12" over the standard 10". By
purchasing the saw from Grizzly (5959Z), the price was significantly lower
than the smaller saws from PM or General.
So far I have been happy with my green monster. You should not save money
in the blade. Based on the recommendations in internet, I purchased
Forrester 12" blade. With the 4" cutting depth, I have been using my table
saw as a poor man's jointer and planer for smaller objects. The surface is
not like a mirror, but with little sanding it is ready for finishing.
Cheers, Ollie
"Mike P" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello all,
>
> I have a home shop and am I'm in the market for a new cabinet saw. I've
> narrowed down the choices to a Delta Unisaw. There are a few models I
have
> in mind, but I'm having trouble deciding on what horsepower to get. I'm
> sure I only need 3 HP for my needs, but I can't help noticing that for
only
> about $200 more, I can get a 5 HP. I plan to keep this saw for many, many
> years. If $200 didn't make a difference to you, would you go with the 5
HP
> instead of the 3 HP? Are there any other differences beside the motor?
>
> I believe that it's probably the application that should dictate the
motor's
> power, and I've read some opinions that 5 HP should be considered for
> production needs only (which, again, I don't have). But I'd really like
to
> hear your opinions either way.
>
> TIA...
>
> -m
>
>
"Mike P" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a home shop and am I'm in the market for a new cabinet saw.
> I've narrowed down the choices to a Delta Unisaw. There are a few
> models I have in mind, but I'm having trouble deciding on what
> horsepower to get. I'm sure I only need 3 HP for my needs, but I
> can't help noticing that for only about $200 more, I can get a 5 HP.
> I plan to keep this saw for many, many years. If $200 didn't make a
> difference to you, would you go with the 5 HP instead of the 3 HP?
> Are there any other differences beside the motor?
>
<snip>
Spend the $200 that's burning a hole in your pocket on a decent miter
gauge, a couple of better blades, an upgrade in your dust collection
methods, or a really spectacular load of wood.
Or a weekend with your significant other. She's not going to see as much
of you, what with the new shop toys, and all.
It ain't pickup trucks. More power ain't better.
Patriarch
"Unisaw A100" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> My Unisaw has a one horse motor.
Yabut - isn't it repulsive?
Mike -
I have a General 350 w/a 3hp single phase motor. I was on the same fence
last December when I was SERIOUSLY looking for new/used etc.
At the risk of saying "me too!" to all the other posts, I decided that 3hp
was enough when I asked myself about the kickback question... I did have
ONE bad one, and believe me... 3 hp was scary enough. The other remarks
about wiring and the like hit it on the head. Spend the bucks on a good
dado set, safety gear or Forrest blades - THAT's where you'll notice a
difference - clean cuts, and counting to TEN at the close of the day.
John Moorhead
"Mike P" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello all,
>
> I have a home shop and am I'm in the market for a new cabinet saw. I've
> narrowed down the choices to a Delta Unisaw. There are a few models I
have
> in mind, but I'm having trouble deciding on what horsepower to get. I'm
> sure I only need 3 HP for my needs, but I can't help noticing that for
only
> about $200 more, I can get a 5 HP. I plan to keep this saw for many, many
> years. If $200 didn't make a difference to you, would you go with the 5
HP
> instead of the 3 HP? Are there any other differences beside the motor?
>
> I believe that it's probably the application that should dictate the
motor's
> power, and I've read some opinions that 5 HP should be considered for
> production needs only (which, again, I don't have). But I'd really like
to
> hear your opinions either way.
>
> TIA...
>
> -m
>
>
"Unisaw A100" wrote in message ...
> My Unisaw has a one horse motor.
>
> So far so good.
>
> UA100
By one horsepower, you mean "real" horsepower as it was meant to be. Not the
current measurement by S**rs et al, which is either "rocking" horse or "sea"
horse power, I forget which.
You need to modernise Keith and use today's language, it's probably really a
5hp by now, they improve with age; no really, they do.
Oh yes, I have a 2400w (31/4hp) saw. But the weight behind the spinning bits
is nothing like the older motors.
--
Greg