DELTA 36-979 10-Inch Left-Tilt 1-1/2-Horsepower Contractor Saw with No Fence, 115/230-Volt 1-Phase

Pick this one up at Lowes. Actually the first one had a huge dent in it so Lowes replaced it the same day. I think Lowes needs to be more carefull in the handling of these boxes. The box was actually too heavy for us to drag off the back of the pickup so we had to unpack there. Did I mention the box is heavy! After laying out all the parts we started putting together the stand. An air ratchet sure comes in handy here. The instruction say do no tighten the nuts. This is very important as when you get to the final pieces of the frame you'll need to push, pull, and twist the pieces to fit. But once everything is there, tighten everything up and it's SOLID. Installing the housing, cast iron tables and motor were all pretty easy. Although we had to take off the power switch to install the T30 rail and fence; which overall is pretty easy to do. You'll need to read the instructions carefully and look at the pictures first. Then re-read the step and assemble. Flipping the switch...Read more

The out of box experience with this saw was terrific. Detailed instructions, well-marked parts and a good quality machine all added up to a pretty straightforward assembly. The saw is quiet and powerful. It is so smooth and substantial that I can stand a nickel on its end on the table when it is in operation. The two cast iron wings give the table a smooth, precise finish. I added the T2 fence, which is quite substantial and more than adequate for my needs as an amateur weekend woodworker. It attached to the saw without any problem. I bought the saw at Lowe's, so I wouldn't have to hassle with (or wait for) delivery, and it was a few dollars cheaper. The saw is beastly heavy, nearly 300 pounds, so you need to have a strategy ready for how you get it to your workshop. It is a great saw for those who, like me, are stepping up from a bench-top or "hobby" saw into something more substantial.

I purchased this saw from Amazon recently when the price dropped to 300 with free shipping. I feel like I got the deal of a lifetime, and now that I have the saw in my possession, I would have no trouble paying the usual price at which Amazon and Lowe's carry this item.

I am moving up from another Delta saw, a TS-300 Shopmaster that falls somewhere between a benchtop and a contractor's saw. Keep that in mind as you read my comments, because this 36-979 is a huge step up.

The cast iron table surface is expansive, and mine is dead flat. My only complaint in this are is that the main surface area arrived not nearly as smoothly ground as the table wings. The wings are mirror like, and the main surface is certainly flat enough, but still has tiny swirls and ridges that I am not thrilled about.

The saw was well packaged, and arrived without a problem from Eagle Freight. Everything was in the package and ready to go.

The instructions...Read more