DELTA 36-L31X-BC50 X5 10-Inch Left Tilt 3-Horsepower Cabinet Saw with 50-Inch Biesemeyer Fence, 2 Cast Iron Extension Wings, Table Board, and Legs, 230-Volt 1-Phase

I shopped for a quite a while before buying, and compared all the saws out there. The other brands are also excellent; I couldn't find any big advantage from one to the other. It boiled down to name recognition for me. I didn't see the need to spend a few hundred more for a powermatic (which is now owned by Jet) or a little less to buy the Jet (although they have a GREAT deal on their saw with a built in router table and Bosch 2HP router - very tempting).

Here's the good and bad, good first:

- LOTS of power - I traded up from a Delta 10" Contractor's saw (had it for almost 20 years - problem free. It's also a GREAT saw if you don't want to shell out the 2 grand for this one) and this saw has significantly more power.

- Biesemeyer fence is excellent. VERY; sturdy, heavy, and easy to set up. I purchased a Unifence for my contractor's saw and was also very pleased. I decided to try something new this time around. The choice of fence and the right versus left were the biggest...Read more

One of the reasons I spent the extra money on a unisaw, which is more expensive than most saws in its class, is the Delta reputation for quality. The reviews given to them by Taunton Press for example, give them top marks. The saw they sent to Fine Woodworking for review must have been gone over with cherry-picked parts by the folk at Delta, because what the sent me was a royal pain in the a**.

To make a long story shortthe 3hp Left Tilt Unisaw with 50" Biesmeyer Fence package that i ordered showed up with A) a warped/cupped outfeed table, B) a hardware package with missing parts, C) an instruction manual with instructions for assembly that included outdated information D) a base that was not firmly attached to the saw (the only way to access the bolts to tighten them is to jack up the saw and approach from underneath E) legs for the outfeed table with mounting brakets that were not welded square to the legs, so that when attached properly, they do not rest square...Read more

I'd like to take the opportunity to agree with one of the reviews, as well as possibly help the writer of the other...
As an electrician and carpenter, I can tell you that when the Unisaw (or any machine with a huge power appetite) is wired incorrectly, symptoms such as described (i.e. overheating and shutting down) can frequently occur. This will actually happen with any induction motor, which draws a HUGE amount of power when first started, and when under load, ex. that 3 inch thick maple!

I have sworn by the Delta Unisaw for years, and know many local shops around here that feel just the same. The new x5 line is improved in features and Delta offers a good package (they usually include necessities like cast iron wings, table inserts, etc.) regardless of where they are purchased from. It is a machine that when properly cared for (as with any other machine) will outlast any of us, with never ending performance, and accuracy.
Please be sure to consult a licensed...Read more