I've had this saw for several months now, and feel my review will be fair now. I will break it up into several parts; with my initial impressions, likes, dislikes, and wishes for improvement.
Initial impressions:
I believe this is a well built machine that will last a couple generations (with care of course). I am pleased that it is made in America, by and large. No doubt some things are sourced from China and such, but for the most part this is US made. It is heavy and passes the "nickle test" - though on shut down there is a bit of a "shake" but not at start up. Fit and finish are very good as well as the features. Operation is very smooth and noise is surprisingly not that bad. Arbor run out was less than .001".
Likes:
US made - see above
Front mounted controls - very easy to use and convenient
Power switch - well designed and the off switch is great
Weight - makes the saw stable and smooth running
Power - NO problem chewing through anything I've thrown at it
Riving knife - LOVE this and how it works (more on it later)
Guard - actually useful and I do find myself using it often
Accessory drawer - really a great idea and keeps blades and things handy
Angle gauge dial - makes bevel cuts easier
Included blade - actually very good quality, made by Leitz
Dislikes:
Black table and fence - I've noticed my garage is darker now, I do wish it was light gray or white
Wishes for improvement:
Fence - the faces are not as flat as I'd like them to be. Also, my fence wasn't 90* to the table, and I used a piece of UHMWPE tape to shim it. This works, but now the fence catches on the miter slot and extension wing/table joint. Like the other review mentioned, for what this saw cost and the improvements in the saw itself, I wish they gave more attention to the fence as well. It is critical.
Table flatness - overall table flatness was within .0015" or better, EXCEPT right in front of the blade. There was a dip here, the WORST place to have a variation and it was ~.0025".
Dust collection - not bad really, but it could be better. I suppose sealing the cracks and openings in the cabinet would help quite a bit.
Motor cover screw - I replaced the Allen head screw with an M6 thumb screw.
Some other points to mention are as follows:
Set up was rather easy, all things considered. Instructions and DVD were good. The extension wings took some time and a bit of shimming, but the set screws that came in the hardware bag really helped to dial it in flat to the table. Aligning the miter slots with the blade can be time consuming, but not a hard task. I got mine to within ~.0015" but it wasn't too bad from the factory. The riving knife is GREAT, but properly aligning it is CRITICAL for safe and accurate cuts. This is a trial and error process that isn't hard, but it just takes some time. Don't rush it and make sure it's right. Same deal with the fence. Make sure it is aligned correctly.
Important tools for proper set up are a precision square (better than .001"), dial indicator, precision straight edge (24" or more), feeler gauge set. A helper is great.
Overall, I am very pleased with this saw. It could certainly use some improvements, especially for what this machine costs. However, those are minor issues in the grand scheme of things and I am happy I finally bit the bullet and bought this Unisaw when the price had dropped. One thing I will HIGHLY recommend is a zero clearance insert, and in my opinion, the LeeCraft product is the only one worth using - superb and US made.
| Brand | Delta |
|---|---|
| Color | 5 Horse Power |
| Blade Material | High Speed Steel |
| Surface Recommendation | Wood |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Included Components | Biesemeyer Fencce |
| Voltage | 220 Volts |
| Item Weight | 650 Pounds |
| Speed | 4300 RPM |
| Blade Length | 10 Inches |
| Cutting Angle | 90 Degrees |
| Manufacturer | Delta |
| Part Number | 36-L552 |
| Item Weight | 650 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 87 x 37 x 35 inches |
| Item model number | 36-L552 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Style | 5 Horse Power |
| Material | steel |
| Horsepower | 5 hp |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 5 Year Warranty |
