Folks -

Ok, I know its' been beaten to death, but I'd like to hear feedback from
owners or regular users of the following saws:

PM 66
Delta Unisaw
General 650

And the Dark Horse..... A Grizzly G1023Z

In each of the saws I would go with left tilt, 3 hp and probably a bies
fence. I'd like to know what you DONT like about your saws as well - I
figure any of them would be a great choice but have some lingering
reservations as well..

For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering since JET's takeover as well as a less than glowing review,
generally, about cut quality (and that's what it's about, right?) in the
latest WOOD magazine. The top-dollar price is a factor as well....

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again, some
quality issues keep coming up - at least in my experience with other Delta
tools I've owned. The current special that includes a mobile base and
extensions is pretty attractive.

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get the saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z - If I got this saw I'd have some money left over for a
better jointer or maybe some LUMBER, but don't want to buy it and then WISH
I'd gotten the Unisaw or PM....

Good or bad on these, or other saws, I'd like to hear your feedback.

TIA

John Moorhead

I have the Uni package from 2 years ago. wish I had the bigger
extension AND the space for it in the shop. bad spliter/guard but that
can be said about most. I have the excalbur guard now and will buy the
merlin splitter later this month, then it will be a wonderful machine.

john moorhead wrote:
Folks -

Ok, I know its' been beaten to death, but I'd like to hear feedback from
owners or regular users of the following saws:

PM 66
Delta Unisaw
General 650

And the Dark Horse..... A Grizzly G1023Z

In each of the saws I would go with left tilt, 3 hp and probably a bies
fence. I'd like to know what you DONT like about your saws as well - I
figure any of them would be a great choice but have some lingering
reservations as well..

For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering since JET's takeover as well as a less than glowing review,
generally, about cut quality (and that's what it's about, right?) in the
latest WOOD magazine. The top-dollar price is a factor as well....

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again, some
quality issues keep coming up - at least in my experience with other Delta
tools I've owned. The current special that includes a mobile base and
extensions is pretty attractive.

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get the saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z - If I got this saw I'd have some money left over for a
better jointer or maybe some LUMBER, but don't want to buy it and then WISH
I'd gotten the Unisaw or PM....

Good or bad on these, or other saws, I'd like to hear your feedback.

TIA

John Moorhead




--
---

BRuce

My only criteria is repeatable and accurate cuts. Anyone of the saws you
mention would suit my purposes. Anything more is "perception", thorough
tradition and advertising, IMO.

The only saw I haven't cut with is the General ... it looked _very_ well
made when I went over one, however. That is why I would give it a close look
were I in the market today.

I own a Unisaw, but, if you took the nameplate off and made them all the
same color, I would be just as happy with a Jet, Grizzly or Powermatic ...
and likely the General.

If money is no object, follow your perception, as in the first sentence
above.

If it is, allocation of funds for other tools, and wood, can be your
overriding concern without too much worry of not having a usable and
serviceable cabinet saw..

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/24/03

"john moorhead"wrote in message
Folks -

Ok, I know its' been beaten to death, but I'd like to hear feedback from
owners or regular users of the following saws:

PM 66
Delta Unisaw
General 650

And the Dark Horse..... A Grizzly G1023Z

In each of the saws I would go with left tilt, 3 hp and probably a bies
fence. I'd like to know what you DONT like about your saws as well - I
figure any of them would be a great choice but have some lingering
reservations as well..

For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering since JET's takeover as well as a less than glowing review,
generally, about cut quality (and that's what it's about, right?) in the
latest WOOD magazine. The top-dollar price is a factor as well....

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again, some
quality issues keep coming up - at least in my experience with other Delta
tools I've owned. The current special that includes a mobile base and
extensions is pretty attractive.

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get the
saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z - If I got this saw I'd have some money left over for a
better jointer or maybe some LUMBER, but don't want to buy it and then
WISH
I'd gotten the Unisaw or PM....

Good or bad on these, or other saws, I'd like to hear your feedback.

TIA

John Moorhead

I have a right tilt Unisaw with a 52" Unifence. I love most everything
about the saw.

The guard and splitter are junk. Been meaning to get a better one but I
keep putting it off.

I got the Unifence because I like the feature of being able to pull it back
to use it for crosscutting.

I bought a Uni-T-Fence from http://ttrackusa.com/. It has t-slots that
allow me to easily attach jigs to the fence. It is a direct replacement for
the aluminum part of the Unifence.

The up and down and tilt mechanism are both very smooth. Much better than
my old contractor saw. My mobile base is really easy to use.

Whatever you buy, I would wait for a show to get it. I bought this saw one
year ago for $1349. I am seeing it advertised for $1799. Wait for a show
and you'll save some bucks.

Good luck and have fun with you new saw!

Rob


"john moorhead" wrote in message
news:cRe6b.371456$Ho3.55796@sccrnsc03...
Folks -

Ok, I know its' been beaten to death, but I'd like to hear feedback from
owners or regular users of the following saws:

PM 66
Delta Unisaw
General 650

And the Dark Horse..... A Grizzly G1023Z

In each of the saws I would go with left tilt, 3 hp and probably a bies
fence. I'd like to know what you DONT like about your saws as well - I
figure any of them would be a great choice but have some lingering
reservations as well..

For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering since JET's takeover as well as a less than glowing review,
generally, about cut quality (and that's what it's about, right?) in the
latest WOOD magazine. The top-dollar price is a factor as well....

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again, some
quality issues keep coming up - at least in my experience with other Delta
tools I've owned. The current special that includes a mobile base and
extensions is pretty attractive.

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get the
saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z - If I got this saw I'd have some money left over for a
better jointer or maybe some LUMBER, but don't want to buy it and then
WISH
I'd gotten the Unisaw or PM....

Good or bad on these, or other saws, I'd like to hear your feedback.

TIA

John Moorhead

LRod -

Yes, I understand the conflict - but when the PM goes for $2k++ and Wood Mag
noted that the fence wouldn't stay square and the cut quality wasn't as good
as the General at ~$500 less, then I think I am within rights to wonder if
price ALWAYS equals quality... Especially if the company has recently been
sold. I don't think I'd have any reservations about puchasing a used, well
maintained PM, but did want to raise the issues as I saw them for your
feedback - and I *DO* thank you for your feedback.

I have paid dearly for tools that I thought were good quality only to
discover otherwise (Porter Cable, most notably). I'll be damned if I am
going to do that on a piece of equipment as important and expensive as a
tablesaw.

Again, thanks for you remarks.

John Moorhead

"LRod" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 06 Sep 2003 06:08:16 GMT, "john moorhead"
wrote:


For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering...

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again,
some
quality issues keep coming up

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get the
saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but
without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z

In two out of three of the first choices you worry about quality, then
you mention you are considering Grizzly. On Grizzly's best day, they
aren't the quality that you think PM or Delta have allegedly slipped
to.

Make up your mind; quality or savings. You can't have both. I can't
get over how many people think, "man, Delta and Powermatic must be
making a mistake pricing their equipment at double what Grizzly does
for the same thing." If you believe that the product company G sells
at half the price of that of company P or company D is of the same
quality, then write a thesis about it and get the Nobel prize.

By the way, I don't think you'd kick any of the PM/Delta/General out
of bed.

LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

PM66 - I don't like the splitter/guard attachment. Someday I may make
a shop-built replacement if I see the plans I might like. The PM66 is
my favorite power tool, and used a lot.

I love my Unisaw. Would I change ANYTHING on it? Yes: the guard sucks,
and I wish the power cord was about 3 feet longer. Just nit picks.
It's a great tool! Very smooth running and the adjustment wheels turn
very easily and move the blade quickly.

dave

john moorhead wrote:

Folks -

Ok, I know its' been beaten to death, but I'd like to hear feedback from
owners or regular users of the following saws:

PM 66
Delta Unisaw
General 650

And the Dark Horse..... A Grizzly G1023Z

In each of the saws I would go with left tilt, 3 hp and probably a bies
fence. I'd like to know what you DONT like about your saws as well - I
figure any of them would be a great choice but have some lingering
reservations as well..

For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering since JET's takeover as well as a less than glowing review,
generally, about cut quality (and that's what it's about, right?) in the
latest WOOD magazine. The top-dollar price is a factor as well....

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again, some
quality issues keep coming up - at least in my experience with other Delta
tools I've owned. The current special that includes a mobile base and
extensions is pretty attractive.

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get the saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z - If I got this saw I'd have some money left over for a
better jointer or maybe some LUMBER, but don't want to buy it and then WISH
I'd gotten the Unisaw or PM....

Good or bad on these, or other saws, I'd like to hear your feedback.

TIA

John Moorhead

make a new cord! go to your local borg, buy a length of cord that
matches your saw (or the next size larger), buy a new matching plug and
go put it all together. if your machine is 110 then you could just buy
an appropriate sized extension cord and cut to length and wire it in
place of what you have now.

BRuce

Bay Area Dave wrote:

I love my Unisaw. Would I change ANYTHING on it? Yes: the guard sucks,
and I wish the power cord was about 3 feet longer. Just nit picks. It's
a great tool! Very smooth running and the adjustment wheels turn very
easily and move the blade quickly.

dave

john moorhead wrote:

Folks -

Ok, I know its' been beaten to death, but I'd like to hear feedback from
owners or regular users of the following saws:

PM 66
Delta Unisaw
General 650

And the Dark Horse..... A Grizzly G1023Z

In each of the saws I would go with left tilt, 3 hp and probably a bies
fence. I'd like to know what you DONT like about your saws as well - I
figure any of them would be a great choice but have some lingering
reservations as well..

For the PM 66, I like the weight, but am concerned about the quality
suffering since JET's takeover as well as a less than glowing review,
generally, about cut quality (and that's what it's about, right?) in the
latest WOOD magazine. The top-dollar price is a factor as well....

Delta - Decades of production of the saw speak in volumes, but again,
some
quality issues keep coming up - at least in my experience with other
Delta
tools I've owned. The current special that includes a mobile base and
extensions is pretty attractive.

General 650 - Maybe this one should be the dark horse... It got the best
marks for cut in WOOD magazine and high marks generally. I can get
the saw
locally, almost, and it is about the same price as the unisaw, but
without
the mobile base... I've read good reviews elsewhere too...

Grizzly G1023Z - If I got this saw I'd have some money left over for a
better jointer or maybe some LUMBER, but don't want to buy it and then
WISH
I'd gotten the Unisaw or PM....

Good or bad on these, or other saws, I'd like to hear your feedback.

TIA

John Moorhead





--
---

BRuce