I just got a Unisaw from Woodworker's Supply. I did my research for
quite awhile before buying it and am happy with what I got so far.
But I have a question. I bought a Veritas straightedge and checked
the top and the wings and the top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places. Is this normal and should I
not worry about it, or should I contact Delta for a replacement?

Russell

Does the saw cut wood like you want?


wrote in message
...
I just got a Unisaw from Woodworker's Supply. I did my research for
quite awhile before buying it and am happy with what I got so far.
But I have a question. I bought a Veritas straightedge and checked
the top and the wings and the top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places. Is this normal and should I
not worry about it, or should I contact Delta for a replacement?

Russell

wrote in message
...
I just got a Unisaw from Woodworker's Supply. I did my research for
quite awhile before buying it and am happy with what I got so far.
But I have a question. I bought a Veritas straightedge and checked
the top and the wings and the top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places. Is this normal and should I
not worry about it, or should I contact Delta for a replacement?

Russell


Russell - do yourself a favor and read less about Veritas straight edges,
..001" flatness, and all the other stuff that just doesn't matter to a work
that is precise to orders of magnitude greater than that, and just enjoy
your tools. You're going to give yourself an ulcer boy.
--

-Mike-

wrote in message
I just got a Unisaw from Woodworker's Supply. I did my research for
quite awhile before buying it and am happy with what I got so far.
But I have a question. I bought a Veritas straightedge and checked
the top and the wings and the top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places. Is this normal and should I
not worry about it, or should I contact Delta for a replacement?

Can you be absolutely sure it's not the straightedge?

What Leon said ... if the cuts are accurate, strongly consider going with
it. The first miniscule bits of pitch, or sweat mixed with sawdust, or
worse, that sticks to the top will make bigger peaks and valleys than that.

However, do call Delta and see what they say. It can't hurt registering your
concerns, will get you on record early if it does cause you a problem, and
will let them know that their customers are still concerned about quality
.... you never know what cumulative effect it may have it enough folks take
the time.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 22:29:55 -0600, wrote:

checked the top and the wings and the top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places.

You're going to have to pull it out and relay the concrete floor.

If you're chasing accuracy at _that_ level, you start to care about
how stable the floor is through the seasons, how rigid the cabinet is,
and how the top is fastened down to the cabinet. By fooling with the
bolts underneath the table you can probably put a couple of thou of
twist in and out of it.

I also doubt you can use a Veritas straight edge to this accuracy. For
that sort of measurement you need a 6" deep cast iron girder straight
edge, just to stop the straightedge from drooping.

Stop worrying. This is woodworking not optics. A few thou really is
neither here nor there.

--
Smert' spamionam

At the level of accuracy you are measuring we have to reflect on our craft.
Are we building furniture and wood crafts, or parts for aircraft and space
vehicles?

I was in aerospace for 35 years and +/- .02 was good enough for many parts.
The saw you have could probably cut wood to near this accuracy.

I agree with others - there are plenty of opportunities for ulcers in life
but this isn't one of them. Enjoy your new machine.

top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places. Is this normal and should I
not worry about it, or should I contact Delta for a replacement?

Russell

Russell, I don't know if it will help but I can relay my experience in
setting up my Unisaw. I too have a Veritas straigedge and I did the
same test as you after I added the extension wings. My precision was
measured not in units of .001" but in how much light was showing
through (subjective at best). There were several areas where there
was absolutely no light and there were some "dips" in the table where
there was a fingernail thickness of light shining through. The
straighedge was able to show me that one of my extension wings was
"falling away" a bit towards the back outside corner. I loosened the
bolt, stuck a piece of drywall tape folded in half between the
extension wing and the table on the underside to shim it up - problem
solved.

I thought about the "dips" for a few minutes and how the ways that
they might impact any cuts that I make. I then started running some
wood through it and checking for variations in flatness and squareness
that I could attribute to those pesty dips (with a very critical eye I
might add as my wallet was still recovering from the purchase). I was
able to detect absolutely none and subsequently banished further
consideration of them from my mind. After running a lot of wood
through it I can tell you that I have noticed not one dimensional
variation that was not clearly caused by another factor.

Bottom line and my $0.02 - don't worry about it and start cutting
stuff and marveling at the level of repeatable accuracy that your new
saw provides to you.

Hope it helps . . .

In 97 I bought a brand new Powermatic cabinet saw. It was a real
disappointment. The first top had miter gauge slots that were not parallel
to each other. The second top had a huge dip around the throat plate. The
third top had miter slots that were different sizes. The fourth top that
they sent worked. The saw is still going strong in a cabinet shop that my
partner runs but what a nightmare each time we replaced the top. WE had the
huge Laguna sliding table mounted and each time we replaced the top we had
to remount and align the Laguna. Those good old boys at the factory did not
seem to care. I have used saws with tops out 30 or more thousands and the
results were still excellent work. This is woodworking, wood moves.
The top you have should be fine.
max

wrote in message
I just got a Unisaw from Woodworker's Supply. I did my research for
quite awhile before buying it and am happy with what I got so far.
But I have a question. I bought a Veritas straightedge and checked
the top and the wings and the top alone is off by up to .005" in some
places, and off .001-.003 in many places. Is this normal and should I
not worry about it, or should I contact Delta for a replacement?

Can you be absolutely sure it's not the straightedge?

What Leon said ... if the cuts are accurate, strongly consider going with
it. The first miniscule bits of pitch, or sweat mixed with sawdust, or
worse, that sticks to the top will make bigger peaks and valleys than that.

However, do call Delta and see what they say. It can't hurt registering your
concerns, will get you on record early if it does cause you a problem, and
will let them know that their customers are still concerned about quality
... you never know what cumulative effect it may have it enough folks take
the time.

0.015" is a typical manufacturer's tolerance for saw table flatness.
You're fine.

Thanks for all your replies, guys. I just didn't want to get something
substandard after paying so much. I will let Delta know and leave it
at that.

Russell